Collection
Economics 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

Open for Business

In this economics lesson, students will read a popular children's book to learn about entrepreneurship.
Key Concepts: Entrepreneurs, Goods and Services, Risk and Return
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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: Balance of Trade and Balance of Payments, Budgeting, Decision Making/Cost-Benefit Analysis
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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: Balance of Trade and Balance of Payments, Budgeting, Goods and Services
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Bunny Money

In this lesson, students listen to the story of Ruby and Max, two bunnies that go shopping and make many...
Key Concepts: Balance of Trade and Balance of Payments, Budgeting, Consumers…
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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: Decision Making/Cost-Benefit Analysis, Entrepreneurship, Saving
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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: Budgeting, Goods and Services, Specialization…
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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: Consumers, Decision Making/Cost-Benefit Analysis, Spend
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"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: Choice, Credit, Decision Making/Cost-Benefit Analysis…
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Trade to the Tailor

By reading the book "A New Coat for Anna" students will learn about resources, scarcity, costs, trade/bartering, and decision making...
Key Concepts: Decision Making/Cost-Benefit Analysis, Goods and Services, Money…
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The Mitten

This is a folktale retold by Jan Brett about a little boy whose grandmother knits him a pair of snow...
Key Concepts: Scarcity
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Video

Scarcity Video and Quiz

In this economics video, students will learn about scarcity and play a Kahoot! game.
Key Concepts: Economic Systems, Goods and Services, Scarcity
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