By Grade 1 Lead Teacher Emily Ferestien
This week in social studies, Grade 1 students explored the grade level theme of community through the lens of an economist. Several economical key terms were introduced through experiential learning: Needs and wants and goods and services.
Students worked together in small teams to create a lemonade stand that would attract customers and provide goods and services to their community. Using the kindergarten puppet theater, we created a “real lemonade stand” and each team of students got to offer their class both goods and services.Â
Then, students engaged in the dramatic play of a community entity (library, fires station, supermarket, etc.) while the rest of the class had to guess what goods and services this entity is providing for their community.
The week culminated with a visit from Rashi’s Head of School, Mr. Fischer, who read the book “Rufus the Writer” by Elizabeth Bram. The book describes a boy who opens a “story stand” and trades his stories for goods such as a seashell or a kitten. Reading the book opened a discussion on how the value of items is determined.
With the help of the students we created a list of needs and wants, as well as goods and services that Rashi provides and discussed the economic choices The Rashi School makes every day. It was a full and fantastic week!