Alexander, Who Used to Be
Rich Last Sunday
Reviewed By: Luke Zottoli
Author: Judith Viorst
& Illustrator: Ray Cruz
Recommended Grade Level: K-2nd
grade
CCSSM Standards:
Content Standards:
CCSS.Math.Content.2.MD.C.8
Solve word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies, using $ and ¢ symbols appropriately. Example: If you have 2 dimes and 3 pennies, how many cents do you have?
Solve word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies, using $ and ¢ symbols appropriately. Example: If you have 2 dimes and 3 pennies, how many cents do you have?
CCSS.Math.Content.2.NBT.B.7
Add and subtract within 1000, using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction; relate the strategy to a written method. Understand that in adding or subtracting three-digit numbers, one adds or subtracts hundreds and hundreds, tens and tens, ones and ones; and sometimes it is necessary to compose or decompose tens or hundreds.
Add and subtract within 1000, using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction; relate the strategy to a written method. Understand that in adding or subtracting three-digit numbers, one adds or subtracts hundreds and hundreds, tens and tens, ones and ones; and sometimes it is necessary to compose or decompose tens or hundreds.
Mathematical Practice:
Summary:
The
story is about a little boy Alexander, who gets a dollar from his grandparents
on Sunday. The story chronicles his adventures in foolishly loosing, spending
and betting his money away. Halfway through spending his money, he wants to try
to start saving his money. However, he is continuously tempted along the way to
spend his money on frivolous things he wants right now.
Rating:
I
would give this book a 5-star review. There are many lessons that can be drawn
from this book; from direct math lessons involving money; to lessons about the
challenges of saving versus having something you want right now.
Classroom Ideas:
1. This
is a great book to introduce money, and all the many concepts that come with
it.
2. We
can use this book to compare the value of money and coins, In the beginning of
the story Alexander lists out how much money each of his brothers have. We can
use this to compare the value of the individual coins, versus how many coins
someone has.
3. We
can use the book to learn subtracting money and making change. Through each adventure
Alexander loses his money in some way, we can create a chart keeping track of
how much money Alexander has left after each mishap.
4. We can compare each other's approaches to how we solved the answers and discuss which approaches seemed to work the best.
5. In
the older grades we can use this book although basic reading as a guide for
setting up a budget.
6. The
use of the book to set up the idea of waiting to save how long would it take to
save putting a dollar a week aside, two dollars, how much money would it take
to save each week to buy this toy that cost $50 in four weeks?
This book looks like a great introduction to using money for children. I like your focus on wanting to teach children that coins do have value. Just because one has 10 pennies does not mean you have more money than someone who has a quarter. I think this story is a great way to show children how to add and subtract as well as compare and contrast prices. It's also never too early to learn how to budget your money.
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