THE MAJOR CONCEPTS OF ECONOMICS ARE EXPLAINED TO PROVIDE A BASIS FOR CONSTRUCTING NEW CURRICULUM APPROACHES AND MATERIALS FOR GRADES K-6. THE AUTHOR PRESENTS EIGHT FUNDAMENTAL IDEAS THAT MAY BE USED AS A BASIS FOR BUILDING AN ECONOMICS CURRICULUM AND EXPLORES WAYS OF TEACHING THESE CONCEPTS WITHIN THE EXPERIENCES OF CHILDREN. CHILDREN MAY BE EXPOSED TO SOCIAL REALITIES BY ACTING OUT BASIC ECONOMIC IDEAS IN THE CLASSROOM. TRADING AND THE USE OF MONEY LEAD TO THE CONCEPT OF PRICE. FIRST-GRADE CHILDREN PLAY GROCERY STORE TO UNDERSTAND SCARCITY, THE MAKING OF CHOICES, AND DECISIONS BETWEEN PRESENT AND FUTURE NEEDS. DETAILS ARE GIVEN AS TO HOW CHILDREN OF EVEN THE LOWER ELEMENTARY GRADES CAN DRAMATIZE THE FACTORS OF PRODUCTION IN THE ORGANIZATION OF FACTORIES. PROBLEM-SOLVING APPROACHES ARE ALSO USED BY TAKING EXAMPLES FROM THE CHILDREN'S IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT. THIS PAPER WAS WRITTEN AS PART OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCE EDUCATION CONSORTIUM, A CURRICULUM PROJECT DESIGNED TO OUTLINE THE CONCEPTS, METHODS, AND STRUCTURE OF SEVERAL OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES FOR USE BY TEACHERS AND CURRICULUM WORKERS AT ALL GRADE LEVELS. (TC)