Noted economic education expert Erin Yetter helped vet Hopkinson’s manuscript for Thanks to Frances Perkins, and we invited her to speak to us on our blog today about why early economic education is so important and to share some of her favorite resources. Erin is a Lecturer of Economics at the University of Arizona who worked for many years with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis developing curriculum, providing professional development for teachers, and conducting research. She has a PhD in Economic Education from the University of Delaware.

Why is it important for kids to have an early economics education?

The importance of early economic education stems from one important fact: Children must understand the world around them. Learning economics gives children the tools to be informed decisions makers whereby they weigh the costs and benefits of their economic choices—when they choose what college to attend, career to pursue, how much of their income to spend, whom to vote for, and so on. Thus, it is imperative to give them the proper economic content knowledge to make these decisions.

This education should start as early as possible so that children have a strong foundation on which to build more complex economic concepts. Young children can learn economics and even enjoy learning economics when it is linked to real-world applications such as children’s literature and media. For example, did you know there is economics in If You Give a Mouse a Cookie? We are all familiar with the cute mouse who is continuously asking for more. In other words, he has many wants. Wants are desires that can be satisfied by consuming goods and services. The mouse wants a cookie, then he wants milk, then he wants a straw, and so on. Wants, and the fact that they are unlimited, is a foundational concept in economics.

Ready to bring more economics into your classroom, but unsure where to start?

If you are interested to see what economic content should be taught in the K-12 curriculum, check out the Voluntary National Content Standards for Economics published by the Council for Economic Education. This document represents a consensus from the field’s leading economic educators regarding what students should know about economics by the end of grades four, eight and twelve. For example, the concept of “specialization” is scaffolded over time such that students first learn that individuals produce less than they consume. Next, they learn that countries also produce less than they consume. Finally, they learn that specialization is the foundation of trade among countries. Countries will specialize in the production of a few goods and services and then trade other countries for the rest.

What are some great resources for teaching early economics?

There are a lot of resources available, but the trick is finding high quality, rigorous, and engaging content. Great news: the resources below check off all of those boxes!

1. Council for Economic Education: http://councilforeconed.org

The Council for Economic Education (CEE) has been promoting economic and financial education for more than 60 years. The CEE conducts teacher training programs and develops curricula materials along with the nationally-normed assessment tools such as the Test of Economic Literacy. They also work with affiliates at the state and local level to provide these services and some funding to regional educators.

The CEE’s free curriculum and resource site is EconEdLink: http://www.econedlink.org/

2. National Association of Economic Educators: https://www.naee.net/

The National Association of Economic Educators (NAEE) exits to support economic educators in their promotion of economic and financial literacy. Since 1980, NAEE has provided economic educators with the opportunity for networking, professional development, research, and recognition.

3. The Federal Reserve System: https://www.federalreserveeducation.org/

The Federal Reserve works at the national level through its regional Reserve Banks to train teachers, develop curriculum materials, conduct research, and partner with state and local organizations to promote economic and financial literacy for its constituents.

4. Economics Media Library: https://econ.video

This website provides video clips, neatly organized by topic, from a variety of sources (i.e. TV, movies, commercials, TED Talks). Run by Dr. Jadrian Wooten from Penn State University.

5. Journal of Economics Teaching: https://www.journalofeconomicsteaching.org

The mission of the Journal of Economics Teaching is to transmit innovative teaching ideas to teachers of economics at all levels. Articles provide teaching tips from practicing economic educators. All of their material is openly available to interested readers.

6. Me!

And, of course, if you have any questions about how to get started, where to get more good resources, or just want to chat, please reach out to me directly at eyetter@arizona.edu or follow me on Twitter @erin_yetter.

Leaf Litter Critters
Written by Leslie Bulion
Illustrated by Robert Meganck

Have fun on this poetic tour through the leaf litter layer and dig into the fascinating facts about the tiny critters who live there.

