Archive for the 'economics' Category

Teaching Economics with Children’s Literature: Monkey For Sale

Published by Mary Beth on October 16, 2008 in economics, book review and social studies. 0 Comments

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How far does a five-franc coin go?  The book Monkey For Sale, beautifully written and illustrated by Sanna Stanley, shadows a journey in the marketplace with a young girl named Luzolo who learns to make the best of a day at the marketplace with five-francs, a friend, and a little determination.

“Don’t buy the first thing you see,” said her father.  ”Look around, choose what you really want, and then bargain for a fair price.”"And remember, Luzolo,” added her mother, “no one gets something for nothing on market day.”

Luzolo and her friend Kiese pool their resources and bartering skills to find what they really want to buy, a mischievous monkey that Mama Lusufu is selling.  Luzolo and Kiese rescue this monkey and set him free into the woods through a long string of bargaining in the marketplace.

Kiese’s mother was completing a sale.  She smiled when Kiese said that Mama Lusufu wanted a water pot.  ”What a lucky day,” said Kiese’s mother.  ”If Mama Lusufu buys a water pot from me, I can buy an embroidery from Luzolo’s mother.  Your mother does the best embroidery in the village,” she said to Luzolo.

Curriculum Connections
Monkey for Sale takes students on a fantastic economics ride where they learn about money, bargaining, trade, the free-market, and the economy of another culture.  The book may be read aloud to young students but is also enjoyable enough for older elementary students to enjoy, especially if they can learn a little more about the setting.  In Virginia, this story teaches social studies SOLs K.7, 1.8, 2.8, and 3.8, which state that students will

  • recognize and explain that people make choices because they cannot have everything they want,
  • distinguish between the use of barter and money in the exchange for goods and services,
  • recognize that people specialize in and sell products that they make the best and trade in order to obtain other things.

Additional Resources

  • This website ”Show me Economics” provides activities involving economic reasoning for students K-5.
  • The geography lesson combined with the economics elements of this story allow students to learn about a different culture.  Here is a lesson plan that revolves around central Africa and the Congo River, which flows through The Democratic Republic of the Congo, the assumed setting of this story.
  • Here is a lesson plan that teaches about community resources, consumers, producers, goods, and services.

Book: Monkey For Sale
Author/Illustrator: Sanna Stanley
Publisher: Dragonfly Books
Publication Date: 2002
Pages: 30 pages
Grades: K-5
ISBN: 0-374-35017-5

Teaching Economics with Children’s Literature: Clothes and Crafts in Roman Times

Published by Laura on October 16, 2008 in economics, book review and social studies. 0 Comments

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Have you ever wondered how producers in ancient Rome used resources in the production of goods? Luckily, Philip Steele provides a comprehensive book that explains how Roman craft workers used the resources available to them to and produced beautiful jewelry, woodwork, metalwork, pottery and clothing in his text, Clothes and Crafts in Roman Times. The book starts off by giving a brief introduction of the Roman times including a map as well as a small history lesson.  The book then goes on to explain how Romans made their crafts (pottery, glass, woodwork, metalwork, stonework, and mosaics), clothes and fashion (weaving and textiles, clothing, boots and shoes, hats and sunshades, jewelry, makeup) as well as things they made for different festivals and holidays.Each section provides lots of pictures and representations of how Romans used the resources available to them to make things they needed in their every day lives.  In describing how the Romans made clothes, Steele explains:

 The Romans used woven material, or textiles, for clothing.  A plant called flax was used for making linen cloth.  it was grown in Egypt.  cotton and silk were rare and costly imports from Asia.  The most important material was wool, which was produced all over the empire.  After the sheep were sheared, the wool had to be washed to remove its natural greasiness and any dirt.  it was then dried and wound onto a stick called a distaff, which spinners held under their arm.  The woolen threads, or fibers, were pulled out and tied to weighted stick called a drop spindle… (the section goes on to provide in further detail how they produced their clothes from natural resources).

The book also provides some interesting facts about the Romans including some mottoes that Romans put on their pottery: BIBE (Drink!), REPLE (Fill Up!) and DA VINUM (Bring Wine!).  At the end of the book, Steele offers some fun activities where directions are provided for students to make their own mosaics or crowns!  The back of the book also contains a useful glossary with very simple and student-friendly definitions.

