Ourselves®  

Ourselves® is designed to develop personal economic concepts through storybook characters presented by the consultant in read-aloud and hands-on activities. This program is designed to comply with the Kindergarten curriculum. 

The goals of Ourselves® are to:

• supplement the elementary social studies curriculum with business and economics-related skills and concepts. 

• develop the students' awareness of business. 

• increase the students' understanding of personal economics. 

• help the students discover the roles individuals play in our economy as workers and consumers. 

• make the students aware of the importance of education for their future.

Ourselves® Activities

Ourselves explains personal economics through a collection of short stories read aloud by the volunteer.

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...

• recognize the role of self 

• appreciate individual differences

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...

• define moneys identify one form of money-coins

• differentiate coins

 

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...

• recognize the importance of working together

• discover rewards other than money

 

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...

• discuss the importance of saving money

• identify a place where people save money

• demonstrate how to save money

• name something they would like to save for

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 wills...

• identify ways money can be used to benefit others

• recognize the value of works appreciate the importance of giving
  

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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.
  

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