Bring the classroom home with this teacher’s guide, and go digging in whatever leaf litter layer is near you!

Save the Crash-test Dummies
Written by Jennifer Swanson
Illustrated by TeMika Grooms

Filled with fun four‐wheeled nuggets of history and explanations of how cars actually work, this nonfiction book from former science educator and award-winning author Jennifer Swanson will appeal to lovers of all things that go and readers who are interested in  seeing how things work.

Take a peek under the hood with this teacher’s guide, or have some hands-on time with that car you haven’t driven in a while.

Countdown
2979 Days to the Moon
Written by Suzanne Slade
Illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez

Have any space geeks in the house? Award-winning author and former mechanical engineer Suzanne Slade joins up with New York Times best-selling illustrator Thomas Gonzalez to tell the powerful story of the successes, failures, triumphs, tragedies, and lessons learned from Apollos 1 through 10 that led to the first Moon landing.

Explore this inspiring story further with our teacher’s guide and discussion questions, or just do some stargazing from wherever you are!

Fault Lines in the Constitution
The Framers, Their Fights, and the Flaws that Affect Us Today
Written by Cynthia Levinson and Sanford Levinson

It’s hard to think about or focus on the fact that this is an election year, but here’s an opportunity to bring November to the forefront. Many of the political issues we struggle with today have their roots in the U.S. Constitution, and authors Cynthia Levinson and Sanford Levinson explore the Constitution’s creation and how current realities link directly back to this historical document.

Keep the conversation going with this teacher’s guide and discussion guide, and explore the authors’ blog where they discuss what’s happening in the news and answer questions and comments on all topics.

Izzy Gizmo
Written by Pip Jones
Illustrated by Sara Ogilvie

A feisty tale of determination, ingenuity, and friendship, Izzy Gizmo is sure to inspire some imaginative young inventors to get tinkering.

Channel your inner inventor with these activities, or simply get inventing with whatever you have at home!

Ebenezer Has a Word for Everything
Written by Chelsea H. Rowe
Illustrated by Frank Dormer

Need some help with vocabulary building? Ebenezer (and his great friend Fitzgerald) are on the job! Chelsea H. Rowe’s offbeat story about friendship, collaboration, and a love for both language and stories is perfectly depicted by Frank Dormer’s quirky illustrations. (This book also includes a list of words and definitions in the back.)

Have some word-filled fun with these activity sheets!

Three Hens and a Peacock
Written by Lester L. Laminack
Illustrated by Henry Cole

Spring Babies 

The babies are back! As the days start warming up and daylight gets longer, celebrate the wonder of blooming spring days and balmy summer afternoons with the fun-loving babies in the Babies in the Park board book series! From award-winning author Kathryn O. Galbraith and illustrator Adela Pons (our very own in-house graphic designer!) come the last two books in the series, featuring a set of energetic characters who love to play in the park all year long.

“Vibrant, jewel-tone artwork and simple texts are the hallmarks of these engaging introductions to the natural world… Upbeat and active early concept books for young explorers.” —School Library Journal

“With its companions, a sweet and cheery introduction to the seasons for the youngest readers.” —Kirkus Reviews

All four of the Babies in the Park board books celebrate their respective seasons with bright, inviting color palates and talk of typical seasonal activities  and outdoor occurrences, such as rainy days and dandelions, butterflies and bees.

Spirited, rhyming text coupled with colorful, graphic art help to introduce early concepts such as shapes, numbers, and repetition, while also encouraging an appreciation for nature and imaginative play. Each board book makes for a great stand-alone read, but when the books are looked at side-by-side, readers can see the familiar park landscape change according to each season.

For fun activity suggestions and inspiration for seasonal outdoor play, check out our Babies in the Park activity sheets for spring and summer, as well as for autumn and winter. You’ll find fun ideas for celebrating the wonder of each and every season!

Curious about how illustrator Adela Pons created the beautiful artwork for the whole series? Check out the feature, “From the Sketchbook: Adela Pons” from Children’s Book Council!

