Color the Concepts
Postmark Deadline
 Thursday, April 16, 2026

Teachers: Receive $25 if you have at least 20 entries in the Color the Concept Competition.
Sponsored by
​Lesson plans are linked to the posters images

Kids love to draw --
 what better way to teach economics?

Teachers
· Give your students the opportunity to learn and demonstrate their knowledge of economic concepts in a creative and fun way!
· Submit only one entry per student
· Make sure the student's name, school, grade, and teacher's name is on the back of the poster (make sure it doesn't show through to other side).
· Landscape format required.
- Please include a cover sheet with teacher name, school, grade level, email address, and phone number.
 
Students
Illustrate any of the economic concepts listed in the Alabama Course of Study.
  
Rules
Submission must be the student’s original work!
Make sure the student's name, school, grade, and teacher's name is on the back of the poster 
· Let the picture tell the story - 
              AVOID LENGTHY TEXT - CORRECT SPELLING ONLY!
· Use 8 1/2 X 11 paper in horizontal format—leave a 1/2 inch margin around the paper. (Landscape format required.)
· Pictures should be in color. Use markers or ink to write or outline text.  It is suggested that images be outlined in felt tip marker.
· The economic concept should be written in large letters at the top of the poster.
· No reference to public or private companies.
· Do not fold entries

Postmark Deadline
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Mail Entries to: ACEE,
120 19th Street North,
Suite 200-2521,
​Birmingham AL 35203


Winners
There are 5 winners in each division: K-5 and 6-8. Artwork must represent an economic concept. Winning students receive $25. The top ten illustrations will be placed on Facebook and the top liked poster will be the Grand Prize Winner and receive $100. Winners may be displayed in public art shows around the State and in local newspapers.  
 
All entries become the property of the Alabama Council on Economic Education and may be used with names of entrants for publicity purposes. Submission of entry constitutes permission of teacher, student, and parents. Color the Concepts! is used with permission of the Illinois Council on Economic Education.

Resources:
EconEdLink
Federal Reserve Education

Contact Wanda McAbee for more information or to request a set of posters. 
Congratulations to the
2025 Top Ten Color The Concepts


Suggested K-5 concepts
· Buyers and sellers
· People make choices
· Scarcity
· Wants vs. Needs
· Using natural, capital, or human resources
· Opportunity cost
· Specialization
· Using money in every day life
· Goods vs. Services
· Trade
· Impact of Alabama technology or industry

Suggested 6-8 concepts
· Incentives
· Supply and demand
· Price
· Free market, command, & mixed economies
· Credit
· Circular flow
· Production and consumption
· Inflation
· The Federal Reserve System
· Profit and competition
· Taxes
· Spending and saving
· Investing
· Private property
· Public goods and services
· Budget 
Postmark Deadline
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Tracking your entries is recommended!
Mail entries to: ACEE,
120 19th Street North,
Suite 200-2521
​Birmingham, AL 35203