Curriculum Connections
This book can be a fun way to introduce students how producers in ancient Rome used natural resources, human resources and capital resources in the production of goods and services.  Although the book doesn’t explicitly use these phrases, there are multiple examples of each of them throughout the text that students can use to understand the concepts.  In Virginia, this book would be suitable to fulfill the Social Studies Standards of Learning 3.7.

Additional Resources

  • This lesson plan can explain the concepts of natural resources, capital resources, and human resources.
  • Here is a fun activity for students to make a Roman mask while also learning about different types of resources they are using.

Book: Clothes and Crafts in Roman Times
Author: Philip Steele
Publisher: Gareth Stevens Publishing
Publication Date: 2000
Pages: 32 pages
Grades: 3-4
ISBN: 0836827376

Teaching Economics with Children’s Literature: The Go-Around Dollar

Published by Hilary on October 16, 2008 in economics, book review and social studies. 0 Comments

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Ever why there are so many intricate designs on the dollar ? What about how long a dollar circulates before becoming too worn out? All of these questions and more are explored in Barbara Adams’ The Go Around Dollar. This informative fictional narrative is a great way to introduce American money to your class.

The Go Around Dollar, presents itself as a story that tracks a dollar bill as it is passed from person to person. Matt, the first child finds a dollar on the ground and then purchases Eric’s shoelace with that same dollar bill. The dollar bill then changes hands to a a storekeeper where Eric purchases bubble gum and then a girl named Jennifer receives that same bill as change. Jennifer purchases a hat at a flee market where a boy named Rob takes possession and gives it to his sister Kathy in return for doing a chore. The book follows various transactions that can be made with a dollar bill and how eventually they become so worn out they get replaced by the government. The dollar bill’s journey ends up when it is framed at an ice cream store.

The most notable and impressive feature about the book is the factual information about dollar bills  located on each corner. The facts range anywhere from who get to be on a dollar bill to what they are used for to how people even make counterfeit money. An example of these short information pieces would be:

 A portrait of George Washington, first president of the United States, is on the front of every one-dollar bill. Only people who are no longer alive can have their pictures on American money (Page 4).

The illustrations are extremely well done and provide excellent support to the storyline and travels of the dollar. The book also includes a helpful diagram that labels important part of the dollar bill in very simple terms. Using this book as a read-a-loud for your class would be a phenomenal way to start a unit on economics and give them the background they need in a more interesting way.

Curriculum Connections
This book would be a great way to introduce your class to economics or money in general. One my favorite parts of the book is how many activities and lessons that would nicely complement the book. You could have students write their own story similar to this or relate it to an activity in your mathematics lessons. In Virginia, this could relate to the SOL for History and Social Science 1.8, as it can explain to students that people make choices about what to purchase because they cannot have unlimited funds to buy everything. Students can learn what you can purchase with the money you have and that you need to be selective in what you buy.

Additional Resources

  • Here is a great website to provide lesson plans, worksheets and activities that apply to a variety of grade levels!

  • You can teach kids how to easily count money and become familiar with our currency with hand-on activities.

  • Here are some real-life ways that money plays in our everyday life- how to earn money, make money and spend money are a few questions explored at this helpful site.

Book: The Go-Around Dollar
Author: Barbara Johnston Adams
Illustrator: Joyce Audry Zarins
Publication Date: 1992
Pages: 32 Pages
Grades: 1-3
ISBN: 0027000311

Teaching Economics with Children’s Literature: How to Make an Apple Pie and see the world

Published by Emily on October 16, 2008 in economics, book review and social studies. 0 Comments

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Marjorie Priceman is a wonderful author which has received many honorable awards such as Topic 10 picture book of the year. This obviously shows us that not only is she an outstanding author but she is also a wonderful illustrator. Her love for children’s books is incredible and shows greatly through her works

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World is a educational book with humor, exploration and intrigue through out the journey of getting the ingredients to make an apple pie. The girl travels from Europe to Italy to France and more picking up different ingredients along the way. The book starts off my going to the market which ends up being closed…

In that care, go home and pack a suitcase. Take  your shopping list and some walking shoes. Then catch a steamship bound for Europe. Use the six days on board to brush up on your Italian.

