KATE

Economics for the Littlest Learners

Core Connections

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Economics is a way of thinking. Effective economic instruction can begin with the littlest learners in Kindergarten and first grade. These learners aren't ready for a complete analysis of the global economy but they are able to understand the basic building blocks of economics that lay the foundation for future learning. Pulling economic concepts from story books is one tool for achieving this goal that not only develops economic understanding but facilitates a life-long love for reading.

Begin instruction with basic concepts such as wants, needs and choices. These young learners may not have distinguished the difference between wants and needs prior the instructional unit. Parents and educators alike agree that children often believe that they need lots of things, such as every toy seen on TV. Point this out to students. Ask them what do we need to survive (food, water, shelter, love, fun)? What do we want this isn't a necessity (TV, computer, more toys, new car)? Encouraging children to evaluate items as basic human needs versus things that they want starts them on the road to understanding economics. This changes their way of thinking. Promote proper vocabulary by encouraging students to use the words want and need correctly in daily conversations. Continue the unit with introduction and discussion of money, scarcity, and jobs.

Many websites and print resources are available that recommend texts to emphasize economic concepts and thinking. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie or If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Joffe Numeroff are excellent selections covering wants. Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson is also another fun story for students. After reading the books, continue the discussion by distinguishing needs versus wants. How do you get all the things you need? How can you get things that you want (saving, borrowing, working)?

Do your own thing. Pick a book series that your students enjoy and go with it. Berenstain Bears series and Arthur series by Marc Brown offer numerous titles that cover basic economic concepts for the littlest learners. These also include online activities for students. Remember to make learning fun!

How do you assess Kindergarten and first graders on what they learned? By making it fun, of course! Offer choices. Have students create posters using a program such as Paint or Microsoft Publisher. They can make a list of wants and needs by incorporating clip art images or digital photos. Take it a step further by using a free Microsoft resource of Photostory 3. How about creating a PowerPoint presentation? The key is to focus on enforcing the learning.

Recommended Popular Reading Titles:

Berenstain Bears' Trouble with Money
Berenstain Bears' Trouble with Commercials
Berenstain Bears' and Mama's New Job
Arthur's TV Trouble
Arthur's Pet Business
Arthur Writes a Story

Related Links

• Kids Econ Books - This site separates book titles by concepts (Goods & Services, Scarcity). Under each heading, several book suggestions are included. By clicking on a selection, a summary of the text, concept, comprehension questions, and links to related economic concepts and texts is available. Benefits of this site are that many popular and easily accessible titles are included. It also clearly denotes grade, reading and Lexile levels.
• Rutgers School of Art and Sciences: Top Five Books by Concept - This site offers the Best of the Best books for economic concepts. However; recommended grade levels and comprehension questions are not available. It may be difficult to build a unit based off of materials found on this site as popular series titles are not included.

Related Lesson Plans, Activities, and Classroom Resources

• Ecomonics Unit by Ashli Gore
• Arthur’s Supermarket Adventure
• Curious George On the Job
• Games from the U.S. Mint
• If you Give a Mouse a Cookie
• Kermit the Hermit
• Busiest People Ever