TEACHING WISCONSIN'S 
K-12 ECONOMICS STANDARDS

On-Line Guide

Index by Grade Level  | Index by Topic
About Wisconsin's Model Academic Standards for Economics
How to use this guide and an explanation of its components

About Wisconsin's Model Academic Standards for Economics

Wisconsin's Model Academic Standards include specific content that students are required to have learned at grades 4, 8, and 12 in the areas of English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.  Visit the Web site of the Department of Public Instruction for the complete text of these performance based standards.  

Students at all levels should develop skills and understandings in all five strands found in the Wisconsin standards for social studies. These skills and understandings are embedded in the performance standards.  It is important to recognize that the designated levels, by grade four, by grade eight, and by grade twelve, lead students to higher and deeper levels of knowledge and skills as they progress through school. 

Economics is one strand of the Wisconsin Academic Standards for social studies. The standards for economics can be found at D. Economics: Production, Distribution, Exchange, Consumption  The overall Content Standard for economics is: Students in Wisconsin will learn about production, distribution, exchange, and consumption so that they can make informed economic decisions.

EconomicsWisconsin (Wisconsin Council on economic Education), whose goal is "educating students, parents and teachers about everyday economic decisions" has developed this Online Guide to teaching Wisconsin's K-12 economics standards.  This guide is designed with two purposes in mind: 

1. To provide teachers with information and curricular resources related to each of the Wisconsin Standards.
2. To help schools include economics in their curriculum at different grade levels.

The following links will direct you through this online guide: 

• How to use this guide and an explanation of its components
• Topic Index of the Wisconsin Standards.
• Grade Level Index of the Wisconsin Standards.

How to use this guide and an explanation of its components

Overview  |  Information Provided for Each Standard  |  Rationale

Overview

This Online Guide, developed by the EconomicsWisconsin, provides teaching resources for the Wisconsin Model Academic Standards for Economics.  For each standard, hyperlinks connect to Internet resources that give relevant information, curricular materials, and teaching strategies. 

The standards can be accessed through either a grade level index or a topic index.  These indices link to separate Web pages for each standard.  In the index, each standard's topic is linked to the related National Content Standard.  The National Content Standards in Economics were developed by the National Council on Economic Education to improve economic literacy, and are included here as an added resource for teachers.   

Information Provided for Each Standard

 There is a separate Web page for each standard.  The following information is provided: 

• The Wisconsin Standard and its number.
• Economic concepts related to that standard, with links to definitions.
• Links to content information for teachers and students.
• Links to lesson plans and other suggested teaching strategies.
• Lists of curricular materials and learning activities.
• Links to the associated National Content Standard and its benchmarks.  ("Benchmark" is another term for grade level related performance standards.)
• Email access to experts in each field to help teachers and their classes with relevant questions.

Rationale

Individuals, families, businesses, and governments must make complex economic choices as they decide what goods and services to provide and how to allocate limited resources for distribution and consumption. In a global economy marked by rapid technological change, students must learn how to be better producers, consumers, and economic citizens. In Wisconsin schools, the content, concepts, and skills related to economics may be taught in units and courses including economics, history, government, global studies, and current events.  

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