This sets the scene for a trip around the world. Another one of my favorites pages is tords the end of the book when she forget to get the apples so her and all the ingredients which she has picked up throughout the book have to sky dive out of the plan (of which they were taking back home) to land in an orchard and pick apples.

Wait a minute. Aren’t you forgetting something? WHAT ABOUT THE APPLES? Have the pilot drop you off in Vermont.

I just thought this passage was so cute and really entertaining. This book seriously would keep the attention of pretty much any child. Overall I would definatly recommend this book for any classroom lesson on economics or different resources being all around the world!

Curriculum Connections
How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World is a wonderful book that really touch on the topics of economic and geography. The main character in the book travels around the world trying to find all the ingredients needed to make an apple pie. This allows for students to see the historical development,  investigate and understand that natural resources are limited (VA SOL 1.8).  Overall this book would be a wonderful introduction to an economical or geographical lesson plan.

Additional Resources

  •  There are many different lesson plans having to do with the book How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World. On this site it gives you wonderful examples and ideas for incorporating this lesson into the classroom.
  • This is another wonderful lesson plan which incorporates, How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World. It talks about economics and geography. This lesson also relates this book directly to certain grade levels. This is a wonderful resource.
  • This site is all about Marjorie Priceman and gives you many other links that are very helpful. I found this to be helpful for a lesson when you want to us one of her book!

Book: How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World
Author/Illustrator: Marjorie Priceman 
Publisher: Dragonfly Books
Publication Date: 1996
Pages: 40 pages
Grades: 1-2
ISBN: 0679880836

Teaching Economics with Children’s Literature: The Mitten

Published by Lexi on October 15, 2008 in economics, book review and social studies. 0 Comments

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Mittens are a great way to keep ourselves warm during the winter. Apparently, in The Mitten, a few wild animals seem to agree! Jan Brett has done a wonderful job of adapting this Ukranian folktale and creating wonderful illustrations to go along with it for us to enjoy. After Nicki’s grandmother knits a pair of new mittens for Nicki, he proceeds to promptly lose one and some animals decide to move in.

While the story may come off as slightly unbelievable, having so many animals all squeeze into such a tiny mitten, it is still a great story to entertain and teach children about economics. There is also great little part of science thrown in, with the mention of different characteristics of each animal, such as “the rabbit’s big kickers” or the fox’s shiny teeth.

Another great aspect of this story is the wonderful illustrations. Every page is completely filled with pictures. There is always the main picture that goes along with the story of that page, as well as two pictures on the sides that show either where Nicki is or where the next animal to come is. Along with these three pictures are beautiful embroidery-like pictures to bring back the Ukranian aspect of the story. Jan Brett also did a wonderful job researching the Ukranian culture and architecture which is obvious in the characters clothing and house.

Curriculum Connections
This story is a great book that can be read to a large age range of students and pertain to a wide range of lessons. It is a great way to approach the economic lesson of scarcity, which covers the Social Studies SOL 2.9 for Virginia teachers. Teachers can also use this book to take advantage of other learning opportunities for students. There are many ideas already out there for teachers to use to correlate this story with fine arts, phonics, math, English, and other subjects.  Also, the story is a great way to present another culture to students, showing the differences and similarities they have with others from around the world.

Additional Resources

  • A fellow teacher has already created a blog filled with tons of different ideas to further incorporate The Mitten into multiple venues of lessons for your class.
  • Here is another helpful site with some crafts, and phonetic worksheets, as well as more links related to the animals mentioned in the book.
  • Have students use the Internet to connect this story to English lessons.
  • Make The Mitten into a play or just have some more fun with it by using these animal masks.
  • Here is an already created lesson plan on how to teach economics with The Mitten.

Book: The Mitten
Author/Illustrator: Jan Brett
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Publication Date: 1989
Pages: 36 pages
Grades: PreK-2
ISBN: 0-590-44015-2

Teaching Economics with Children’s Literature: Follow the Money!

