{"id":2132,"date":"2009-10-26T19:30:24","date_gmt":"2009-10-27T00:30:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/archives\/2132"},"modified":"2009-10-26T19:30:24","modified_gmt":"2009-10-27T00:30:24","slug":"teaching-economics-with-childrens-literature-follow-the-money-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/2009\/10\/26\/teaching-economics-with-childrens-literature-follow-the-money-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Teaching Economics with Children’s Literature: Follow the Money!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Loreen Leedy's\u00a0 "Follow the Money<\/u>", is a humorous book that teaches children the various uses of currency.\u00a0 Told from the point-of-view of a twenty-five cent quarter, the book starts by describing how money is produced and distributed in the United States.\u00a0 Throughout the book, the reader is able to follow the journey of the quarter and see the its many uses.\u00a0 Follow the Money<\/em> uses pictures and phrases, similar to comic strips, to explain how currency is made in the United States Mint, placed into packaging bags, loaded onto trucks, and distributed to the Federal Reserve Bank and local bank.\u00a0 It shows children how a certain amounts of money can be exchanged for various products.\u00a0 For example, Follow the Money <\/em>shows how money can serve as weekly allowance, a state quarter collection, and savings.\u00a0 The book concludes at the end of the day with the quarter's statement, "I wonder where I'll go tomorrow?" (Leedy, pp. 29)\u00a0 Follow the Money<\/em> is an excellent way to learn about and relate to the world of currency.<\/p>\n

Curriculum Connections<\/strong>
\nFollow the Money<\/em> connects social studies, math, and economics to the world of currency.\u00a0 The book incorporates math by showing how a customer may pay for an item and possibly receive change.\u00a0 Math is also incorporated in the form of counting.\u00a0 Instead of including traditional page numbers, Follow the Money <\/em>uses currency for page numbers.\u00a0 For example, page five displays a nickel at the bottom of the page to show the page number.\u00a0 The book also connects social studies through pictures that explain the people who are displayed on each coin and paper money.\u00a0 There are also a few captions that describe why that person is significant in history (1.3).\u00a0 For example, George Washington's picture is displayed on the one dollar bill and he is described as the first president of the United States.\u00a0 Last of all, Follow the Money <\/em>can be used in a classroom setting to help students learn the value of money and how to save it for for future purchase and goods (1.9). \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

Additional Resources <\/strong><\/p>\n