Ourselves® explains
personal economics through a collection of
short stories read aloud by the volunteer.
The learning objectives listed beside each activity state the skills and knowledge the students will gain.
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Activity One: Robbie's Trip to the Farm The students are introduced to a storybook character and his visit to a family farm. Through a group discussion and by drawing pictures of their favorite animals, they discover that individuals make choices. |
Key Learning Objective The students will
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Activity Two: Angie and the Carnival The students are introduced to a storybook character and her plans to earn money by making and selling crafts at a carnival. |
Key Learning Objective The students will
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Activity Three: Charlie Plants a Garden The students learn how the storybook characters work together to plant a community garden. |
Key Learning Objective The students will
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Activity Four: Meagan Buys a Present The students recognize the importance of saving money to buy something they want through a story about a girl who must save to buy a birthday present. |
Key Learning Objective The students will
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Activity Five: Dylan and the New Playground The students learn how the storybook characters save money to buy new playground equipment for their school. |
Key Learning Objective The students will
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Ourselves® enhances the students’ learning of the following concepts and skills:
Concepts – Barter • Benefit • Buying • Choices • Consumer • Costs • Earning • Entrepreneurs • Giving • Goods • Incentives • Income • Money • Resources • Rewards • Saving • Scarcity • Selling • Spending • Voluntary exchange • Wants • Work
Skills – Abstract thinking • Coin recognition • Coin valuation • Decision making • Drawing • Following directions • Interpreting information • Listening responsively • Matching • Responsibility • Sequencing • Teamwork
Ourselves® is a series of five activities recommended for students in kindergarten. The average time for each activity is 30 minutes. Materials are packaged in a self-contained kit that includes detailed activity plans for the volunteer and materials for 30 students.
All JA programs have technology enhancements and are designed to support the skills and competencies outlined in the SCANS (Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills) report. These programs also augment the school-based, work-based, and connecting activities for communities with school-to-work initiatives.