The basics of economics–goods, services, producers, and consumers–are presented in Goods and Services by Janeen R. Adil. The simple text provides kid-friendly examples of goods and services: an eye doctor provides a service when she checks a child’s vision; she provides goods when she sells glasses. The straightforward photographs show children and adults as producers and consumers in everyday situations: Joe sells his old toys at a yard sale, then he takes the money he makes to buy school supplies he needs and a book he wants. The book ends with a glossary of terms.
Goods and Services will provide first-graders with a good introduction to the basic vocabulary of economics: goods, services, producers, and consumers (VA History and Social Studies SOL 1.7). Second- and third-graders can read this book for review before a unit on economics.
- Janeen R. Adil has written other basic books about economics for young children including Supply and Demand and Scarcity.
- Learn how everyday goods, such as crayons and sneakers, are made by watching videos at How People Make Things, a PBS Kids webpage.
- Younger students will enjoy deciding whether a producer provides a good or a service in this matching activity from the Council for Economic Education.
- Students can practice counting out coins from their piggy banks to purchase goods from The Market in this on-line activity.
Book: Goods and Services
Author: Janeen R. Adil
Illustrator: Multiple photo sources
Publisher: Capstone Press
Publication Date: January 1, 2006
Grade Range: K – 3