We want to hear from you
We recently launched a teachers survey. We hope to get feedback from teachers across Canada to help us create new online resources about the economy.
Not just for economics teachers
The economy is everywhere—in our history, our society and our culture. So why shouldn’t economic education be present in all subjects and grades? We believe it should be.
We want to help all teachers—no matter what you teach—to build the fundamentals of economic literacy among your students from the ground up.
Building economic literacy
These days, it’s hard to open a paper or watch a newscast without encountering a story about financial literacy. That’s a wonderful development: it’s important that people of all ages have the skills and knowledge to make good financial choices.
At the Museum, we feel the same is true for economic literacy.
Economic literacy is different from financial literacy. It’s about understanding how the economy as a whole works and being able to use this knowledge to make good decisions as informed, active citizens. Becoming economically literate is a critical step toward understanding the world and how it operates.
Inflation Busters is a program for students in grades 9 to 12 (Secondary cycle Two and CEGEP in Quebec). Students take on roles of consumers in a time of hyperinflation.
When the Bank of Canada Museum reopened in 2017, we focused on providing a great visitor experience. We consulted with local teachers and developed, piloted and launched two school programs for local students: Inflation Busters and Trading Planets.
Trading Planets is a program for students in grades 4 to 8 (Elementary Cycles Two and Three in Quebec). It teaches about trade and common currency.
We need your input
It’s two years and counting since we opened our doors to the public, and we are ready to take the next step in fulfilling what we consider to be our national mandate. We are ready to reach out to the rest of Canada.
To do that effectively, though, we need to work hard at understanding what you, the teacher, would find helpful:
- Where do you get teaching resources?
- What technologies do you have access to in your classroom?
- What subjects do you want to teach about?
- What’s important to you and your students?
You will find these and other questions in our teachers survey. If you participate, your answers will provide us with invaluable help as we strive to make the Museum’s resources and lesson plans relevant and available to you no matter what you teach or where you live.
So please complete our survey and help us set the direction for our next adventure in economic literacy. We can’t do it without you!
www.bankofcanadamuseum.ca/survey
*Note: The survey will be open until November 3rd, 2019.
We want to hear from you! Do you have an idea for a blog post you’d like to see?
The Museum Blog
April 30, 2021
An image of a river of logs floating behind Parliament Hill has long lived in Canadian collective memory thanks to a bank note, the Scenes of Canada $1 bill.
Mishap on the dollar
By: Graham Iddon
Content type(s):
Blog
Subject(s):
Collection,
History
March 23, 2021
Putting an industrial facility on a bank note is not a casual decision. At the end of the 1960s, such places were earning a bad reputation for pollution. There was actually a good reason for this choice, but it wasn’t obvious to many Canadians.
The Last Smokestack
By: Graham Iddon
Content type(s):
Blog
Subject(s):
Collection
February 26, 2021
There might be only a handful of basic game formats, but there is an infinity of variations—a surprising number of which require the skills we need to manage our daily economic lives.
Playing with Economy
By: Graham Iddon
January 4, 2021
With his superpowers, Peter Parker would no doubt do a fabulous job of tiling his kitchen backsplash. But as Spider-Man, he has more valuable things to do with his time.
Economic Opportunity Costs
By: Graham Iddon
November 30, 2020
For daily users of modern money, getting an understanding of the old British system of currency can be an act of confusion and wonder. But it’s also a peep into 13 centuries of European numismatic history.
How Many Groats Are in a Noble?
By: Graham Iddon
Content type(s):
Blog
Subject(s):
Collection,
History
November 27, 2020
Ever wondered who decides what goes on Canadian coins or bank notes? Or why our coins have certain names and our notes are different colours? Use this guide to help answer some of your money-related questions!
Understanding Money: Common Questions
By: Nathan Sells
