Thomas County kindergarteners in Ashlyn Brent’s class at Hand-In-Hand Primary School kicked off the holiday season with a lesson about economics.  Direct instruction on concepts like wants and needs, as well as, income and expenses set the groundwork for a practical unit that focused on economics and personal finances. Students learned how money is managed by earning a “paycheck” from daily duties, acts of kindness, and hard work and then being responsible for bills. After practicing the concept of paying their bills for things like rent, utilities, gas, groceries, and clothing, students were able to use the money they had leftover to buy goods or services they wanted from the classroom store. The unit is a hands-on introduction to managing money and the experience helps students understand that they can’t always buy everything that they might desire. 

Ashlyn Brents collects money from Paris Duncan’s “paycheck” which she has to spend on the things she needs first and then use the remainder in the classroom store if she chooses.

Cason Ambrose exchanges “money” for items in the classroom store while Rhett Harper ponders his selection.