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’s Whimsical Entrepreneurship

In this lesson, students discuss the characteristics of an entrepreneur and how those characteristics apply to Willy Wonka.  In groups,...
Key Concepts: Basic Economic Concepts, Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurs…
45 mins
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…
45 mins
Lesson

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…
30 mins
Lesson

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
45 mins
Lesson

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: Basic Economic Concepts, Factors of Production, Goods and Services…
Lesson

Grades 3-5, 6-8

The Costs and Benefits of Beans' Decisions

"Full of Beans" by Jennifer L. Holm tells a story about Beans Curry and his many decisions during the Great...
Key Concepts: Basic Economic Concepts, Decision Making, Incentives…
45 mins
Lesson

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
Lesson

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: Basic Economic Concepts, Decision Making, Scarcity
Lesson

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, Basic Economic Concepts…
30 mins
Lesson

Activity