TOPIC:

Earning Money by Working

LEARNING OPPORTUNITY:

Children need to learn that “money doesn’t grow on trees.” It is important for them to realize that people can’t buy everything they want and that people have to work at a job to earn money.

THE ACTIVITY:

• Describe your job to your child. Explain to them that you work to earn money to buy things that the family needs.
• Ask them if they know of any other jobs that people do.
• Tell them you are going for a walk together. You will look for jobs that people are doing in their neighbourhood to earn money.
• Point out people working, like a bus driver, a store clerk, a mail delivery person, etc.
• Ask your child to make a picture of someone they saw working at a job.

FOLLOW UP IDEAS:

• Explain to your child that some people start their own business to earn money, like a clothing store or restaurant, and tell your child we call these people entrepreneurs. In the warmer weather they can set up a lemonade stand to experience earning some money.
• Visit the library and borrow a book to read together about people working to earn money, such as:
  • Jobs People Do by DK Publishing. A picture book about jobs people do in the community.
  • Apple Picking Time by Michele Benoit Slawson. All the townspeople work in the orchards at harvest time.
  • Arthur’s Pet Business by Marc Brown. Little, Brown. Arthur wants a pet. His parents doubt he can take care of one. Arthur starts a pet business to prove his parents wrong.
  • Bea and Mr. Jones by Amy Schwarz. Bradbury. Bea and her father switch places. He goes to school. She goes to work.
  • Leo and Emily’s Zoo by Franz Brandenberg. Leo and Emily set up their own zoo. They make people pay to get in.

WEBSITES:

• A picture dictionary of different kinds of jobs.
  http://www.enchantedlearning.com/dictionarysubjects/people.shtml
• View a video and listen to a song about the jobs people do.
  http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/songs/people-work
• Watch a you tube video about jobs people do.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw3CEaZ4MQQ