Economic Lessons Grades K-3

Literature Annotation: An apple farmer produces apple goods to sell at a farmers’ market.

• Grade: 1
  

• Economic Concepts: production

• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will identify the economic principles and processes that are helpful to producers and consumers when making good decisions.

Literature Annotation: In a small African village lives a girl named Beatrice. She longs to be able to go to school, but her family can’t afford it. The gift of a goat to the family helps her and her family make her wish come true. This book is a true story about a Ugandan girl and her family who received a goat from the Heifer Project International. 

Literature Annotation: In this story, a young girl and her mother make a bus trip to town to do errands. They visit shops and businesses and stop for ice cream at the soda shop. Along the way, the little girl puts treasures into her big green pocketbook.

• Grade: 2

• Economic Concepts: goods, services, decision-making

• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will develop economic reasoning to understand the historical development and current status of economic principles, institutions and processes needed to be effective citizens, consumers, and workers participating in local communities, the nation, and the world.

Literature Annotation: When an act of bigotry scars the sidewalk in front of the candy shop and frightens the owner, Daniel knows that he must do something to fight back. Candy Shop is a tender story of a young boy’s courage in the face of prejudice.

• Grade: 2

• Economic Concepts: goods, services, decision-making

• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard:  Students will develop economic reasoning to understand the historical development and current status of economic principles, institutions and processes needed to be effective citizens, consumers, and workers participating in local communities, the nation, and the world.

  Count Your Way through Iran

Literature Annotation:  In this colorful counting picture book, readers are introduced to ancient and modern Iranian culture.

• Grade Level:  1
• Economic Concepts:  Goods and Services
• Economics Standard:  Students will identify the economic principles and processes that are helpful to producers and consumers when making good decisions. 

Literature Annotation: An African boy, Emeka, wanders around his Nigerian village looking for a gift to take to his grandmother. Along the way he counts what he sees: one boy, two friends, three women on their way to market, four new brooms, etc.

• Grade: 3

• Economic Concepts: production, consumption  

• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will identify the economic principles and processes that are helpful to producers and consumers when making good decisions.

Literature Annotation: Erandi, a Mexican girl, looks forward to her birthday and a forthcoming village fiesta with great anticipation. After all, she hopes to have a new dress to wear. But Erandi's dreams of pretty things are soon interrupted. Mama's fishing net, with which she catches their food, is too torn to repair and there is not enough money to buy a new net as well as a dress. Erandi receives her new frock, but afterwards, she and Mama head for the barber shop. Erandi is terrified that Mama will sell Erandi's beautiful long braids to the hair buyers from the city, but it is Mama who steps into the chair. When the barber tells Mama that her hair is not long enough, Erandi summons her courage and offers her own tresses, earning enough money for a fishing net and another special birthday present.

• Grade: 2

• Economic Concepts: Economic decision-making  

• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will develop economic reasoning to understand the historical development and current status of economic principles, institutions, and processes needed to be effective citizens, consumers, and workers participating in local communities, the nation, and the world

Literature Annotation: A young girl searches the neighborhood for her brother who is late for dinner. On the way, she discovers that many of her immigrant neighbors are cooking rice dishes from recipes brought from their native countries. She has a taste of each rice dish and then returns home to find her brother already at home eating rice. There are recipes for each of the rice dishes mentioned.

• Grade: 3

• Economic Concepts: consumption

• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will develop economic reasoning to understand the historical development and current status of economic principles, institutions, and processes needed to be effective citizens, consumers, and workers participating in local communities, the nation, and the world.

Everybody Serves Soup

Literature Annotation: This is another delightful book in the series about a multicultural neighborhood and the differences and similarities of the cultures. The series of books about Carrie and her neighbors includes Everybody Cooks Rice, Everybody Bakes Bread, and Everybody Brings Noodles. 

• Grade: 3

• Economic Concepts: Scarcity and Decision-Making, Production

• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will develop economic reasoning to understand the historical development and current status of economic principles, institutions, and processes needed to be effective citizens, consumers, and workers participating in local communities, the nation, and the world.

Literature Annotation: This book provides an introduction to farming and the work done on a farm during the four seasons.

• Grade: 3

• Economic Concepts: production, supply and demand, scarcity 

• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will develop economic reasoning to understand the historical development and current status of economic principles, institutions, and processes needed to be effective citizens, consumers, and workers participating in local communities, the nation, and the world.

From Peanuts to Peanut Butter

Literature Annotation: This book illustrates the process of planting of peanut seeds, harvesting the “pegs,” and then on to the factory as the peanuts are processed into peanut butter.

• Grade 1

• Economic Concepts: Productive Resources 

• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will identify the economic principles and processes that are helpful to producers and consumers when making good decisions.

