Notice of Temporary Closure
The Bank of Canada Museum remains closed due to COVID-19. Our museum experience is highly interactive, and our top priority is the safety of our staff and visitors. We look forward to welcoming you again once it is safe for us to reopen.

Learn

We make learning about the economy fun, with resources available to suit your curriculum.

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Lesson plans

Follow these step-by-step guides to teach your students about the economy.

October 25, 2021

Assessing the Life Cycle of a Bank Note

Examine the environmental impact of everyday items by assessing the life cycle of a universal product: money.
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
May 17, 2021

Counting Money and Making Change

Introduce your Grade 2 students to counting money and forming change combinations. Use these four sets of money math activities individually or in the order listed in this lesson.
Content type(s): Lesson plans Grade level(s): Grade 2 / Elementary Cycle 1
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

See all our lesson plans


Video discussion guides

Facilitate discussion on our economic videos with these guides.

May 4, 2021

A Canadian Central Bank: The History of the Bank of Canada

Learn about why the Bank of Canada was created and how it continues to promote the economic and financial welfare of Canadians.
Content type(s): Multimedia Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12, Grade 8 / Secondary 2, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
August 26, 2020

You Are the Economy

The Canadian economy is deeply interconnected, and your part in it is explored in this animated video. From apples to houses, your economic decisions help shape the economy, which in turn helps shape all of us. And the Bank of Canada’s role is to keep an eye on it all while giving you the confidence that your money will hold its value.
Content type(s): Multimedia Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12, Grade 6 / Elementary Cycle 3, Grade 7 / Secondary 1, Grade 8 / Secondary 2, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
August 17, 2020

Funds Management: Selling Bonds

Just like you, the government sometimes needs a little financial help with large projects. Learn how the Bank of Canada handles funding for the government by selling bonds: short-term loans made by businesses and individuals to the government.
Content type(s): Multimedia 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

See all our guides


Activities

Have fun learning about the economy and financial system with these kid-friendly activities.

October 21, 2021

Needs or wants? That is the question!

Do you need it, or do you want it? That’s an important question to ask before buying anything. This activity is designed to teach kids how to prioritize their needs and wants, and how to make informed choices when shopping.
Content type(s): Activities Grade level(s): Grade 1 / Elementary Cycle 1, Grade 2 / Elementary Cycle 1
June 15, 2021

Pirate treasure

Have fun making pirate coins based on historical examples from our collection and create your very own treasure chest.
Content type(s): Activities Grade level(s): Grade 1 / Elementary Cycle 1, Grade 2 / Elementary Cycle 1, Grade 3 / Elementary Cycle 2, Kindergarten
November 27, 2020

Printable Play Money

A collage of cartoon characters, paper play money, pencils and scissors.
Practise counting and exchanging coins and bank notes with our printable play money.
Content type(s): Activities Grade level(s): Grade 1 / Elementary Cycle 1, 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

See all our activities


School programs

Book your class for these staff-led programs.

All About Money

Kindergarten to Grade 6: Get your students talking about money with this lively and interactive virtual classroom presentation.
Content type(s): School programs Grade level(s): Grade 1 / Elementary Cycle 1, 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, Kindergarten

See all our school programs


Education blog

Explore creative ways to integrate economics into your classroom.

September 2, 2021

Virtual Worlds. Real Economies.

By: Adam Young


A cartoon astronaut waves in front of a logo of the game.
The economies in modern, complex video games can teach gamers a lot about decision making and financial literacy.
Content type(s): Blog
June 3, 2021

Value is in the Eye of the Consumer

By: Graham Iddon


Collage, money, graphs and people playing with hula hoops.
Supply and demand is part of the very bedrock of an economy. It's what generates the price of any product or service.
Content type(s): Blog
February 26, 2021

Playing with Economy

By: Graham Iddon


A diverse group of 4 young children playing a board game.
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.
Content type(s): Blog

See all our blog posts


Educational resources

Find resources and tools for learning about Canada’s central bank and the economic landscape.

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 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

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