Grade 3 Economics

Students in Ms. Szyman’s Grade 3 class started last Wednesday without books, supplies, or furniture, but with lots of ‘dollars’ to spend! Over the course of the day, they bought, sold, traded, and shared their books, pencils, paper, tables, chairs, and everything else they needed. At the end of the day, the class looked at who was finishing with the most dollars and other resources.

As they inquire into how distribution of wealth affects access to equal opportunities, this activity gave students an opportunity to practice cash transactions and think of other ways to manage use of resources. By Thursday, the tables, chairs, and materials were all back in place, and the students had a new awareness of economic activity.