Literature Annotation: Have you ever wondered where your pizza came from? This book traces the path of a pizza from the farmer’s field to your table.

• Grade: 3

• Economic Concepts: Economic Resources, Production

• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will identify the economic principles and processes that are helpful to producers and consumers when making good decisions. (PreK-3 Standard)

  George Washington Carver

Literature Annotation: This book is a simplified biography of George Washington Carver’s life and accomplishments. The larger print and plentiful pictures are helpful to younger readers. The glossary at the end is student friendly. 

• Grade: 2

• Economic Concepts:  Production; Specialized Work; Technology 

• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will identify the economic principles and processes that are helpful to producers and consumers when making good decisions. (PreK-3 Standard)

Literature Annotation: Geraldine, a goat owned by a Navajo woman named Glenmae, tells the story of her hair being sheared and the process of weaving this hair into a rug. The easy text with simple drawings makes this book appealing to young students. 

• Grade: 2

• Economic Concepts: Production, Economic Resources

• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will develop economic reasoning to understand the historical development and current status of economic principles, institutions, and processes needed to be effective citizens, consumers, and workers participating in local communities, the nation, and the world.

Literature Annotation: This book encourages students to think about how goods such as foods, clothing, cars, and gasoline get to markets near their homes. Photographs are included.

Literature Annotation: This easy to read book contains lots of colored pictures showing different workers in the factory and the resources that are used to produce crayons. 

How to Make an Apple Pie

Literature Annotation: This beautifully illustrated story is about a girl baker who gathers the ingredients for an apple pie from places around the world. 

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• Grade: 3

• Economic Concepts: Production, Interdependence, Global Market

• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will develop economic reasoning to understand the historical development and current status of economic principles, institutions, and processes needed to be effective citizens, consumers, and workers participating in local communities, the nation, and the world.

Literature Annotation: Inventions Bring Change explains how four different inventions—the reaper, the railroad, water-powered mills, and the cotton gin— changed the course of American history. Each of the four books focuses on a different invention, its history, and its impact on society. While the same key concepts are developed across books to help students focus on the big ideas, each book is written at a different readability level. Difficulty level can be found on the back of each book, 1 dot signifies the least difficult, 4 dots signify the most difficult.

• Grade: 3
• Economic Concepts: development, consumers
• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will develop economic reasoning to understand the historical development and current status of economic principles, institutions, and processes needed to be effective citizens, consumers, and workers participating in local communities, the nation, and the world.

Literature Annotation: Using period photographs and simple text, this book provides a glimpse into life as it was lived and the technology used “long ago.”

• Grade: Kindergarten 

• Economic Concepts: Technology 

• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will identify the economic principles and processes that are helpful to producers and consumers when making good decisions

Literature Annotation: Making choices is something we all have to do. Sometimes it is easy, and sometimes it is hard. Whenever you make a choice, you have to give up something else. In Making Choices, we read about the different choices that children sometimes have to make.

• Grade: 1

• Economic Concepts: Decision-Making, Opportunity Cost

• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will identify the economic principles and processes that are helpful to producers and consumers when making good decisions. (PreK-3) 

Literature Annotation: This book tells about the town of Paracho, Mexico and the importance of guitar making to the community. The townspeople have learned to make fine guitars and specialize in making them for musicians around the world. The book describes the production of these guitars as well as the life of the people who make these instruments. The beautiful collage illustrations are wonderful additions to the text.

• Grade 2

• Economic Concepts: Specialized work, Production, Scarcity and Decision-making

• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will develop economic reasoning to understand the historical development and current status of economic principles, institutions, and processes needed to be effective citizens, consumers, and workers participating in local communities, the nation, and the world.

Mama Panyas Pancakes

Literature Annotation: Mama Panya has just enough money to buy ingredients for a few pancakes, so when her son Adika invites all their friends to join them, she is sure there will not be enough to go around.

• Grade 3

• Economic Concepts: Goods and Services, Markets

• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will identify the economic principles and processes that are helpful to producers and consumers when making good decisions. (PreK-3)

Literature Annotation:  This story is told through the words of a young African American girl. In school one day, Linda learns about East Africa and the tall, proud people called the Masai. Coming home from school to her apartment she imagines what it would be like to be a Masai child. During that evening and the following days with her family, she makes observations about how things are for her here and how they would be different if she lived in a Masai village.

• Grade 2
• Economic Concepts: Scarcity, Consumption, Production, Interdependence 
• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will develop economic reasoning to understand the historical development and current status of economic principles, institutions, and processes needed to be effective citizens, consumers, and workers participating in local communities, the nation, and the world.

