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Kindergarten - Language Arts

 

Activities

The Ant and the Grasshopper

Financial and Economic Concepts: Scarcity and Choices

The Ant and the Grasshopper One summer’s day, in a field nearby, a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart’s content.  An Ant passed by, struggling to carry an ear of corn he was taking to his nest. “Why not come and chat with me,” said the Grasshopper, “instead of working so hard?” “I am helping to store up food for the winter,” said the Ant, “and I recommend that you do the same.” “Why bother about winter?” asked the Grasshopper; “we have plenty of food right now.” But the Ant went on its way and continued its work. When winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself hungry and weak, while it saw the Ants eating corn and grain every day from what they had collected all summer. Then the Grasshopper knew:  It is best to work and save things we will need later.

Discuss the following questions about “The Ant and the Grasshopper” with students.

• What were the ants saving for? [Food for the winter]
• What did the ants give up? [Time playing or relaxing]
• What was the grasshopper's opportunity cost? [Food for winter]
• What have you had to give up to get something else? [answers will vary]

Opportunity cost: The second-best alternative (or the value of that alternative) that must be given up when scarce resources are used for one purpose instead of another.

Optional Color Page (pdf)

The Ant and the Grasshopper (ppt)

Ant and the Grasshopper Audio

Music Connection

The Mitten

Financial and Economic Concepts: Scarcity and Choices

(NOTE: If you do not own your own copy of the book check with your school librarian or the public library to get a copy. The book is also available for purchase online.)

Explain that it is a story about a little boy who loses his snow-white mitten in the snow. Some small animals find the mitten and move into it, thinking that it would make a good home. Then some funny things begin to happen.

The story shows some ways in which things can go wrong when there isn't enough of something to go around.

Complete Lesson Plan

Order of Animals Worksheet (pdf)

Printable Masks for the Mitten Characters

Interactive Activity

5 Question Quiz (pdf)

Music Connection

Monster Musical Chairs

Financial and Economic Concepts: Scarcity and Choices

Students listen to the book Monster Musical Chairs and identify the scarcity problem the monsters had – not enough chairs for every monster to have one.  Students wear a picture of a want that they have drawn and play a version of musical chairs in which the chairs are labeled as goods.  Students learn that a good can satisfy a want.  They also learn due to scarcity not everyone’s wants are satisfied.

Determine how many students know how to play musical chairs.  Read the story and help students listen for the problem the monsters have each time the music stops.  Tell students the monsters have a scarcity problem.  Explain scarcity means not being able to have all the things you want.

Place eight chairs back-to-back, in the front of the room.  Tell students that an economic want can be satisfied by a good.  Students draw something they want on an “I Want” card.  (see handouts on link below).  Goods (also on link below) are taped on the chairs.  Nine students play the game, just like musical chairs.  Continue to play rounds until one student is left.

Complete Lesson Plan, Handouts, and Discussion Questions (pdf)

Music Connection

Lesson provided by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and Philadelphia.

A Gift for Mama

Financial and Economic Concepts: Savings and Financial Investments

In this lesson, students read a story about a young girl named Sara. Sara has always made gifts for her family for special occasions. For Mother's Day, Sara decides she wants to buy a gift for her mother. After reading and discussing the story, students will create a booklet in which they've illustrated Sara's short-term savings goal and their own short-term savings goal.

Materials:
A Gift for Mama, by Esther Hautzig, a copy of Activity 1 (pdf), for each student, scissors and five pieces of tag board for each student, tape and art supplies

 Complete Lesson Plan

 Activity 1 (pdf)

 Optional Lesson Plan and Activity

A Good Choice

Financial and Economic Concepts: Scarcity and Choices

An individual’s needs are different than his wants.  Students will be able to determine the difference between needs and wants in real life situations.

Pass out A Good Choice Worksheet and pencils.

A Good Choice Worksheet (pdf)

Read each sentence to the students and instruct them to circle the answer they like best.

Review the sheets together and discuss the difference between needs and wants.  The students should realize that in some situations more than one item may be necessary, i.e., to take a bath you need both soap and water.  In other cases, what is necessary for one person may not be necessary for someone else, i.e., the flat tire on a bicycle may require a new tire in some situations.

Music Connection