Get your copies of Spring Babies and Summer Babies on Amazon or at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble!

Carter Reads the Newspaper
Written by Deborah Hopkinson
Illustrated by Don Tate

Carter G. Woodson was born to two formerly enslaved people ten years after the end of the Civil War. Though his father could not read, he believed in being an informed citizen. So Carter read the newspaper to him every day. When he was still a teenager, Carter went to work in the coal mines. There he met a man named Oliver Jones, and Oliver did something important: he asked Carter not only to read to him and the other miners, but also research and find more information on the subjects that interested them. “My interest in penetrating the past of my people was deepened,” Carter wrote. His journey would take him many more years, traveling around the world and transforming the way people thought about history.

“Young readers will be caught up in his story…. Quotes are seamlessly woven into the narrative, and a time line, list of sources, and bibliography add research appeal. Of special note are the illustrations, which include more than 40 portraits of black leaders… Their images and one-line biographies will pique further interest, making this a valuable resource for school and public libraries.” ―Booklist

“Hopkinson skillfully shapes Carter’s childhood, family history and formative experiences into a cohesive story.…the inclusion of notable figures from black history reinforces the theme (a key is in the backmatter). An important and inspiring tale well told.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“Conversational… Delicately textured mixed-media illustrations…offer spare, stylized images…” ―Publishers Weekly

“Thorough back matter… A charmingly illustrated picture book biography for elementary schoolers.” ―School Library Journal

“Exemplary… This inspiring picture book combines a rich but focused text with clear, expressive mixed-media illustrations. It sheds light on an important, inspiring, but little-known subject, and the supplemental back matter gives weight to the exceedingly important takeaways that history must include all people, and that anyone can change history.” ―Shelf Awareness

Facts about Dr. Carter G. Woodson:

• Carter G. Woodson was born December 19, 1875 in New Canton, Virginia.
• He worked as a coal miner for three years before he finished high school.
• At the age of 37, Carter earned a PhD in history from Harvard University, the second African American to do so.
• Carter was the first and only Black American whose parents had been slaves to receive a doctorate in history.
• In 1915 Carter founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, an organization still thriving today.
• In 1926 Carter founded Negro History Week (which became Black History Month), to be observed in February, in honor of the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.

It’s surprising that someone so integral to our celebration of Black history does not have more books written about his life. Carter never wrote much about his own personal history. But we know that he listened and learned from those around him, and then shared what he learned with others.

Because of Carter’s great and lasting contribution to Black history, throughout the month of February in celebration of Black History Month, we will spotlight the lives and legacies of Black men and women who have contributed to our history, and share resources to help young readers learn about the significance of Carter G. Woodson’s life and his contribution to society. Follow along on our Twitter page as we highlight some important and lesser-known figures in Black history throughout February to continue Carter Woodson’s goal of celebrating a history “void of national bias, race hate, and religious prejudice.”

Here are more resources to help celebrate Black History Month:

Download your own Carter G. Woodson poster.

Check out the teacher’s guide for Carter Reads the Newspaper.

Print out your own copies of the endpapers of Carter Reads the Newspaper,
which features portraits of Black leaders throughout history.

Read our Q&A with author Deborah Hopkinson and illustrator Don Tate.

Check out our round-up of books to read during Black History Month and beyond.

Carter Reads the Newspaper is available at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble!

Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers: Celebrating Animal Underdogs is a book about anti-superlatives. Instead of focusing on the world’s biggest, fastest, strongest animals, my goal was to shine a light on creatures that are small or slow or shy or clumsy, but still manage to survive—and thrive.

As I was researching, my goal was to identify animals that could be classified as “underdogs” because they have characteristics or behaviors that humans might consider weaknesses. But, in fact, those perceived flaws are the secret to the animals’ survival success.

Educators like the book because it has a lively, playful voice and can be used in two ways. First of all, it’s perfect for science units about animal adaptations. Young readers really get excited about some of the book’s interesting and surprising examples.

