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COLLECTION · Series · 1978

Trade-Offs

Trade-offs was an AIT program designed to improve economics instruction in the United States and Canadian schools. The series of fifteen lessons, for children from 9-13, helped students think their way through economic problems and increased their understanding of economics. On a broader scale, it helped them become more effective decision makers and ultimately more responsible citizens. Each lesson consists of a 20-minute color television/film program plus teacher's guide material to facilitate classroom follow-up. Each program begins with a short segment that identifies key points that students and teachers should watch for. This is followed by the dramatization of a fundamental economic problem relevant to the daily life of the student. Special visuals emphasize the economic principles and reasoning processes involved. The last portion of the program introduces, but does not resolve, another problem, and ends by posing a question to the viewers.

Source: TMDB
* 0.0 (0)Family
Soundtrack
Google
Creators
Jerry J. Moss
Studios
PBS · Agency for Instructional Technology (AIT)
Age rating
TV-Y7
Release
05/09/1978
Score
0.0 / 10
Where to watch
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Seasons and episodes
Season 1
15 episodes · 1978
Choice
Episode 1. Choice
1978-09-05

Kids at a local tennis club face a series of everyday decisions that reveal the meaning of opportunity cost. Whether choosing between a ball game and an amusement park, food or rides, or how to use limited film and money, each character…

Malcolm Decides
Episode 2. Malcolm Decides
1978-09-12

Malcolm is thrilled to win “Paper Carrier of the Month,” but his $15 gift certificate quickly leads to a tough decision. With several appealing options and only one chance to choose, he works through five steps of decision‑making—defining…

We Decide
Episode 3. We Decide
1978-09-19

When a school discovers it doesn’t have enough bike‑rack spaces for all the students who ride to class, one group must figure out a fair way to assign the limited spots. As they debate alternatives—first‑come‑first‑served, taking turns, a…

Give and Take
Episode 4. Give and Take
1978-09-26

Two brothers discover that not every decision has to be all‑or‑nothing as they negotiate how to use a limited supply of lumber for both a treehouse and their go‑kart track. At the same time, their father faces his own compromise between…

Less and More
Episode 5. Less and More
1978-10-03

When a family‑run restaurant faces rising costs and long work hours, the owner’s son steps in with new ideas to boost productivity. By introducing changes like a salad bar, delivery rules, and more efficient cooking methods, he shows how…

Working Together
Episode 6. Working Together
1978-10-10

When three friends team up to wash their fathers’ taxis, they discover that dividing the work into specialized tasks dramatically boosts their speed and earnings. But as their small operation grows—and even expands into a service‑station…

Does It Pay
Episode 7. Does It Pay
1978-10-17

Bobby dreams of buying his first car, but his slow lawn‑mowing business forces him to confront a tough choice: keep saving or invest in a power mower to boost productivity. As he weighs risks, costs, and opportunity loss—“with the hand…

Learning and Earning
Episode 8. Learning and Earning
1978-10-24

Judy and Andrea weigh the costs and benefits of taking an eight‑week training course that could qualify them for higher‑paying summer jobs as junior playground supervisors. As they invest time, money, and effort, both girls confront the…

Why Money
Episode 9. Why Money
1978-10-31

In this episode, the series explores why money exists and how it helps people make everyday choices. Through simple examples and real‑world scenarios, viewers learn how money solves problems of trade, value, and fairness. The episode…

To Buy or Not to Buy
Episode 10. To Buy or Not to Buy
1978-11-07

Sharon and her friends attempt to raise money for a school trip by selling danishes door‑to‑door, discovering firsthand how price affects consumer demand. As they adjust their prices, expand their sales team, and experiment with…

To Sell or Not to Sell
Episode 11. To Sell or Not to Sell
1978-11-14

Kathy discovers the real costs behind making handmade serving trays and must decide whether selling them is worth her time. As prices, wages, and opportunity costs shift, she learns how producers respond to changing incentives. The…

At What Price?
Episode 12. At What Price?
1978-11-21

A sporting‑goods store’s overstocked bats and a pool’s overpriced drinks show how markets react when prices are too high or too low. Through shortages, surpluses, and price adjustments, kids learn how supply and demand work together to…

How Could That Happen?
Episode 13. How Could That Happen?
1978-11-28

When a young musician becomes a sudden sensation, rising demand for his records sets off surprising ripple effects across the economy. From popcorn to raincoats, motorcycles to football helmets, the episode shows how interconnected…

Innocent Bystanders
Episode 14. Innocent Bystanders
1978-12-05

A neighborhood conflict erupts when Jerry’s rock band lands a steady gig and must practice at home, disrupting his sister’s plans and a neighbor’s weekly chamber‑music recital. As frustrations rise, each person argues for their own idea…

Helping Out
Episode 15. Helping Out
1978-12-12

When a young girl is bitten by a stray dog, the town scrambles to determine whether the animal was vaccinated for rabies. As the search unfolds, the community confronts the broader consequences of individual choices and the hidden ways…

Cast by season
Cindy Girling
Cindy Girling
Cindy
?
Bert Adkins
Bert
?
Stephen Brown
Malcolm
?
Gordon Robertson
Gordon
?
Ardon Bess
?
Ken James
?
Sean McCann
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Keywords
instructionalchildren
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