Going to Town
Readers join a pioneer family on their trip to the market place. When Laura, a pioneer girl, becomes old enough she goes to the market with her family. They observe how their father trades his items for other things. Laura and her sister are surprised to see so many goods and try to understand how their parents make decisions of what to get for the family.
Economic Concepts
- Decision-Making
- Choices
- Consumers
- Barter
- Trade
Grade Levels
- Primary (K-3)
Related Subjects
- U.S. History
This would be an effective book to read when teaching a unit over trade and bartering. An activity that teachers may do in the classroom while using this book would be to have the students pretend to be pioneers. Once they have a mindset of a pioneer they should attempt to make a “T” chart with the list of goods they want on one side and the list of items they would barter to get what they want. The children may then be able to act this out.