Topic:  Money

Grade Level:  Second

Objective:  After reading Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday by Judith Viorst, the student will be able to identify each coin and itís assigned value.  The student will also be able to count money with different coins up to totals of one dollar.  The students will spend money and keep track of how much money they are spending.

Materials:    Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday by Judith Viorst
                     Plastic money
                     Pocket
                     Objects that students would like to purchase, PRICED
                     ìChoiceî charts
                     chart paper/overhead/blackboard
                     calculators

Lesson:

1. Read the book titled Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday to the class.
2. After reading the story, the whole class will make a list of how Alexanderís money
    was spent, and how much each ìchoiceî cost him.  This can be made either on the
    chalkboard, a large sheet of chart paper, or on the overhead, so that it will remain in
    the studentís view (there are nine choices in all).
3. The students will then need to work with a partner and calculate how much money
    Alexander spent in total.  They will use their plastic money to count out the money,
    and then check their answer with the calculator.  Everyone will then report their final
    answer and agree that Alexander spent a dollar in all.
4. The students will then separated and work individually.  The teacher will have lying
    around the room, a variety of objects that would interest the students in her/his
    classroom, with every item clearly marked with a price tag.  The students will make a
    list of how they would spend a dollar, writing their choices on one side of the list and
    how much it will cost them on the other side.  The students may need to be reminded
    that although they do have a dollar, they do not have to spend exactly a dollar.
5. The students will be given a pocket to cut out and glue to another piece of
    construction paper (making sure to leave an opening at the top to slide coins in).  They
    will then count out enough money for every item on their choices list and put the
    money in their pocket.
6. The students will then trade pockets and count the money in each otherís pocket.
    They will first count out the money, and can use a calculator to check their answer.
7. Since the amount of money in every personís pocket will be different, (according to
    their choices) the students will need to check with the owner of the pocket to make
    sure that they agree on the amount of money in the pocket.  If they do not agree on
    the amount of money, they will need to work together to come up with an answer that
    they do agree on.
 
 
 
 
 

    Click on the penny to return to the description page.