We're living in unique economic times. In the decades ahead i think we'll see more and more companies getting out of the 'retirement business' -- and state agencies, too. Even if they don't, you need to know a few things about 'investing.'

This activity allows you do do scads of science processes:
observe; gather data; interpret data; make a graph; predict; hypothesize; etc.

• 1) establish an economic portfolio by buying 100 shares of three stocks.
  
• 2) pay your broker 2% of the total purchase price.
• 3) check the price of your stock each week for five weeks.
• 4) sell the stock at the end of five weeks.
• 5) pay your broker 2% of the money received.
• 6) pay the government 28% tax on the profit (or declare a loss to the IRS).
• 7) make a graph of your weekly gains / losses.

• 1) what the heck is the Dow Jones (Industrial) average & why is it important?
  
• 2) print out a list of the stocks that are 'on the Dow.'
  
• 3) record the Dow Jones average each week.
  
• 4) make a graph of these changes.
  

Bonus: 5 points -- (to the first five people from each class that emails me the answer to this question. --- cfmbl@eiu.edu )

what is the value of a 'point' on the Dow.
i.e. "The Dow closed today at 6666 (points)."