Literature Annotation: A Tanzanian boy saves his coins to buy a bicycle so that he can help his parents carry goods to market, but then he discovers that in spite of all he saved he does not have enough money.

• Grade 2

• Economic Concepts: Consumption 

• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will identify the economic principles and processes that are helpful to producers and consumers when making good decisions.

Literature Annotation: In this World War II story, a mother overcomes the lack of money and finds a way to make her daughter, Anna, a badly needed coat.

• Grade 3

• Economic Concepts: Wants, Scarcity, Barter, Productive Resources, Production

• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will identify the economic principles and processes that are helpful to producers and consumers when making good decisions.
  

  On Market Street

Literature Annotation: This whimsical ABC book has delightful illustrations showing a variety of goods bought at stores “On Market Street.” 

• Grade K

• Economic Concepts: Consumption, Production

• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will identify the economic principles and processes that are helpful to producers and consumers when making good decisions.

Literature Annotation: This book illustrates the steps involved in moving oranges from the grower’s tree to the consumer’s table

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• Grade: K

• Economic Concepts: Natural Resources

• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will identify the economic principles and processes that are helpful to producers and consumers when making good decisions. (PreK-3)

  Our Money

Literature Annotation: Our Money tells about the different ways we pay for things, and the items that we buy with our money.

• Grade 2
• Economic Concepts: Goods, Services, Money
• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will identify the economic principles and processes that are helpful to producers and consumers when making good decisions.

Literature Annotation: Eric Carle, author of the classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar, serves up another recipe for fun in this tale of Jack, who wakes up hungry for an enormous pancake for breakfast. But before he can enjoy his pancake, he must first get flour from the miller, an egg from the black hen, milk from the spotted cow, and butter churned from fresh cream.

• Grade: 1
• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will develop economic reasoning to understand the historical development and current status of economic principles, institutions, and processes needed to be effective citizens, consumers, and workers participating in local communities, the nation, and the world

Pioneer Bear

Literature Annotation: Pioneer Bear by Joan Sandin (Scholastic Inc., New York, 1995). Joan Sandin based this book on a true story that took place in Minnesota. To write this story, she used the Orrock family picture that she found at the Minnesota Historical Society and information from members of the Orrock family. The Orrocks are descendants of the Irwin family in the story. The story tells of a photographer who traveled thirty miles from the town to the Orrock farm to take a picture of Andrew Irwin’s dancing bear.

• Grade Level: 2
• Maryland State Economics Standard: Students will develop economic reasoning to understand thehistorical development and current status of economic principles, institutions, and processes needed to be effective citizens, consumers, and workers participating in local communities, the nation, and the world.

Production 

Literature Annotation: Using one or books from the Changes series for this lesson will reinforce the concepts through learning about more products, but fewer books may be used if necessary. Each of these books follows the production of a product from the natural resources to the finished product. Any of the books may be used to follow the steps of this lesson plan.

• Grade 3
• Economic Concepts: Economic Resources, Production, Consumption, Choices
• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will identify the economic principles and processes that are helpful to producers and consumers when making good decisions.

Literature Annotation: Providing Goods explains how four different types of goods—blue jeans, paper, bread, and ice cream—are made. While each of the four books focuses on a different type of good and the specific process for getting that good to consumers, the same key concepts are developed across books to help students focus on the big ideas. Each book is written at a different readability level- difficulty level can be found on the back of each book, 1 dot signifies the least difficult, 4 dots signify the most difficult.

Literature Annotation: Students learn all about pumpkins—where they come from, how to grow them, and more—in this informative yet fun book that's guaranteed to squash the competition. Recipes, fun facts, and resources round out the text.

  Saturday Sancocho

Literature Annotation: Every Saturday Maria anticipates making chicken sancocho, a kind of stew, with her grandparents. However, one Saturday there is nothing in the house except eggs. Grandmother gets the idea to take the eggs to the outdoor market, where Maria and her grandmother are able to trade (barter) the eggs to get the ingredients they need to make the chicken sancocho.

• Grade 3
• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will identify the economic principles and processes that are helpful to producers and consumers when making good decisions.

Literature Annotation: There are separate sections about shipping bicycles, eggs, and computers from the producer to the market.

• Grade 3
• Economic Concepts: Production, Specialized work
• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will develop economic reasoning to understand the historical development and current status of economic principles, institutions, and processes needed to be effective citizens, consumers, and workers participating in local communities, the nation, and the world.