Published by Kim on October 15, 2008 in economics, book review and social studies. 0 Comments

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Many children keep a piggy bank full of coins in the hopes of saving enough money for a special purchase. While they understand the concept of saving their money for future purchases, we often rarely think of where the money travels with each following exchange. Loreen Leedy’s book Follow the Money! personifies coins as their representable presidents as they document their travels with each monetary exchange.

In her book, Leedy uses a cartoon format to demonstrate the exchange paths of currency. Each picture has a caption at the bottom explaining the process of buying a good and receiving change. In addition, Leedy includes cartoon dialog bubbles for the coins who elaborate upon the facts by telling a fun story of the locations they travel with each purchase.

Students will gain a sense of how money continuously circulates with every purchase individuals make. Follow the Money! also highlights the necessary mathematical operations with each exchange. With every purchase Leedy includes the math off making change. The combination of currency information and mathematical calculations will demonstrate the process of exchange of money while still interesting and entertaining students with the coin characters’ tale of all the places they visit.

Curriculum Connections
Follow the Money! can help demonstrate to young readers the concept of continuous monetary movement with each purchase.  In Virgina this book can correlate with the standard 1.9 which shows that people save money for future purchases. While this book targets a younger reader to demonstrate how one coin is used by many people through multiple exchanges, it can also be used above kindergarten and first grade by using it as an introduction of incorporating money into a math lesson.

Additional Resources

  • After reading Follow the Money! as a class, students can complete this webquest to further investigate details of our money.
  • For additional ideas of introducing to money, teAchnology provides many lessons plans that utilize money.
  • The United States Mint offers games, cartoons, and other activities for kids in expanding their knowledge of our currency.

Book: Follow the Money!
Author and Illustrator: Loreen Leedy
Publisher: Holiday House
Publication Date: 2003
Pages: 30
Grades: K-3
ISBN: 0823417948

Teaching Economics with Children’s Literature: The Tortilla Factory

Published by Cara on October 15, 2008 in economics, book review and social studies. 0 Comments

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Would you like to learn how tortillas make their way to your dinner table?

The Tortilla Factory, by Gary Paulsen, is a perfect read-aloud for the classroom in order to teach young students the growth cycle of corn. Paulsen touches on all aspects of the process, from the planting of the seeds to the harvesting of the corn to the shipping of the baked dough. Students will be enlightened as to all the places the tortilla has been and all the people who have made it possible for the tortilla to be a part of the meal. The book portrays the mechanical devices needed,not only  to produce the tortilla, but to bring it to the places where it will be sold. Whether its planting the corn, mashing the dough or transporting the boxes of tortillas, all these different jobs are crucial to the final stop the tortilla makes, our stomachs. However, Paulsen makes it clear that this is a cyclical process, a never ending sequence that will continue as long as their are people to make it happen.

…eaten by white teeth, to fill a round stomach and give strength to the round hands that work the black earth to plant yellow seeds…

With very few words on the page, and simple, earthy, painted illustrations, this read-aloud makes for a great introduction to learning about economics. The process depicted is universal and can be applied to a wide range of agricultural products like berries or chocolate.

Curriculum Connections
This book could be used to explain the differences between goods and services and describe how people are consumers and producers of goods.(1.7)

Additional Resources

Book: The Tortilla Factory
Author:  Gary Paulsen
Illustrator:Ruth Wright Paulsen
Publisher: Voyager Books/ Harcourt Brace
Publication Date: 1995
Pages: 26
Grades: 1-3
ISBN: 0-15-201698-8

Teaching Economics with Children’s Literature: A Chair for My Mother

Published by Kristin on October 15, 2008 in economics, book review and social studies. 0 Comments

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Have you ever wanted to something so badly, that all your thoughts go into somehow attaining that special treat?  You may have saved and saved your money for days, months, or years, until you had enough money to buy it.  Teaching children how to save is a valuable lesson that they will use throughout their lifetime; saving teaches children hard work, diligence, and to appreciate their possessions.

