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Grades 3-5, 6-8
Willy Wonka’s Whimsical Entrepreneurship
In this lesson, students discuss the characteristics of an entrepreneur and how those characteristics apply to Willy Wonka. In groups,...
Collection
Economics and Personal Finance in Children's Literature
Children are never too young to start learning basic economic concepts such as scarcity, saving, and spending. Discover how this collection of popular picture books can give your classroom an instant economic boost, introducing new vocabulary and concepts while developing reading comprehension and listening and speaking skills.
Lesson
Grades 3-5, 6-8
Willy Wonka Allocates Golden Tickets
In this lesson, students review scarcity and ways to allocate scarce resources (like golden tickets), taking the perspective of the...
Key Concepts: Allocation, Allocation, Allocation…
Grades K-2, 3-5
Teach Specialization using Sloth and Squirrel in a Pickle
In this economics lesson, students participate in hands-on activities that reinforces the concepts of specialists/entrepreneurs, workers, capital resources, and products.
Key Concepts: Factors of Production, Productive Resources, Productive Resources…
Grades 3-5
Teach Producers and Consumers using Sloth and Squirrel in a Pickle
This economics and personal finance lesson takes students through the process of producing a good to sell to a fictional...
Grades K-2, 3-5
Teach Human Capital using Sloth and Squirrel in a Pickle
In this economics and personal finance lesson, students will examine the human capital of Squirrel, Sloth, and Mr. Peacock and...
Content Partner
Grades 3-5
Shark Scam: Money Tales
Students read about two scheming sharks and decide were to invest their money.
Key Concepts: Goods and Services, Money, Money
Grades K-2, 3-5
Curious George Economics
Use the lovable character Curious George to capture student attention while teaching about personal finance and economics.
Key Concepts: Factors of Production, Goods and Services, Productive Resources…
Content Partner
Grades K-2, 3-5
Princess Persephone Loses the Castle (Money Tales)
In this economics and personal finance book, an inexperienced royal learns a valuable lesson about reading the fine print.
Key Concepts: Budgeting/Money Managment
Content Partner
Grades 3-5, 6-8
Costs and Benefits of Beans' Decisions
In this economics lesson, students will make decisions using a cost-benefit analysis.
Key Concepts: Cost-Benefit Analysis, Marginal Analysis
Grades K-2
Teach Entrepreneurship with "Arthur's Pet Business"
In this economics lesson, students will read a popular children's book to learn about entrepreneurship.
Key Concepts: Entrepreneurs, Goods and Services, Risk Managment/Insurance
Grades 3-5
Teach About Saving Using "Beatrice's Goat"
This lesson from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis' EconLowdown site teaches students what it means to save and...
Key Concepts: Cost-Benefit Analysis, Marginal Analysis
Grades K-2, 3-5
Teach Saving and Budgeting with "A Chair for My Mother"
In the story, A Chair for My Mother, a little girl and her family save money in a jar to...
Key Concepts: Buying Goods and Services
Grades K-2
Teach About Spending with "Bunny Money"
In this lesson, students listen to the story of Ruby and Max, two bunnies that go shopping and make many...
Key Concepts: Goods and Services
Grades K-2, 3-5
Teach Opportunity Cost with "Uncle Jed's Barbershop"
Students listen to the book Uncle Jed's Barbershop, about an African American barber who, despite significant setbacks, saves enough money...
Key Concepts: Cost-Benefit Analysis, Marginal Analysis
Grades K-2, 3-5
Specialists Light Up Our Lives!
Peppe and his family moved to America to pursue the American dream. His mother has passed away, his father is...
Key Concepts: Globalization, Goods and Services, International Trade
Grades K-2, 3-5
Teach Money Skills and Graphing with "Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday"
In the story, Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday, Alexander receives a dollar from his grandparents that he...
Key Concepts: Cost-Benefit Analysis, Marginal Analysis
Grades K-2
"What Pet Should I Get?" Dr. Seuss and Decision Making
Recently published, but likely written between 1958 and 1962, What Pet Should I Get? is the delightful tale of a...
Key Concepts: Goods and Services, Scarcity
Grades 6-8
"The Giver": Jonas Makes a Choice
Jonas, a twelve-year old, lives in a seemingly perfect futuristic world. His community protects him from all harm and in...
Key Concepts: Scarcity
Grades 3-5
Booker T. Washington:"Fifty Cents and a Dream"
In this economics lesson, students will study Booker T. Washington's life to learn about resources.
Key Concepts: Cost-Benefit Analysis, Factors of Production, Marginal Analysis…
Grades 3-5
One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference
The picture book One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference, written by Kate Smith Milway, takes place...
Key Concepts: Budgeting/Money Managment, Entrepreneurs, Money…
Grades K-2
A New Coat for Anna - Barter and Trade
By reading the book "A New Coat for Anna" students will learn about resources and trade/bartering through a young girl,...
Key Concepts: Money, Money
Grades K-2
Teach About Scarcity with "The Mitten"
This is a folktale retold by Jan Brett about a little boy whose grandmother knits him a pair of snow...
Key Concepts: Allocation, Allocation, Allocation…
Grades 3-5, 6-8
Work, Earnings, and Economics: "Lyddie" by Katherine Paterson
This updated lesson is based on the novel, Lyddie, by Katherine Paterson. Set mainly in Lowell, Massachusetts, in the 1840s,...
Key Concepts: Budgeting/Money Managment, Scarcity
Activity
Grades K-2, 3-5
Decision Making with "Sam and the Lucky Money"
Using the children's book, "Sam and the Lucky Money", students learn about Chinese New Year and practice decision-making skills using...
