Adam Smith Teacher Resources
Find Adam Smith lesson plans and worksheets
Showing 1 - 24 of 53 resources
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60 Second Adventures in Economics
To regulate or not to regulate? To spend or save? A collection of six animated videos examines some of the great dilemmas of economics, including the conflicting theories of Adam Smith, William Phillips, and John Maynard Keyes. The short...
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Middle School World History
A 22-lesson Middle School World History unit uses a unique problem-solving approach to teach tweens economic history. After reading articles that provide background information, pupils engage in activities and simulations that require...
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Economic Lowdown Podcast Series
Accepting a cow as payment for a car is not udder-ly ridiculous. A collection of 21 podcasts provide high schoolers with the lowdown on economics. Topics covered include economics, banking, monetary policy, and the role the Federal...
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From Mercantilism to Adam Smith: The Evolution of the Modern Capitalist System
Useful for history or economics classes, this presentation details the characteristics of mercantilism and its evolution into modern-day capitalism. The slides detail Adam's Smith criticism of mercantilism and how, rather than an...
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Political Theory - Adam Smith
Can capitalism have virtue? Adam Smith thinks so! The 12th video in a series of 13 discusses Smith's political and economic views. Pupils discover these concepts and more through primary source photographs and examples that relate to...
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Banking 18: Big Picture Discussion
Sal further ponders the meaning of wealth in this video, which explores the values of gold, land, and money. Touching on Adam's Smith's definition of wealth, the presentation discusses the philosophy of utility and what different media...
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Morality in Markets: The Two Faces of Adam Smith
Economist Adam Smith supported free enterprise, he but critiqued mercantilism. These two ideas—seemingly contradictory—may be difficult for some young historians to grasp. A reading that explores these ideas guides scholars in unraveling...
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“In Memoriam:” Influential Economists and Their Theories
Here is a great activity that will help your class members review the theories of classic economists regarding markets, competition, and individual initiative. After dividing into groups, learners will plan a eulogy to celebrate the life...
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Episode 3: The Role of Self-Interest and Competition in a Market Economy
Why do scholars go to school? Is it due to self-interest and wanting more for themselves? Adam Smith's concept of competition spearheads the third lesson of a 21-part economic series from Econ Lowdown. Scholars investigate how...
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Adam Smith Twitter
Follow Adam Smith's Twitter page with a fun history template. History learners can complete Smith's profile and write in some of his recent tweets, reinforcing their knowledge of his philosophy and contribution to economics.
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Money and Debt: Crash Course World History 202
Adam Smith contended that people are inherently drawn to creating a medium of exchange to make barter easier. A Crash Course World History video takes high schoolers through the creation and implementation of currency, and asks them to...
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19c European Liberalism
If you'd like to prompt some great discussions in your history class, this presentation will surely get your class talking. Addressing 19th century liberalism in Europe (including influences from England, France, America, and Ireland),...
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Economic Systems and Macroeconomics
What works better: a planned economy or a market economy? Join the global debate with a Crash Course video about macroeconomics and the differences between economic systems. With quotes from Adam Smith and Karl Marx guiding instruction,...
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Economic Schools of Thought
Adam Smith, Karl Marx, and John Maynard Keynes held different beliefs about economic systems that evolved from their predecessors, and then shaped by their countries' economic situations. A video from Crash Course Economics explains the...
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The Enlightenment: Matching #3
Who were some of the great thinkers, composers, and authors of the Enlightenment? Here are ten matching questions, where learners link the person to the work created during the time of the Enlightenment. Smith, Linnaeus, Diderot,...
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An Introduction to Modern Economics
Practice reading comprehension with this informational economics worksheet. Learners read a 2-page explanation of the beginnings of modern economics and how it plays a role in society. This reading discusses natural, human and capital...
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Public-Choice Economics
Review the principles of public choice economics using this resource. Learners read background information on the theory and theorists. Then they answer five writing prompts in which they are asked to propose a course of action and...
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Drought and Famine: Crash Course World History
Who is to blame for widespread famine? Crash Course World History guides high schoolers through a video about droughts, famines, and whether the weather or human activity is at fault for each.
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Trade in Colonial America / NAFTA
Learners learn the how trade impacted the colonial economy. They analyze the the benefits of NAFTA and learn the advantages to both the United States and Mexico.
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The Invisible Hand
How did economist Adam Smith shock the world in 1776? By telling the world that the best way for a government to control an economy is to not control it, and to leave people to buy and sell freely. Use this brief video as a way to...
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The Foundation of Economics
This is a one-stop shop as an introduction to Economics; review 53 slides covering the basics of most economics principles with images and instructor notes. Journey from Adam Smith and the foundation of modern economics to concepts such...
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Government and Economics: The Ties that Bind
Students discover the relationship between government and economics. They examine concepts explained by Adam Smith and present them to the class. They also discover economists who have made a lasting contribution to the world.
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Economics Study Guide
In this economics worksheet, students answer a variety of fill in and short answer questions, draw a diagram to illustrate the circular flow of economic activity, and write short essays to address prompts.
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Specialization and Trade
Do companies work better when everyone works on everything, or when each person or department focuses on one specialized task? Explore the benefits of specialization and trade in the modern global economy with a explanatory video.
