We make learning about the economy fun, with resources available to suit your curriculum.
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Inflation Busters
Grades 9 to 12: How do you plan for the future when you don’t know what things will cost? Join the fight against inflation in Inflation Busters, a game-based program for students. Who knew learning about monetary policy could be fun? We did!
Content type(s):
School programs
Grade level(s):
Grade 10 / Secondary 4,
Grade 11 / Secondary 5,
Grade 12,
Grade 9 / Secondary 3
Surprise, It's Money!
Grades 3 to 8: See and touch an amazing array of objects that have served as money at one time or another. Then join us in the Museum—explore the games, multimedia, videos and even more surprising artifacts. It’s fun, engaging, and a great way to learn the role the Bank of Canada plays in the Canadian economy.
Content type(s):
School programs
Grade level(s):
Grade 3 / Elementary Cycle 2,
Grade 4 / Elementary Cycle 2,
Grade 5 / Elementary Cycle 3,
Grade 6 / Elementary Cycle 3,
Grade 7 / Secondary 1,
Grade 8 / Secondary 2
Trading Planets
Grades 4 to 8: Travel to planet Plutopia on a trade mission with your students. Once there, you will see that trading goods without a common currency poses some serious problems. Trading Planets uses interactive, game-based learning to teach about trade, currency, and supply and demand.
Content type(s):
School programs
Grade level(s):
Grade 4 / Elementary Cycle 2,
Grade 5 / Elementary Cycle 3,
Grade 6 / Elementary Cycle 3,
Grade 7 / Secondary 1,
Grade 8 / Secondary 2
February 11, 2021
Money: Past, Present and Future
Explore the history of money in Canada and around the world using an inquiry approach.
Content type(s):
Lesson plans
Grade level(s):
Grade 10 / Secondary 4,
Grade 5 / Elementary Cycle 3,
Grade 6 / Elementary Cycle 3,
Grade 7 / Secondary 1,
Grade 8 / Secondary 2,
Grade 9 / Secondary 3
November 27, 2020
Exploring coins and bank notes
Explore Canadian money with young learners using our printable worksheets.
Content type(s):
Lesson plans
Grade level(s):
Grade 1 / Elementary Cycle 1,
Kindergarten
October 2, 2020
Trading Planets
Take a trade mission to planet Plutopia to discover why trading without a common currency is hard.
Content type(s):
Lesson plans
Grade level(s):
Grade 4 / Elementary Cycle 2,
Grade 5 / Elementary Cycle 3,
Grade 6 / Elementary Cycle 3,
Grade 7 / Secondary 1,
Grade 8 / Secondary 2
March 16, 2020
Trade Rules
Introduce three basic economic concepts: consumers and producers, goods and services, and trade. Students will play a game to understand the benefits of trade.
Content type(s):
Lesson plans
Grade level(s):
Grade 3 / Elementary Cycle 2,
Grade 4 / Elementary Cycle 2,
Grade 5 / Elementary Cycle 3
January 29, 2020
A Bank NOTE-able Canadian
Apply the concept of historical significance to nominate an iconic Canadian for a new bank note. Students will create a design for their proposal.
Content type(s):
Lesson plans
Grade level(s):
Grade 10 / Secondary 4,
Grade 11 / Secondary 5,
Grade 6 / Elementary Cycle 3,
Grade 7 / Secondary 1,
Grade 8 / Secondary 2,
Grade 9 / Secondary 3
November 27, 2020
Printable Play Money
Practise counting and exchanging coins and bank notes with our printable play money.
November 23, 2020
Making Sense of Currencies
Use this activity sheet to practice converting exchange rates.
Content type(s):
Activities
Grade level(s):
Grade 10 / Secondary 4,
Grade 6 / Elementary Cycle 3,
Grade 7 / Secondary 1,
Grade 8 / Secondary 2,
Grade 9 / Secondary 3
October 28, 2020
The Economics of Suppertime
Make grocery shopping an economic lesson by helping your kids prepare a meal plan, and shop for ingredients based on a budget.
Content type(s):
Activities
Grade level(s):
Grade 3 / Elementary Cycle 2,
Grade 4 / Elementary Cycle 2,
Grade 5 / Elementary Cycle 3,
Grade 6 / Elementary Cycle 3,
Grade 7 / Secondary 1
July 7, 2020
The Art of Guilloche
Explore the art of guilloche. This technique was used to make symmetrical patterns on Canadian bank notes.
Content type(s):
Activities
Grade level(s):
Grade 2 / Elementary Cycle 1,
Grade 3 / Elementary Cycle 2,
Grade 4 / Elementary Cycle 2,
Grade 5 / Elementary Cycle 3,
Grade 6 / Elementary Cycle 3
June 24, 2020
Colouring Time!
Let your creativity shine with these colouring sheets.
Content type(s):
Activities
Grade level(s):
Grade 1 / Elementary Cycle 1,
Grade 2 / Elementary Cycle 1,
Grade 3 / Elementary Cycle 2,
Kindergarten
February 3, 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
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.
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
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.
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
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!
Bank of Canada: Educational resources
The Bank of Canada also has some educational resources we think you may find helpful.
Content type(s):
Educational resources
Grade level(s):
Grade 10 / Secondary 4,
Grade 11 / Secondary 5,
Grade 12,
Grade 9 / Secondary 3
Bank of Canada: Explainers
Consult these brief articles explaining various topics related to the Bank of Canada's main core functions.
Content type(s):
Educational resources
Grade level(s):
Grade 10 / Secondary 4,
Grade 11 / Secondary 5,
Grade 12,
Grade 9 / Secondary 3
Bank of Canada: The Economy, Plain and Simple
It’s right there in the title—The Economy, Plain and Simple: Plain language. Complex concepts made as simple as possible—thanks to the efforts of our economists and a supporting cast of communications professionals. The results are short, quick reads, with engaging visuals, all on a mobile-friendly platform—so you can read them on the go.
Content type(s):
Educational resources
Grade level(s):
Grade 10 / Secondary 4,
Grade 11 / Secondary 5,
Grade 12,
Grade 9 / Secondary 3
Money and Monetary Policy in Canada
Money and Monetary Policy in Canada is a web resource to help educate Canadians on the mechanics of their economy and the Bank of Canada’s role in it. It’s written in fun, clear language and supplemented with helpful illustrations, meeting the needs of multiple levels of high school curricula.
Content type(s):
Educational resources
Grade level(s):
Grade 10 / Secondary 4,
Grade 11 / Secondary 5,
Grade 12,
Grade 7 / Secondary 1,
Grade 8 / Secondary 2,
Grade 9 / Secondary 3
Teacher's Newsletter
Sign up to stay up-to-date on the Museum’s programs, activities and opportunities for you and your students.
Content type(s):
Educational resources
Grade level(s):
Grade 1 / Elementary Cycle 1,
Grade 10 / Secondary 4,
Grade 11 / Secondary 5,
Grade 12,
Grade 2 / Elementary Cycle 1,
Grade 3 / Elementary Cycle 2,
Grade 4 / Elementary Cycle 2,
Grade 5 / Elementary Cycle 3,
Grade 6 / Elementary Cycle 3,
Grade 7 / Secondary 1,
Grade 8 / Secondary 2,
Grade 9 / Secondary 3,
Kindergarten

School Bursary Program
Need some assistance getting your class to the Museum?
If you are a school in need and in the National Capital Region, let us help with our transportation bursary.