The book’s gentle message of respecting one another and celebrating differences can also help teachers ease into conversations about bullying and other interpersonal conflicts that they may have noticed in their classroom. Even though the message is subtle, kids get it. And they often find themselves relating strongly to one of the animals in the book.

I had both of these uses in mind as I was writing Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers, and I’m delighted that teachers find these aspects of the book valuable. But what has surprised me about the book is students’ fascination with discovering and learning about animals that are completely new to them.

For some reason, it never occurred to me that creatures like the shy okapi, the stinky hoatzin, and the tiny Etruscan pygmy shrew would be unfamiliar to young readers, and they would want to know more, more, more—much more than we could squeeze into the back matter—about these captivating critters.

As soon as we realized our readers’ desire for more information, the folks at Peachtree and I put our heads together and developed an awesome downloadable Meet the Underdogs poster to accompany the book. I’m happy to report that kids love it.

I’ve also been delighted with all the ways teachers are using the book in writer’s workshop. Thanks to social media, elementary educators have let me know that they are using Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers to help students identify the theme or concept of a nonfiction book. They’re also using it as a mentor text to model voice, word choice, strong verbs, varying sentence length, direct address, imbedded questions, alliteration, and internal rhyme.

Wow, teachers are so clever! Sometimes they see things in my writing that I’m not even aware of. There’s always more to learn about the craft of nonfiction writing.

If you’re a teacher who’s using Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers or one of my books in your classroom, please let me know via Twitter, Facebook, or email. I love hearing these stories.

Melissa Stewart is the award-winning author of more than 180 science books for children. She has always been fascinated by the natural world and is passionate about sharing its beauty and wonder with readers of all ages. For more resources for Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers, also check out the teacher’s guide and readers’ theater. Find this book at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble. How are you using Pipsqueaks, Slopwokes, and Stinkers in your classroom or with your readers? Let us know!

You  might know who some of the biggest or strongest animals are, but what about the smallest or slowest? Do you know which animal is so stinky, it smells worse than cow manure? Well, it’s time to celebrate these underdogs in the animal world! Take a lighthearted look at the surprising traits that help some animals survive in Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers: Celebrating Animal Underdogs.

Written with a lively, engaging voice, this nonfiction picture book introduces young readers to a variety of animals that might be known for more negative-sounding qualities, like being “lazy” or “clumsy.” Using humorous yet informative text, award-winning author Melissa Stewart explains how these characteristics that might seem like weaknesses actually can be critical for survival in the animal kingdom. Stephanie Laberis’s bright, bold—and scientifically accurate—illustrations add to the fun. While offering interesting facts about real animals, this book also provides a gentle message of understanding and celebrating differences found in everyone, human or animal.

Starting September 1 we will be introducing some of these fascinating animals and what makes them so special. Follow along on Twitter and Instagram to meet some animal underdogs from Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers!

“Friendly and approachable, this compendium is sure to create some new favorites in the animal kingdom.” —Kirkus Reviews

“The point that every animal, no matter how seemingly weak, has ‘its own special way of surviving’ is effectively made. The narrative also offers discussion-encouraging questions, and the lively painted portraits depict the animals fairly realistically, placing them in simplified natural settings, sometimes with a humorous touch.” —Booklist

 Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers is going on a blog tour next week! Don’t miss the stops along the way!
Librarian’s Quest
Pragmatic Mom
Great Kid Books
Nonfiction Detectives
Mrs. Knott’s Book Nook

Find Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers on Amazon or at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble September 1! And be sure to check out the Teacher’s Guide, Readers Theater, and Meet the Animal Underdogs: Vital Stats and Map resources.

