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Kindergarten - Social Studies
Activities
The Ant and the Grasshopper
Financial and Economic Concepts: Scarcity and Choices
Kindergarten – Social Studies
Standard 4: Students can explain how humans meet their needs in many ways.
Objective 1: Recognize that people have basic needs (food, shelter, and clothing) and wants (toys, games, treats).
Objective 2: Explain that people have jobs and earn money to meet their needs.
| 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)
A Chair for My Mother
Financial and Economic Concepts: Coin Recognition/Saving and Investing Kindergarten – Social Studies
Standard 4: Students can explain how humans meet their needs in many ways.
Objective 1: Recognize that people have basic needs (food, shelter, and clothing) and wants (toys, games, treats).
A Chair for My Mother
by Vera B. Williams
ISBN: 0688040748
About the Book
A Chair for My Mother is a wonderful Caldecott Honor book, written and illustrated by Vera B. Williams. Ms. Williams tells the story of a mother and daughter starting over after they lost all of their belongings in a house fire.
Mother and daughter begin to save coins in a jar in order to fulfill the little girl’s wish to purchase a comfortable chair for her mother. This is a story about a loving mother and daughter relationship, and is beautifully illustrated using watercolors.
The book is widely available in public libraries and can be purchased in soft cover from Barnes and Noble.
Complete Lesson Plan and Activities (pdf)
Students share the book A Chair for My Mother, by Vera B. Williams, to learn about counting and saving money. They complete worksheets on coin counting and saving.
1-30 Counting Chart (pdf)
