St. Louis Fed Teacher Open House Offers Free Resources to Teach Economics

ST. LOUIS — Teachers are invited to the Economy Museum’s Teacher Open House on Sept. 10 to explore the museum, preview free classroom resources on economics and personal finance, and discover how to add a museum field trip to their curriculum.

The event will be held at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis’ Economy Museum and is open to any teacher of kindergarten through college.

“The open house is designed to give teachers practical tools they can use the very next day,” Abby Anderson, director of the Economy Museum, said.

St. Louis Fed economics and museum educators will highlight two common misconceptions that show up in classrooms and everyday conversations:

1. Deflation and disinflation mean the same thing.”
   Many people assume that any slowdown in price increases must mean prices are falling. At the open house, teachers will learn how to distinguish the terms: disinflation refers to inflation cooling—prices are still rising, just more slowly—while deflation means overall prices are declining. Knowing the difference helps students and the public understand the economy better.

2. The Federal Reserve sets all interest rates.
   A surprisingly widespread misunderstanding is that the Fed directly controls mortgage rates, auto loan rates or credit‑card rates. At the open house, educators will learn how the Fed influences short‑term interest rates—and why market forces, lender competition and consumer demand play major roles in determining the rates people encounter in their daily lives.

During the event, teachers can tour the museum’s hands‑on exhibits, preview ready‑to‑use lesson plans for any grade level, meet the museum’s education team and learn about no‑cost field trips that connect museum experiences to classroom goals. Light refreshments and take‑home teaching materials will be provided.

“By focusing on misconceptions we hear all the time, we hope to spark curiosity—not just among students, but among teachers looking for clear, accessible explanations about how the economy actually works,” Economic Education Specialist Amanda Geiger said.

Event Details

Date: Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2026
Location: Economy Museum, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, 1 Federal Reserve Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63102
Registration deadline: Sept. 7

Registration link: https://events.stlouisfed.org/event/109302fb-68fb-4f67-a355-47ec1e89cab2/summary?Refid=Main+Event+Calendar+Page

The Economy Museum features more than 100 interactive games, exhibits, currency displays, and videos. Visitors of all ages can learn about the economy and personal finance in an engaging, hands‑on environment.

The Economy Museum is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. except bank holidays at 1 Federal Reserve Plaza. Admission is free.