Gaming Economics in the Middle School Classroom

A prime concern for middle school educators is for students to become knowledgeable and skilled in the areas of economics and personal finance. Some of the reasons underscoring this concern include the questionable future of social support systems, reduction of corporate pension plans, and the lingering effects of the 2008 financial crisis on families who continue to report high debt, tenuous job situations, and reduced savings/investments. This article describes an interactive simulation role-play employed with 5th and 6th-grade students (n?=?37). Results reveal that participants’ understanding of key economic concepts and personal finance skills improved using this instructional method.