# Foundations of 
Civics and Economics 

---

Civic culture rests upon a foundation of principles critical to preserving our liberal democracy. From free speech and civil discourse to the rule of law and toleration, these timeless principles create the conditions that enable a thriving society. The Sphere Education Initiative provides the resources below to aid educators in sharing these principles with students in furtherance of our mission to teach civic culture together.

##### Lessons 

[![Sphere Comparative Advantage Cover](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2022-02/sphere-comparative-advantage.jpg?itok=AvFu6xpP)](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/concept-comparative-advantage-sometimes-mishandled-discussions-international-trade) 

**[Comparative Advantage](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/concept-comparative-advantage-sometimes-mishandled-discussions-international-trade)**

[![Sphere Economic Lessons Costs cover](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2022-02/sphere-economic-lessons-costs-cover.jpg?itok=cOkQPSHG)](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/often-meaning-cost-varies-when-you-ask-different-people-who-are-part-same-single-transaction) 

**[Opportunity Cost](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/often-meaning-cost-varies-when-you-ask-different-people-who-are-part-same-single-transaction)**

[![Sphere Equal Rights cover](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2022-02/sphere-civic-education-equal-rights.jpg?itok=Stgd9xMq)](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/struggle-equal-rights-founding-today) 

**[Equal Rights](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/struggle-equal-rights-founding-today)**

[![Sphere Civil Discourse primer cover](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2023-01/sphere-civil-discourse-primer-cover.png?itok=cq_MpXdu)](https://www.sphere-ed.org/publication/principles-civil-discourse-primer) 

**[Principles of Civil Discourse](https://www.sphere-ed.org/publication/principles-civil-discourse-primer)**

[![sphere-civic-rule-of-law-cover2.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2023-01/sphere-civic-rule-of-law-cover2.jpg?itok=-O15baiM)](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/rule-law-death-penalty) 

**[Capital Punishment](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/rule-law-death-penalty)**

[![Sphere - Civic Discourse - Booker T. Washington](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2023-02/sphere-booker-t-washington.png?itok=bMMUOFSw)](https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/2023-02/sphere-booker-t-washington.png) 

[Booker T. Washington Poster](https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/2023-02/sphere-booker-t-washington.png)

[![Civil-Discourse-Through-Literature_Overview-cover.png](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2023-02/Civil-Discourse-Through-Literature_Overview-cover.png?itok=5ir8QEs2)](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/practicing-civil-discourse-through-literature) 

**[Civil Discourse through Literature](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/practicing-civil-discourse-through-literature)**

[![Civil-Discourse_Know-You-cover-2.png](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2023-02/Civil-Discourse_Know-You-cover-2.png?itok=AnFRJwiX)](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/getting-know-you) 

**[Getting to Know You](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/getting-know-you)**

[![Civil-Discourse_What-is-Civil-Discourse-cover.png](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2023-02/Civil-Discourse_What-is-Civil-Discourse-cover.png?itok=9qEVOADG)](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/what-civil-discourse) 

[What is Civil Discourse?](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/what-civil-discourse)

[![Civil-Discourse_An-Activity-3-cover.png](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2023-02/Civil-Discourse_An-Activity-3-cover.png?itok=IQSIHsf4)](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/civil-discourse-activity) 

**[Civil Discourse: An Activity](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/civil-discourse-activity)**

[![Civil-Discourse_Practicing-Our-Literacy-Skills-4-cover.png](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2023-02/Civil-Discourse_Practicing-Our-Literacy-Skills-4-cover.png?itok=pWfh38n9)](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/practicing-our-critical-literacy-skills) 

**[Practicing Our Critical Literacy Skills](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/practicing-our-critical-literacy-skills)**

[![Civil-Discourse-Windows-Mirrors-and-Sliding-Glass-Doors-5-cover.png](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2023-02/Civil-Discourse-Windows-Mirrors-and-Sliding-Glass-Doors-5-cover.png?itok=LDmVYn9P)](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/windows-mirrors-sliding-glass-doors) 

[Windows, Mirrors and Sliding Glass Doors](https://www.sphere-ed.org/lesson/windows-mirrors-sliding-glass-doors)