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.

Learning resources by grade

Access our entire collection of learning resources for the grades you teach.

Contains

Content types

Grade levels

Subjects

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 Subject(s): History, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 6, Grade 7 / Secondary 1, Grade 8 / Secondary 2, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
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 Subject(s): Economy, History, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP, Grade 8 / Secondary 2, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
October 25, 2019

A Noteworthy Woman

Apply the concept of historical significance to examine the bank note featuring Viola Desmond.
Content type(s): Lesson plans Subject(s): History, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP, Grade 8 / Secondary 2, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
May 5, 2021

All About Money

Grade 1 to Grade 6: Get your students talking about money with this lively and interactive virtual classroom presentation.
Content type(s): School programs Subject(s): Financial literacy, Health, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6
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 Subject(s): Geography, Science Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7 / Secondary 1, Grade 8 / Secondary 2, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
April 3, 2020

Avatar Market

Practice making financial decisions by buying clothing and accessories for avatar puppets.
Content type(s): Activities and games Subject(s): Financial literacy, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Kindergarten
April 28, 2020

Bank of Canada: Educational resources

The Bank of Canada also has some educational resources we think you may find helpful.
Content type(s): External resources Subject(s): Economy Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
October 27, 2020

Bank of Canada: Explainers

Consult these brief articles explaining various topics related to the Bank of Canada's core functions.
Content type(s): External resources Subject(s): Business and careers, Economy, Financial literacy, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
April 28, 2020

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): External resources Subject(s): Business and careers, Economy, Financial literacy, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
September 5, 2017

Build a Bank Note: Classroom Resource for Teachers

Teach your students about Canada’s history, land and culture – with money!
Content type(s): Lesson plans Subject(s): Geography, History, Language arts, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7 / Secondary 1, Grade 8 / Secondary 2
June 24, 2020

Colouring Time!

Let your creativity shine with these colouring sheets.
Content type(s): Activities and games Subject(s): Arts Grade level(s): Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Kindergarten
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 Subject(s): Financial literacy, Math Grade level(s): Grade 2
January 4, 2021

Economic Opportunity Costs

By: Graham Iddon


Man in a superhero costume crouching in an aisle of a home renovation warehouse.
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.
Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Economy, Financial literacy, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP, Grade 8 / Secondary 2, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
November 27, 2020

Exploring Coins and Bank Notes

Hands filling out a form on a table with art supplies and paper play money.
Explore Canadian money with young learners using our printable worksheets.
Content type(s): Lesson plans Subject(s): Financial literacy, Math, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 1, Kindergarten
January 24, 2022

Fintech 101

Teach the basics of financial technology, peer-to-peer payments and how the Bank keeps your payments safe with this video and discussion guide for secondary students.
Content type(s): Multimedia Subject(s): Economy Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
August 17, 2020

Funds Management: Foreign Currency Holdings

The Bank of Canada holds billions of dollars in foreign currencies on behalf of the government. The Bank buys and sells these currencies to decrease or increase holdings of Canadian dollars. Learn how these transactions help to soften sharp movements in the exchange rate of our dollar.
Content type(s): Multimedia Subject(s): Economy, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP, 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 Subject(s): Economy, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP, Grade 7 / Secondary 1, Grade 8 / Secondary 2, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
August 17, 2020

Funds Management: The Government’s Bank Account

Where does the government keep its money? At the Bank of Canada. The Bank also ensures that the government has enough money to meet its daily needs and is able to provide the services you rely on. Learn about the Bank’s role as the government’s banker.
Content type(s): Multimedia Subject(s): Economy Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP, Grade 7 / Secondary 1, Grade 8 / Secondary 2, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
August 19, 2021

Fur Trade Economics

By: David Bergeron, Graham Iddon, Krista Broeckx


Photo collage, yellowed document with writing, tokens, carved stick, silver beaver trinket.
Over its 350-year lifespan, the Hudson’s Bay Company has had an enormous impact on Canada’s economy and how the nation was settled.
Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Economy, History, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7 / Secondary 1, Grade 8 / Secondary 2, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
October 5, 2020

If I Had a Million Dollars…I’d Be Reasonably Well Off

By: Graham Iddon


When the Barenaked Ladies released “If I Had a $1,000,000,” they could have considered themselves reasonably rich. And today? Well, there’s this inflation thing…
Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Economy, Math, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP, Grade 7 / Secondary 1, Grade 8 / Secondary 2, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
March 14, 2019

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 Subject(s): Economy Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
January 24, 2022

Inflation over time

What is inflation and what does it mean to you? This video and discussion guide will help you get your secondary students talking.
Content type(s): Multimedia Subject(s): Economy Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
November 23, 2020

