Teacher Guide for ASK: Why Can Money Buy Things?

May/June 2006

Teacher Guide prepared by Betty Lou Askin, a retired elementary school principal in Ontario, Canada. She continues to teach and to be an administrator, in a supply capacity. She also writes stories for young children.

Pre-reading activities:

· Look at the Contents page.

· Ask the students to suggest ideas about the various illustrations.

Scoops (pg. 2)

· Before reading the article ask the students some questions about George Washington such as -Who is George Washington?Describe him. Where can we see pictures of him?

· What did a group of people want to do about Washington?

· How long did their work take to accomplish?

· Why was it difficult to find a good likeness of George Washington?

· How did lasers help with the project?

· How did computer software contribute to their work?

· Why did they create 3 statues?

Thirst Quencher (pg. 2-3)

· Why would it take 10 years to develop the LifeStraw?

· Describe the appearance of the LifeStraw.

· Explain how it works.

Now Hear This (pg. 3)

Vocabulary: trumpet, vibrations, seismic waves

· Explain 2 ways that sound travels when an elephant trumpets.

· How did the scientists prove that elephants hear with their feet?

· Try testing this concept.

Nestor's Dock (pg. 4-5)

· What does this mean "enjoy the fruits of our labor"?

· Why is this story humorous?

· How can you earn some money?

· Creative Ideas:

Make a cartoon about two people with a project, using this cartoon as your model.

Write a story about earning money for a specific reason.

What Makes a Buck a Buck? ( pg. 6-13)

· What does it cost to make a dollar bill?

· What are other words for money?

· Why do we need money? Make a huge list on the chalkboard. Or, have the students work in groups to develop a list and then compare their findings.

Got Change for a Cow?

1. In ancient days, why were you rich if you had many cows?

2. Why is a cow difficult as a bartering tool?

3. Why is a cow difficult for making change?

4. Why does the man on page 7 hate shopping days?

What? You don't Take Cowries?

1. What are cowries?

2. Why were cowrie shells used as money?

3. What was one problem about using cowries as money?

4. What is wampum?

5. Describe the development of ancient Chinese coins.

One Lump or Two?

1. What does the article tell us was needed for good money?

2. Why was gold and silver chosen as money?

3. What were pirate dollars?

4. What does the expression "two bits" mean?

Good as Gold?

1. Why did paper money get started?

2. How did banks come into existence?

What's a Dollar Really Worth?

1. What does "legal tender" mean?

2. How did Ben Franklin fool counterfeiters?

3. Why are there ridges on a US quarter?

4. Ask the students to solve the hamburger question.

Why Pay More?

1. Why do the prices of objects change?

The End of Dollar Bills?

1. How do you spend money electronically?

2. How might you buy something using a cell phone?

3. How much money is printed every day?

4. What type of paper is used to make dollar bills?

5. Why is it difficult to copy a dollar bill?

6. Have fun folding paper money as shown on pages 6, 9, 11, 12 and 13.

Boggs Bills (pg. 15-17)

· Who is J.S.G. Boggs?

· How did he pay for a coffee and a doughnut?

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Updated: 11/21/08 12:39 pm
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