Lesson Plans Based on Data from GeoFRED

GeoFRED™ is a data-mapping tool that displays color-coded data on the state, MSA and county levels. For example, GeoFRED can display unemployment, labor force and population for all U.S. counties. Users can select among 19,000 FRED® data series and customize these printable maps according to size, scope and detail. The following lesson plans are based on data found in GeoFRED.

Fractile vs. Equal (PDF, 14 pgs., 98 KB)
Grade Level: 7-10

Lesson Description: Students work with data that represent the ages of 24 people to learn the difference between categorizing data in fractile intervals and equal intervals. Students discuss dividing bonus points among class members to understand what per capita means. Then students look at per capita personal income by state using the GeoFRED mapping tool. They compare per capita personal income displayed with data in equal intervals and with data in fractile intervals.

The Geography of the Fed (PDF, 26 pgs., 586 KB)
Grade Level: 7 - 10

Lesson Description: In this lesson, students visit the FED101 web site to learn about the structure of the Federal Reserve. They recognize that there are 12 Federal Reserve districts. The students use the GeoFRED web tool to identify those districts and use a map from Purposes and Functions of the Federal Reserve to identify the states or parts of states included in each district. Students rank the districts according to population size and geographic size. Students compute range, mode, median and mean for the population data.

What Is Unemployment, How Is It Measured and Why Does the Fed Care? (PDF, 20 pgs., 244 KB)
Grade Level: 7 - 10

Lesson Description: In this lesson, students read and interpret choropleth maps, which contain unemployment data. They compare verbal descriptions of the labor market from the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book with the mapped data. In addition, students compare unemployment data for different years. Students access or observe how to access this data online.