Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday Lesson for Grades K-2
Teach money, opportunity cost, saving, and spending using the book “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 plans to save, but he spends it all, a little at a time. In this lesson, students count by twos to fill a container with 100 pennies. They are asked whether 100 pennies is the same amount of money as one dollar. They listen to the story and as Alexander spends his money, students come up and remove the correct number of pennies from a container. At the end of the story, students are again asked if 100 pennies is the same amount of money as one dollar. Students discuss the choices that Alexander made and give advice on how he could save his money to reach his goal of buying a walkie-talkie.
Objectives
Students will be able to
- define saving, spending, opportunity cost, and savings goal;
- explain why it can be hard to save money;
- count to 100 by 2s;
- recognize that $1 equals 100 cents; and
- create and analyze bar graphs.
Essential Question
Why is it hard to save for things we want in the future?
This lesson plan is designed for teaching grades K, 1, and 2.
Book written by Judith Viorst / ISBN: 0-689-71199-9. This book is available in print and electronic format.
Braille and Talking Book versions are available via the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. Library of Congress catalogue numbers are provided for accessible versions. The books can be accessed through BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download). The book is available in Talking Book LCCN 2002997217.
Parents: Learn more about the Q&A using Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday.
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