So to celebrate, we’re giving away five children’s books that you’re sure to enjoy! Check out the titles below, and comment on this blog post by May 4th to enter for your chance to win all five books.*

With engaging rhymes and bright, bold images, award-winning author and illustrator Susan Stockdale introduces young readers to a wide range of unusual flowers. Can you imagine a flower that looks like a ballerina? A baboon? A napping baby? Back matter tells a little bit more about each flower (including color photographs) and describes the pollination process.

Gretchen Brandenburg McLellan brings readers an amusing and touching story about transitions and the importance of observing them. With Grace Zong’s charming illustrations, the distinct cast of lively characters comes to life on the page.

As Henry observes his Aunt Lilla work with the beehives on their Lowcountry farm, he becomes fascinated with her bee suit and her ability to communicate with the bees. When he learns that the bees are getting ready to look for a new place to live, he tries to find a way to communicate with the sister bees to convince them to stay.

In this powerful biography of George Moses Horton, the first southern African-American man to be published, Don Tate tells an inspiring and moving story of talent and determination.

Nineteen poems in a variety of verse forms with accompanying science notes take readers on a decomposer safari through the “brown food web,” from bacteria through tardigrades and on to rove beetle predators. Glossary, hands-on investigations, and resources are included in the back matter.

Looking for more ways to celebrate Children’s Book Week? Check out all the great resources online and find events happening in your area! What are you doing to celebrate Children’s Book Week? Comment below and enter to win!

*No purchase necessary to enter or win. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and Washington, D.C. who are 18 years of age or older as of date of entry. Void where prohibited.

Discussion guide

The Universe of Fair
by Leslie Bulion, illustrated by Frank W. Dormer

For a young science whiz, an eagerly awaited day at the fair turns into a wacky adventure with more twists and loops than the Gravity Whirl ride!

more contemporary fiction:

The Somewhat True Adventures of Sammy Shine by Henry Cole
Do You Know the Monkey Man? by Dori Hillestad Butler
Winners Take All by Fred Bowen

Discussion Guide

Crossing Jordan
by Adrian Fogelin

When African-American Jemmie moves in next door to white Cassie, the two girls must learn how to address their parents’ deeply held prejudices.

more from Adrian Fogelin:

My Brother’s Hero
The Big Nothing
Anna Casey’s Place in the World

Discussion Guide

Quake! Disaster in San Francisco, 1906
by Gail Langer Karwoski, illustrated by Robert Papp

Jacob tries to find his family who are missing in the aftermath of the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906.

more historical fiction:

Privateer’s Apprentice by Susan Verrico
Chasing the Nightbird by Krista Russell
The Other Side of Free by Krista Russell

Discussion Guide

Darling, Mercy Dog of World War I
by Alison Hart, illustrated by Michael G. Montgomery

When the British military asks families to volunteer their dogs to help the war effort, Darling’s family sends her off to be trained.

more from Alison Hart:

Murphy, Gold Rush Dog
Finder, Coal Mine Dog
Leo, Dog of the Sea

Find these books and more at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble! For more reading suggestions this summer, check out our summertime reading and summer-themed round-ups.

Now recognized as a national issue with major economic implications in the agriculture sector, children and teachers have been inspired to do their part to support pollinator health in the schoolyard setting. From planting pollinator gardens to maintaining their own beehives, schools can contribute to both honeybees and native pollinator health in meaningful ways that also teach core content across curricular disciplines.

Plant a garden

• Ecoregional planting guides from Pollinator Partnership: Select the best plants for your region. Many states have native plant societies that can help locate plant material. Remember that garden centers often sell plants treated with neonicotinoid pesticides, which are suspected to be poisonous to bees, so make sure to source neonic-free plants. Not all neonic-treated plants are labelled as such.
• Pollinator garden planning lesson plan from KidsGardening.org

Start a beehive

• Compilation of pollinator citizen science projects from Xerxes Society

• Information for Schools from the Xerxes Society
• Honeybee curriculum from the Bee Cause
• Project Hero Pollination Quest from Captain Planet Foundation
• Bee Books for Children from the Honeybee Conservancy

Creating bee-friendly schools