Economics

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): Economics, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 07 / Secondary 1, Grade 08 / Secondary 2, Grade 09 / Secondary 3, Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5
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): Economics Grade level(s): Grade 07 / Secondary 1, Grade 08 / Secondary 2, Grade 09 / Secondary 3, Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5
April 28, 2020
Money and Monetary Policy in Canada (Canadian Foundation for Economic Education)

Learn about money and monetary policy in these nine learning modules that help explain the mechanics of the economy and the Bank of Canada’s role in it. The resource uses clear language supplemented with helpful illustrations and lesson plans for economics teachers.

Content type(s): External resources Subject(s): Business, Economics, Financial literacy, Geography, History, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 07 / Secondary 1, Grade 08 / Secondary 2, Grade 09 / Secondary 3, Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5
April 28, 2020
The Economy, Plain and Simple (The Bank of Canada)

Explore economics and the role of the Bank of Canada with this series of quick reads featuring easy-to-understand graphs and engaging visuals. Topics include how the prices of groceries and gasoline are determined, the benefits of post-secondary education, labour productivity and global supply chains. These articles are a perfect introduction to wider economic questions.

Content type(s): External resources Subject(s): Business, Economics, Financial literacy, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 09 / Secondary 3, Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5
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): Economics, Math, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 09 / Secondary 3, Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5
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): Economics, Financial literacy, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5
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): Economics, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 08 / Secondary 2, Grade 09 / Secondary 3, Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5
March 14, 2019
Inflation Busters

Onsite program: 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): Economics Grade level(s): Grade 09 / Secondary 3, Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5
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): Economics, History, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 07 / Secondary 1, Grade 08 / Secondary 2, Grade 09 / Secondary 3, Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5
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): Economics, History, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 06, Grade 07 / Secondary 1, Grade 08 / Secondary 2, Grade 09 / Secondary 3, Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5