Author and illustrator of A Chair for my Mother, Vera B. Williams, has created a story that captures the art of saving. The story revolves around a little girl, her mother, and her grandmother as they cope with a life tragedy.  After shopping in town one day, the little girl and her mother come home to see a fire has engulfed their house and ruined all of their goods, including their sofa and chairs.  Their neighbors all help furnish their new home, yet without anywhere to “take a load off my feet,” the little girl, her mother, and grandmother soon come to desire a big, comfy chair in their new home, that they can use to relax.

 Yes, a chair: A wonderful, beautiful, fat, soft armchair.  We will get one covered in velvet with roses all over it.  We are going to get the best chair in the whole world.

Therefore, together the three save all of their money, putting their extra coins into a big glass jar.  The little girl even goes to the Blue Tile Diner where her mother waitresses to earn some money to put in the jar.

 I wash the salts and peppers and fill the ketchups  One time I peeled all the onions for the onion soup.  When I finished, Josephine says, “Good work, honey,” and pays me.  And every time, I put half my money into the jar.

Her mother also puts her tips in the jar and her grandmother buys things on sale in order to add to the jar.   When the jar became so heavy that the little girl can no longer lift it, she helps her mother wrap the coins and exchange them at the bank for dollar bills.  With their money in hand, the three travel to the furniture store in search for the perfect chair.  After hours of searching, they find the chair of their dreams.  Finally, they bring the chair home and enjoy it each day!

Through the use of watercolors, Williams beautifully illustrates the pages of her story.  Using bright imaginative pictures, the story comes alive with emotion, capturing every reader.  Along with the illustrations on each page, Williams outlines the pictures with a corresponding painted border.  The combination of text and illustrations make this book a truly great piece of literature.

Curriculum Connections
A Chair for My Mother serves as a great book to teach several different themes of economics.  By reading about the little girl working at the Blue Tile Diner, children can learn that people work to earn money to buy things they want (Virginia SOL K.7).  The distinct changes in the amount of coins in the glass jar as the story progresses, stresses that people save money for the future to purchase goods and services (Virginia SOL 1.9).  This story is a great introductory piece of literature that can easily be relate to children’s daily lives.  It may be a good idea to have students practice saving as a class; students can  bring in their extra change each week in hopes to buy something that the whole class can enjoy!

Additional Resources

  • Check out this lesson plan that re-enforces the importance of helping others.  In this lesson, students will make a card for a family who have just arrived to the neighborhood.  Just like the neighbors in A Chair for My Mother, students will learn to help others in a time of need.
  • Use this site to help structure a discussion after reading this book.  A list of comprehension questions as well as other concepts connected to economics are available.
  • Looking for more books about savings?  KidsEconBooks offers a list of kid-friendly books that teaches about economics.

Book: A Chair for my Mother
Author/Illustrator: Vera B. Williams
Publisher: HarperTrophy 
Publication Date: 1984
Pages: 32 pages
Grades: K-3
ISBN: 0688040748

Teaching Economics with Children’s Literature: Monkey for Sale

Published by Alex on October 15, 2008 in economics, book review and social studies. 0 Comments

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Monkey for Sale by Sanna Stanley is a great book for kids about a girl in an African village and her adventures on market day. Luzolo begins with five francs to spend and walks around the market deciding where to spend her money, she thinks about her options and barters for a fair price. After making her purchase, Luzolo meets up with her friend Kiese and they find a monkey for sale at a stand. The girls want buy the monkey and rescue him, but the they don’t have any money left. They then work to trade what they have through a complex series of barters and deals involving many people in the market before they have what they need to buy the monkey.

The story is engaging and kids will love the detailed and bright pictures. The words are big enough too so learning readers can try to read it. Luzolo’s long chain of bartering teaches kids about the economic cycle, how everyone needs something and has something to sell. The book can also be used as a tool to start discussions about Africa and the cultures of Africa or the jungle even. Specifically the story is based on the athur’s childhood in the Republic of Congo. A teacher could use that to start a lesson on the geography of Africa and the Congo area.

Curriculum Connections
Monkey for Sale satisfies the Virginia SOL requirements for first grade 1.8 - the student will explain that people make choices because they cannot have everything they want, and second grade 2.8 - the student will distinguish the use of barter and money in exchange for goods and services. The books introduces cultural themes with it’s African setting and can be used to integrate cultural studies into the lesson. Also, a teacher could plan word problems around Luzolo’s initial allowance of five francs and let kids figure out how to split the money to buy want they want with the right amount of money.

