Striker Jones Teacher's Companions

Economics is about much more than buying and selling, but unfortunately, that's usually the main (and sometimes only) topic of the few existing elementary economics lessons for kids.

Not so with Striker Jones! Striker will introduce students to a wide range of underlying economic principles that affect the way we all act every day, even if we're not buying something at the store or investing in the stock market.
Organized according to the ten chapters in each book, use the Teacher's Companions to explore the many economic concepts (see below) raised in the Striker Jones novels. In addition to classroom discussion topics, the plans include comprehension questions, vocabulary, fun group activities, and individual assignments.

Use the guides together or alone and in any order. Plus, if your state follows Common Core, the lessons meet reading and language arts standards (see below). The Lexile reading levels of the novels are about 700L.


Concepts

Striker Jones
Supply and Demand, Goods vs. Services, Incentives, Trade-offs, Opportunity Cost, Competition, Risk, Loss, Barter, Benefits, Information Asymmetry, Diminishing Marginal Utility, Mutual Benefits of Trade, Prices, Profits, Public Choice, Scarcity, Voting
Striker Jones and the Midnight Archer
Wants vs. Needs, Supply and Demand, Entrepreneurship, Scarcity, Knowledge in Decision-Making, Buying Behaviors, Charities, Alchian-Allen Effect, Substitutes and Complements, Free vs. Planned Economies, Specialization, Tragedy of the Commons, Black Markets, Rationing, Resources, Investment, Standard of Living

Standards Alignment

Are you required to follow Common Core in your classroom? Striker Jones meets the following standards:
  • L.3.6, L.4.6, L.5.6
  • RL.3.1, RL.4.1, RL.5.1, RL.3.3, RL.4.3, RL.5.3
  • RI.3.1, RI.4.1, RI.5.1, RI.3.3, RI.4.3, RI.5.3, RI.3.4, RI.4.4, RI.5.4, RI.4.8, RI.5.8
In addition, Striker Jones is aligned to the microeconomic voluntary national economic standards set by the National Council on Economic Education.

For more details on standards alignment, see Striker Jones Standards.

What Real Teachers are Saying

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"My students LOVED LOVED LOVED your book. I used the discussion questions and activities in your lesson plan pack. Thank you so much. We have already ordered a class set of the second book." - Heather B.

"I was looking for something fun and different to implement into my class. The students are really getting into reading these chapters. We read them when the chapter topic falls into alignment with our objectives for certain lessons. It is a great break from some of the textbooks heavy reading and the kids are able to relate to the characters in the book." - Lisa Michalczuk

"This was a great resource in linking Social Studies with ELA." - Suzane L.

"I wish I would have found this earlier!! So great to teach real life economics!" - Alyssa Winter

"Detailed information and questioning with an economics theme. There isn't enough emphasis on economics in elementary school! Thank you." - Carolyn Wilhelm

"These are FABULOUS, very detailed, lessons!" - Keisha G.

"This a perfect supplement for economics/PFL for 7th graders. The stories are short enough for a teacher read aloud or partner reading, and students see the concepts in real world situations. Pair students and have them write the solutions on white boards, which they love. Very engaging over all." - kaylabay

"My class LOVES this novel!! - Sue Dembski

"Awesome packet, teacher/student friendly. Great buy!" - Lavonna Woods

"Most schools are in need of solid Social Studies resources and this is a home run! It perfectly integrates literature and economics. Thanks!!" - Sara's Online Classroom

"Awesome way to teach a difficult topic to elementary students!" - Steve Richardson

"This is a great addition to a an economics lesson, in fact, I'm using it for my third graders lesson. Each short story is different and features a different scenario you try to solve. In one, the solution is about bartering (trading), in another, it's about supply in demand. The author uses short scenarios that students could relate to; for example, the story about trading is about a baseball card. Vocabulary is appropriate for elementary age students and it would be easy to add this to a lesson." - Alisha Painter

"My fifth grade class loved this!" - Julie Cronin

"I have already used the first two chapters - the students love these stories! They really get into the discussion questions and activities, too! Thanks :)" - trigirloakley

"My kids LOVED this story!!" - Shannon Hoff

"I love this! My class can't wait to do Social Studies since I've been using this book! Thanks!" - Christie West

"Economic and Financial Literacy materials for students are rather hard to find. I was so happy to discover this." - Cindy Hepp

"Great fun for students! Helps bring the finance standards to life." - rothjr3

"I like that each chapter can stand on it's own. Makes it easy to integrate over time. The coordinating lesson activity pack is great!" - Kristen78

"I love it. Thanks." - jdrobb

"There are not a whole lot of resources out there like this. I love it!" - Miss Dierking

"This really helped me introduce economic concepts to my students." - Tania S.

"My kids LOVE this!!!" - Raquel B.

"These are wonderful! We will be using this for our homeschool! Thank you!" - NarrowGate Christian Homeschool

"Excited about the possibilities." - agrindstaff

"The students love the stories that help to teach the economics concepts." - teddybear2

"Love this!" - campaa

"Great books for teaching my students about economic concepts!" - Julie Osterhaus

"Just what I needed for summer tutoring" - Julie Holdridge

"What a wonderful and detailed resource! Thanks for sharing!" - mrsaall

"Love this series!" - Jennifer Malugen

"A great idea and fun way to teach economics, thanks!!" - amchie

"Great ideas! Love it!" - krismcd3

"This is a great resource to help kids learn economic terms in a story format. My class really enjoyed the stories. Thanks!" - tutoringbyheidi

"Great way to teach economics." - hgbandmom

"I am excited to teach economics using a book the kids will enjoy!" - Cindy Welsh

"Great resource!" - thomasgoksu96

"Was a fun way to get concepts taught. Kids enjoyed using it." - Ann Todd

"This is awesome! Thanks!" - cmwhtf08

"Super fun!" - booneygirl

"So excited to use this with my class." - Kiera F.

"This is fabulous! Thanks for sharing." - Ann Cotten

"Students loved this!" - Stefanie T.

"Great teaching tool." - Josephine C.

"Great way of teaching economic concepts to kids. They really understood the ideas after the stories." - Antelope T.

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