Making Sense of Currencies

Use this activity sheet to practice converting exchange rates.
Content type(s): Activities and games Subject(s): Economy, Financial literacy, Math Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 6, Grade 7 / Secondary 1, Grade 8 / Secondary 2, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
April 28, 2020

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): External resources Subject(s): Business and careers, Economy, Financial literacy, Geography, History, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP, Grade 7 / Secondary 1, Grade 8 / Secondary 2, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
November 8, 2018

Money of the First World War

By: Paul S. Berry


In Europe, gold and silver coins largely disappeared from circulation as they were hoarded or as governments used the metal for the war effort.
Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Economy, History, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP, Grade 7 / Secondary 1, Grade 8 / Secondary 2, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
April 15, 2020

Money Slime

Use slime to learn how to recognize and count coins.
Content type(s): Activities and games Subject(s): Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Kindergarten
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 Subject(s): Economy, History, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7 / Secondary 1, Grade 8 / Secondary 2, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
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 and games Subject(s): Financial literacy, Health Grade level(s): Grade 1, Grade 2, Kindergarten
May 8, 2018

Operation Fish

By: Robert Low


Operation Fish was the largest movement of physical wealth in history.
Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Economy, History, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP, Grade 6, Grade 7 / Secondary 1, Grade 8 / Secondary 2, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
April 28, 2020

Piggy Bank

Practice saving money with this fun piggy bank craft.
Content type(s): Activities and games Subject(s): Arts, Financial literacy, Health Grade level(s): Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3
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 and games Subject(s): Arts, History, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Kindergarten
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 posts Subject(s): Economy, Financial literacy, Math, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7 / Secondary 1, Grade 8 / Secondary 2, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
September 26, 2019

Price Check: Inflation in Canada

All about inflation: what it is, what it means and how it's measured. Students will learn how the consumer price index is calculated and create their own student price index to measure the prices that matter most to them.
Content type(s): Lesson plans Subject(s): Economy, Financial literacy, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP
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 and games Subject(s): Business and careers, Economy, Financial literacy, Math, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Kindergarten
November 22, 2019

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 Subject(s): Financial literacy, History, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7 / Secondary 1, Grade 8 / Secondary 2
November 2, 2020

Teaching Economics During the COVID-19 Pandemic

By: Adam Young


Authentic, teachable moments show students how the Bank of Canada is helping the economy navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.
Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Business and careers, Economy, Geography, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
May 5, 2020

Thank You Coupons

Exchange goods and services by creating a special gift for a loved one.
Content type(s): Activities and games Subject(s): Arts, Language arts, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Kindergarten
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 and games Subject(s): Arts, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6
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 and games Subject(s): Business and careers, Economy, Financial literacy, Health, Math Grade level(s): Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7 / Secondary 1
December 2, 2021

The true value of money

By: Graham Iddon


Photo collage, old bank notes and coins, gold nuggets and a computer component.
What is money—when you really stop to think about it? To understand how money works, and what it ultimately represents, we need to strip it down to its very basic function.
Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Economy Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP, Grade 7 / Secondary 1, Grade 8 / Secondary 2, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
March 18, 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 Subject(s): Financial literacy, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5
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 Subject(s): Geography, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7 / Secondary 1, Grade 8 / Secondary 2
March 14, 2019

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 Subject(s): Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7 / Secondary 1, Grade 8 / Secondary 2
December 2, 2019

Trading Up: How Countries Benefit from Freer Trade

Use hands-on activities to explore comparative advantage, opportunity cost and specialization. Students will learn how these key economic concepts help countries benefit from trade.
Content type(s): Lesson plans Subject(s): Economy, Math, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
November 27, 2020

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!
Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Business and careers, Economy, Financial literacy, Health, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 1, Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7 / Secondary 1, Grade 8 / Secondary 2, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
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 posts Subject(s): Economy, Financial literacy, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP, Grade 7 / Secondary 1, Grade 8 / Secondary 2, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
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 posts Subject(s): Economy, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP, Grade 9 / Secondary 3
May 15, 2019

What goes up…

By: Graham Iddon


Economic bubbles continued to pop up regularly throughout history, and still do today.
Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Economy, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP, 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 Subject(s): Business and careers, Economy, Financial literacy, Geography, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grade 11 / Secondary 5, Grade 12 / CEGEP, Grade 6, Grade 7 / Secondary 1, Grade 8 / Secondary 2, Grade 9 / Secondary 3

30 Bank Street
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0G9, CANADA
613-782-8914

Bank of Canada Museum

Visit the Bank of Canada web site ›