Additional Resources

  • Here’s an interesting lesson plan directly planned around the book involving Luzolo’s trading expericence.
  • ProTeacher! offers a huge list of lesson plans and class activities centered around Africa and the African culture.

Book: Monkey for Sale
Author: Sanna Stanley
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Publication Date: 2002
Pages: 32 pages
Grades: 1-3
ISBN:  0374350175

Teaching Economics with Children’s Literature: A New Coat for Anna

Published by Kelly on October 14, 2008 in economics, book review and social studies. 1 Comment

 

The book A New Coat for Anna, written by Harriet Ziefert and illustrated by Anita Lobel, takes place right after World War II and tells the story of young Anna, who has outgrown her old winter coat. As a result of the war, money, food, and other goods, including clothes, are still very scarce and Anna’s mother does not have enough money to buy her a new coat:

Last winter Anna’s mother had said, “When the war is over, we will be able to buy things again and I will get you a nice new coat.” But when the war ended the stores remained empty. There still were no coats. There was hardly any food. And no one had any money.

Anna’s mother must make choices about what she will buy and decides to exchange the few valuable items she has left for the services of a farmer, a spinner, a weaver, and a tailor to make Anna a new coat.

“Anna, I have no money,” she said, “but I still have Grandfather’s gold watch and some other nice things. Maybe we can use them to get what we need for a new coat.”

The story takes readers through all the steps involved in the production of Anna’s new coat. First, Anna and her mother go to the farmer and offer to trade grandfather’s gold watch for enough wool to make the coat. When spring comes, the farmer sheers his sheep and gives Anna’s mother a big bag of wool. Anna and her mother then take the wool to the spinner and offer to give her a beautiful lamp if she will spin the wool into yarn. After receiving the yarn, Anna decides that she would like her coat to be red, so she and her mother pick lingonberries and dye the yarn red. Then they take the red yarn to the weaver and ask her to weave it into cloth in exchange for a garnet necklace. Two weeks later, Anna and her mother take the cloth to the tailor, who measures Anna and makes her coat in exchange for a porcelain teapot.

At the end of the story, Anna proudly wears her new red coat home and shows her appreciation for everyone who helped make her coat by telling her mother that she would like to invite the farmer, the spinner, the weaver, and the tailor to come to their Christmas celebration.

Curriculum Connections
A New Coat for Anna would be an excellent book to use as part of an economics lesson on scarcity, specialization, and/or barter and trade. This book includes numerous details about the producation of Anna’s coat and clearly explains the role of the farmer and his sheep, the spinner, the weaver, and the tailor.  It also reveals the benefits of specialization, as each of these people are able to trade their services for valuable items. The book is simple enough to be read to Kindergartners or first graders but also contains sufficient details to be used as an introduction to a 3rd or 4th grade lesson on scarcity and specialization.

In Virginia, this book relates to social studies SOLs 1.8, 2.8, 2.9, and 3.8, which state that students will

  • distinguish between the use of barter and money in exchange for goods and services,
  • explain that scarcity requires people to make choices about producing and consuming goods and services, and
  • recognize that people specialize in what they do best and trade for everything else.

Additional Resources

  • Here is a link to a 2nd grade lesson plan for the story A New Coat for Anna. This lesson focuses on barter and trade and the economic resources used to produce Anna’s coat. It includes lots of discussion questions, worksheets, and activities to go along with story, as well as a class bartering activity.
  • This teacher’s guide for the story provides activities designed to help students understand the steps involved in creating fabric from sheep’s wool. Activities include discovering factual information about sheep, weaving a placemat, and dying a coffee filter with food coloring, jello, or Kool-aid.
  • The website “Show-Me Economics” contains student activities and lesson plans for a variety of economics concepts for grades K-5.
  • You can listen to a terrific podcast review of the book.

Book: A New Coat for Anna
Author: Harriet Ziefert
Illustrator: Anita Lobel
Publisher: Dragonfly Books
Publication Date: 1986
Pages: 40 pages
Grades: K-4
ISBN: 0-394-89861-3