SC Economics hosts Zoo-nomics workshop to bring economics to life for teachers

SC Economics successfully hosted Zoo-nomics: Wild Ways to Teach Economics in the Classroom at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The event brought together 34 teachers from across South Carolina for a hands-on professional development experience.

Thanks to generous support from the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA), kindergarten through 12th grade educators participated in engaging activities that made economic concepts more accessible and fun for students. For example, teachers explored scarcity, opportunity cost, and decision-making through a “build a zoo” exercise, learned about trade and comparative advantage with a bartering activity, and experienced specialization and interdependence through a hat-making challenge.

“This workshop provided teachers with practical, classroom-ready tools to help students understand how economics impacts the world around them,” said Chandler Jordan, Executive Director of SC Economics. “Thanks to SCRA’s support, we provided high-quality resources and an interactive learning experience that will benefit thousands of students across the state.”

In addition to engaging lessons, teachers received lesson plans, classroom materials, and professional development credits, ensuring long-term impact in their schools. By connecting economic education with real-world applications, the workshop supports South Carolina’s commitment to fostering financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and workforce readiness in future generations.

For more information about SC Economics and upcoming professional development opportunities, visit www.sceconomics.org.