This paper is a summary of the recent research on the Elementary School Economics (ESE) programs. The curricula were initiated by the Center in 1960 as a part of an experimental research project designed to answer the following: 1) can elementary school students comprehend, utilize, and retain basic economic concepts; and, 2) can a program in…

This paper reports research conducted with materials from the Anthropology Curriculum Project, which follows a substantive model, to answer the question: was pupil achievement in anthropology primarily a functon of the trained teacher, or a function of the materials used by any teacher in anthropology. A quasi-experimental design involving intact…

There is a growing awareness of the need to include economics as a subject in the elementary school curriculum. This research project directed by the Industrial Relations Center of The University of Chicago demonstrates that variable economic understanding in students occurs at each socioeconomic status (SES) level. Included in the study is an…

This study assessed some of the cognitive and affective elements for both the traditional and mini curricula. The hypothesis, stated in the null form, was there will be no difference between students in the mini-course curriculum and the traditional curriculum on a number of stated cognitive variables (focusing on critical thinking and reading…

This document briefly introduces and describes the administration of the Elementary School Economics (ESE) program, discusses program objectives, suggests ways to integrate ESE into social studies curriculum, and evaluates the program's effectiveness. In 1960 the Industrial Relations Center at the University of Chicago initiated the ESE program to…