Skip to main content

2013-2014 Reading is an Investment

Choices Have Costs and Benefits

The aim of the activities and lessons for this year is to challenge students to incorporate a decision-making process into their use of money. The three featured books highlight different aspects of considering the costs and benefits of our decisions. In Michael Kaplan's Betty Bunny Wants Everything, students see the consequences of not being able to make a decision. Activities and exercises allow educators to introduce the concepts of wants versus needs and the link between money, the price of an item and personal choice. In The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, students are walked through a process of making spending choices. The lesson plan links our spending choices with our income and sparks discussion regarding making money decisions. Opportunity costs are the focal point for spending decisions in The Can Man by Laura Williams. 

Students will have the opportunity to evaluate the costs and benefits of the decisions made by Tim, the main character of the book. Activities and lesson plans included in the curriculum this year will highlight:

  • Wants versus Needs
  • Costs and Benefits of Our Choices
  • What is an Opportunity Cost
  • Scarcity and Money Decisions
  • Balancing Income and Expenses

Librarian Activities

The school librarian acts as the main source of program information for each school. We have provided outreach resources to assist librarians in promoting the program. We've also provided school librarians with specific activities that take 30-40 minutes to complete--perfect for use during scheduled library times with students.

Librarian Program and Promotional Ideas
Promotional Flyer for Teachers 
Letter to Parents
Sample School Newsletter Story
Kid's and Money: Share Your Knowledge
Betty Bunny Wants Everything Activity
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind Activity
The Can Man Activity

 

Teacher Lesson Plans

 

Lesson plans are divided by the following grade levels: (1) Kindergarten; (2) 1st & 2nd grades; (3) 3rd & 4th grades; and (4) 5th & 6th grades. There is one lesson plan for each grade level, based on the book that is most targeted toward each individual age group. A complete curriculum guide was sent to the school librarian at each participating school. Each school must develop their own policy regarding the circulation of the three books to teachers for classroom instruction.

Glossary
Author Michael Kaplan, Betty Bunny Wants Everything
Kindergarten Lesson
1st-2nd Grade Lesson
Authors William Kamkwamba & Bryan Mealer, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
3rd-4th Grade Lesson
Author Laura Williams, The Can Man
5th-6th Grade Lesson