Arkansas History – Bessie B. Moore Center for Economic Education

Who could imagine teaching Arkansas history without including economics? It simply can’t be done! To support you in making those essential connections, the Bessie Moore Center has gathered and developed a collection of hands-on, activity-based lessons that highlight the economic dimensions of Arkansas history. These engaging resources bring history to life by showing how economics has shaped our state—from early trade routes to modern development.

Be sure to explore standout lessons like Ballooning Through Arkansas History and Arkansas Park Development, which integrate interactive components and make excellent use of online tools. And don’t miss our special feature page on the Economic Dimensions of Arkansas History, complete with a downloadable lesson and a crowd-favorite: an Internet-based Jeopardy-style game that students and teachers consistently rave about!

Arkansas: Specializing to Produce a Great State (Word doc) — Through active participation in assembling an Arkansas puzzle and playing a card game, the students will learn about specialization in early Arkansas. Interdependence and specialization come to life when students first produce Arkansas puzzles on their own and then in production groups. Students learn how division of labor can increase productivity. They then relate these economic concepts to their lives as they go out into the community and interview modern-day specialists.

Arkansas Stories — Charley Sandage, performed by: Harmony — Track 7 Sultana (2:44). These songs use traditional music to tell stories of Arkansas pasts. A great way to introduce new history ideas to your students!

Arkansas Traveler (Word doc): What Do You See? — A K-2 Arkansas history Common Core lesson written by Marsha Masters with Economics Arkansas. Great fun and educational too!

Ballooning through Arkansas (Word doc): Experiencing Scarcity — Students working in groups or individually use the Internet to determine where they will stop in each of Arkansas’ geographic regions. They have scarcity of time and space as they plan their trip.

Economic Dimensions of Arkansas History — This curriculum was developed by middle school education majors at the University of Arkansas and the University of Arkansas Women’s Giving Circle. This lesson uses an Arkansas map as a graphic organizer as students learn about industry, history, natural resources, transportation and geography. After sharing their newly developed knowledge with classmates, they regroup and compete on an Internet-based Jeopardy format game — great fun with maximum learning!

Parks and Tourism in the Natural State: An Economic Driver — Website and activities to teach Arkansas history using Arkansas State Parks. Students learn about park goals through research and the creation of a new park.

Pride in Arkansas — Economic development of the state and highlights from each region are included.

Economic Dimensions of Arkansas History (PowerPoint)
Economic Development of Arkansas (PowerPoint) — Students work in groups of five or six and use an Arkansas road map as a graphic organizer to research and learn about specialized topics such as industry, natural resources, history, geography, and transportation. Once they have developed expertise in their category, they prepare an entertaining presentation to share their information with the rest of the class. Once the presentations are complete, new groups are formed with one specialist per category per group. Now let the play begin!

Transportation

The Wheels on the Truck (Word doc) — Another fun activity that capitalizes on young learners’ interest in transportation. Again, it was written by Marsha Masters from Economics Arkansas. Enjoy this Common Core-aligned activity.
Arkansas Park Development: Scarcity of Land — Students research the six natural divisions of the state to determine the location for a new state park. Due to the scarcity of resources, only one new park can be developed. The goals of the park and the opportunity cost are important criteria to be considered in this important decision. (Contact the Center for information on this lesson.)

Arkansas Ice Breaker

Arkansas Story Vault

The Arkansas Story Vault is a University of Arkansas project that enables students to produce documentaries, podcasts, and oral histories, revealing how economic forces shape Arkansas communities. From examining labor markets and healthcare access in the Marshallese community during COVID-19 to exploring the economic role of cultural institutions like the Walton Arts Center and Opera in the Ozarks, each story connects personal experiences to larger themes such as migration, inequality, and community development, turning local narratives into powerful, real-world case studies in economics.

Explore this valuable resource to boost content knowledge and connect students directly with entrepreneurs making a real impact in our state!

Looking for ways to connect these concepts to economics? Here is a sample lesson plan connecting the Walton’s Art Center with concepts related to economics.

University of Arkansas Museum

The University of Arkansas Museum at Fayetteville preserves an expansive and diverse collection of more than 7.5 million artifacts spanning archaeology, ethnology, geology, history, and zoology. Building on its beginnings as a geology teaching collection from around 1873, the museum now offers a rich, multifaceted trove of materials—particularly focused on Arkansas with global representations.

Since 2022, the Museum has made much of its collection publicly accessible via an online database powered by Omeka, regularly updated with new entries and images Arkansas News. Educators and students can explore artifacts virtually, including a meteorite, dinosaur fossils, and cultural objects, along with contextual details that bring these items to life.

How to Use the UA Museum to Teach Economics

Resource Economics & Natural Wealth
- Explore Arkansas’s geology collection—like quartz crystals or the Pleistocene mammoth—to discuss resource value, extraction, and the concept of comparative advantage.
- Use the fossil record (e.g., Arkansaurus, crocodile specimens) to trace how geological discoveries spur tourism, industry, and regional economic growth.
Cultural Crafts & Market Value
- Feature regional historical objects—textiles, Niloak pottery, pressed glass—to examine how cultural artifacts reflect local industry, craft economies, and consumer preferences.
- Challenge students to analyze how handcrafted goods gain value over time through scarcity, heritage branding, or artistic significance.
Supply Chain & Labor Evolution
- Trace the production journey of items like quilts or glassware to understand supply chains, labor costs, and changes in manufacturing technology.
- Compare traditional, handcrafted methods with modern industrial processes to investigate economies of scale and labor dynamics.
Tourism & Economic Development
- Highlight high-interest objects (e.g., Razorback memorabilia, meteorite) to analyze how museums attract visitors and generate revenue through admissions, merchandise, or educational programs.
- Encourage students to estimate the economic multiplier effect a local museum could have on a regional economy.
Digital Access & Educational Equity
- Discuss the museum’s Omeka-powered digital platform as an example of how technology democratizes access to cultural and scientific knowledge.
- Reflect on how digital collections can reduce geographic and socioeconomic barriers—embedding lessons in public goods, information accessibility, and equity.

Suggested Integration Ideas

Virtual “Artifact Market” Simulation: Students browse the museum’s online collection and “bid” on artifacts in a classroom auction. Have students reflect on how factors like rarity, cultural significance, or condition influence valuation.
Regional Economic Timeline: Pair the Tree-Ring samples or geological artifacts with historical economic data to chart resource-driven growth in Arkansas—tying geology, environment, and economy together.
Cost-Benefit Museum Field Trip: If feasible, organize a trip to the museum’s facility (by appointment) and have students perform a cost-benefit analysis—factoring in admission, travel, time, and educational value.
Sample lesson plan: Use this sample lesson plan to structure a lesson related to the exploration of the U of A Museum and its connections with principles related to economics.

Bessie B. Moore Center for Economic Education Graphic