Ourselves explains personal economics through a collection of short stories read aloud by the volunteer. The learning objectives listed beside each activity state the skills and knowledge students will gain.
Activity One: Robbie’s Trip to the Farm
Students are introduced to a storybook character and his visit to a family farm. Through a group discussion and by drawing pictures of their favorite animals, they discover that individuals make choices.
Objectives: The students will recognize the role of self and appreciate individual differences
Concepts: barter, goods, individual, voluntary exchange, work
Skills:abstract thinking, decision making, drawing, following directions, interpreting information, listening responsively, sequencing
Social Studies Correlations
Activity Two: Angie and the Carnival
Students are introduced to a storybook character and her plans to earn money by making and selling crafts at a carnival.
Objectives: The students will define money, identify one form of money (coins), differentiate coins
Cocepts:buying, choices, consumer, earning, entrepreneurs, incentives, money, saving, spending, work
Skills:coin recognition, coin valuation, following directions, interpreting information, listening responsively, matching
Social Studies Correlations
Activity Three: Charlie Plants a Garden
Students learn how the storybook characters work together to plant a community garden.
Objectives: The students will recognize the importance of working together, discover rewards other than moneys
Concepts:benefit, choices, resources, rewards, work
Skills:abstract thinking, decision making, following directions, listening responsively, teamwork
Social Studies Correlations
Language Arts Correlations
Activity Four: Meagan Buys a Present
Students recognize the importance of saving money to buy something they want through a story about a girl who must save to buy a birthday present.
Objectives: The students will discuss the importance of saving money, identify a place where people save money, demonstrate how to save money, name something they would like to save for
Concepts:buying, choice, costs, earning, money, saving, scarcity, wants, work
Skills:coin recognition, coin valuation, following directions, listening responsively, matching
Activity Five: Dylan and the New Playground
Students learn how storybook characters save money to buy new playground equipment for their school.
Objectives: The students will identify ways money can be used to benefit others, recognize the value of work, appreciate the importance of giving
Concepts:benefit, giving, saving, scarcity, work
Skills:abstract thinking, following directions, listening responsively, matching, sequencing, teamwork