Using Children’s Literature to Teach About Economics and Enterprising Women

Celebrate Women in Economics by using stories about the lives of a diverse group of amazing women to teach economic themes, bold decision-making and creative problem solving.

These lessons and activities feature the lives of Nellie Bly, Madam C.J. Walker, Dolores Huerta and Maya Lin to name a few.  Each lesson features a specific children’s book title, instructional activities and open-ended discussion questions. Economic concepts will include entrepreneurship, productive resources, cost/benefit analysis and incentives.

Use a tic-tac-toe board as a fun way for students to choose their own assessment activities.   Complete three and your student wins!

Women’s History Month Tic Tac Toe

Teach opportunity cost and have your students help you to create a Women’s History Bulletin Board.  Students color portraits of famous women and then must choose which to display and which will be the one they give up.

Women’s History Month Opportunity Cost

Use these quotes by women entrepreneurs as bell-ringer writing inspirations.

Famous Quotes by Enterprising Women

Challenge your students to use the poem pattern presented in RESPECT: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul to create poems based on the meanings of economic concepts.

RESPECT Poems Econ Activity

There is a free on-demand webinar available on EconEdLink.org that explains how to teach these activities.

“Women’s History Month: Using Children’s Literature to Teach About Economics and Enterprising Women” https://www.preview2.econedlink.org/webinar/enterprising-women-using-childrens-literature-to-teach-economics/