Grade K-2, 3-5
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Lesson

Using Children’s Literature to Teach About Economics and Enterprising Women

Updated: March 19 2024,
Author: Lynne Stover

Description

Celebrate Women in Economics by using stories about the lives of a diverse group of amazing women to teach economic themes, bold decision-making and creative problem solving.

These lessons and activities feature the lives of Nellie Bly, Madam C.J. Walker, Dolores Huerta and Maya Lin to name a few.  Each lesson features a specific children’s book title, instructional activities and open-ended discussion questions. Economic concepts will include entrepreneurship, productive resources, cost/benefit analysis and incentives.

 

Women's History Month Tic Tac Toe

Use a tic-tac-toe board as a fun way for students to choose their own assessment activities.   Complete three and your student wins!

Coloring Opportunity Cost

Teach opportunity cost and have your students help you to create a Women’s History Bulletin Board.  Students color portraits of famous women and then must choose which to display and which will be the one they give up.

Bell-Ringer Quotes

Use these quotes by women entrepreneurs as bell-ringer writing inspirations.

Economic Poetry

Challenge your students to use the poem pattern presented in RESPECT: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul to create poems based on the meanings of economic concepts.

 

Instructional Webinar

There is a free on-demand webinar available on EconEdLink.org that explains how to teach these activities.

“Women’s History Month: Using Children’s Literature to Teach About Economics and Enterprising Women” https://www.econedlink.org/webinar/enterprising-women-using-childrens-literature-to-teach-economics/