Makin' Stacks: A Gamified Economics Curriculum
Makin’ Stacks is a self paced, team based economics program that turns your classroom into a living economy. Students do not just read about economics. They play it, compete in it, and experience it as they move through 12 lessons about economic thinking, including custom original economics games to illustrate concepts.
Students work in small teams but remain individually accountable for every part of the learning. Each student completes their own reflections, activities, and quizzes while contributing to their team’s overall success. This structure keeps everyone engaged while preventing free riders.
Every level in Makin’ Stacks follows the same powerful learning loop so students always know what to do and how to succeed.
Each level includes
--A short video and custom article that introduce the core economic idea
--A game, simulation, or interactive that lets students experience the concept in action
--3-5 reflection questions that check for understanding and connect the idea to real life
--An original arcade game to put the concepts into action.
--A five question mini quiz
Students earn classroom currency, build wealth, and unlock progress as they move through the levels. Concepts like opportunity cost, incentives, trade, inflation, government, and markets stop being abstract and start feeling real because students are constantly making decisions that have consequences inside the game system.
This program is designed to be teacher friendly and flexible. It works for
Self paced learning blocks
Stations or rotations
Small group instruction
Full class implementation
Sub days and enrichment
Everything is already built and structured. Students know exactly what to do at every level, which allows you to focus on coaching, conferencing, and running the economy instead of managing chaos.
If you want students who understand economics not just for a test but for life, Makin’ Stacks gives them a system where learning, decision making, and motivation all work together.