Literature Annotation: This story is based on a true, little known chapter in African American history. As a seamstress in the Big House, Clara knows she’s better off than other enslaved people who work the fields. But slavery has separated Clara from her mother, and she can never be happy without her. Clara dreams that they will be reunited one day and run away together -- north to freedom. Then Clara hears two enslaved people talking about how they could find the Underground Railroad if only they had a map. In a flash of nspiration, she sees how to use the cloth in her scrap bag to sew a map of the land -- a freedom quilt -- that no master will ever suspect is a map to freedom.

• Grade 3
• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will develop economic reasoning to understand the historical development and current status of economic principles, institutions, and processes needed to be effective citizens, consumers, and workers participating in local communities, the nation, and the world.

Literature Annotation: In this colorful picture book, a taxi carries people to many places in and around a city.

• Grade  1
• Economic Concepts: Goods and Services, Specialization, Interdependence
• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will identify the economic principles and processes that are helpful to producers and consumers when making good decisions.

The Pumpkin Market

Lesson Overview: Role play activity involving goods, buyers and sellers.

• Grade: K
• Economic Concepts: Producers and Consumers
• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will identify the economic principles and processes that are helpful to producers and consumers when making good decisions. 

Literature Annotation: From where did the expression “the real McCoy” come? African-America inventor Elijah McCoy’s successful design of an automatic oil cup inspired the popular phrase. This book introduces children to the life of Elijah McCoy and the legacy of technological contributions that he left behind.

• Grade: 3
• Economic Concepts: consumer, productivity, producer
• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will develop economic reasoning to understand the historical development and current status of economic principles, institutions, and processes needed to be effective citizens, consumers, and workers participating in local communities, the nation, and the world.

  Three Days on a River

Literature Annotation: A family takes a three-day canoe trip on a river.

• Grade: 3
• Economic Concepts: Scarcity, Resources, Decision-making, Opportunity Cost
• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will develop economic reasoning to understand the historical development and current status of economic principles, institutions, and processes needed to be effective citizens, consumers, and workers participating in local communities, the nation, and the world.

Literature Annotation: Uncle Jed is an itinerant African American barber in the early 1900s. He has a dream to own his own barbershop one day. Over the years he faces decisions that delay the realization of his dream, but he does eventually save enough money to own his barbershop.

• Grade: 3
• Economic Concepts: Scarcity and Economic decision-making; specialized work
• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will develop economic reasoning to understand the historical development and current status of economic principles, institutions, and processes needed to be effective citizens, consumers, and workers participating in local communities, the nation, and the world.

Literature Annotation: Using Nature’s Gifts informs the reader of the many ways that people use natural resources.

• Grade: Kindergarten
• Economic Concepts: Natural Resources
• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will identify the economic principles and processes that are helpful to producers and consumers when making good decisions.

Literature Annotation: This book tells the inspiring story of Sarah Breedlove Walker’s (better known as Madam C.J. Walker, also spelled Madame C.J. Walker) rise from poverty in Delta, Louisiana to her successful career as an entrepreneur and philanthropist.

• Grade: Kindergarten
• Economic Concepts: Goods and services
• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will develop economic reasoning to understand the historical development and current status of economic principles, institutions, and processes needed to be effective citizens, consumers, and workers participating in local communities, the nation, and the world.

Literature Annotation: Shortly after the Civil War an African American family travels to Kansas to take advantage of the free land offered through the Homestead Act. It is based on a true story of three young sons and the dangers they face on the frontier when they are left alone while their father goes to look for better land.

• Grade: 3
• Economic Concepts: Opportunity cost, producers, economic resources, capital resources
• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will develop economic reasoning to understand the historical development and current status of economic principles, institutions, and processes needed to be effective citizens, consumers, and workers participating in local communities, the nation, and the world.

Literature Annotation: What Can I Buy explores the realm of possibilities for a child who has a dollar to spend.

• Grade: K
• Economic Concepts: Producers and consumers
• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will identify the economic principles and processes that are helpful to producers and consumers when making good decisions.

Literature Annotation: This book will help answer the following questions: Do you get an allowance? Or have you ever been paid for doing chores, such as walking a neighbor's dog or raking leaves? If so, you've earned money! Everyone has to decide what they will do with the money they earn. Will they spend it on things they want and need? Or will they save it? How can you decide what to do with your money?

• Grade: 2
• Economic Concepts: Goods and Services, Economic Choices
• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will develop economic reasoning to understand the historical development and current status of economic principles, institutions, and processes needed to be effective citizens, consumers, and workers participating in local communities, the nation, and the world.

Literature Annotation: In this book, readers learn about the different goods that consumers can purchase, how they choose the goods and where they get the money to pay for them.

• Grade: 1
• Economic Concepts: Goods and Services
• Maryland State Curriculum Economics Standard: Students will identify the economic principles and processes that are helpful to producers and consumers when making good decisions.