Notable Trade Book Lesson Plan: The City of Ember and The People of Sparks

Abstract

Using children’s literature to teach economics is a good method of making unclear concepts seem logical and authentic and has been used effectively by primary school educators for many years. However, finding a popular book that contains clear and comprehensible examples of economic choice, goods and services, and supply and demand at the upper elementary/middle school level can be a challenge. Meeting this challenge is Jeanne DuPrau’s Ember Series, a compelling futuristic cautionary tale that encourages its readers to think seriously about the allocation of limited resources and the consequences of planning for the future. This interactive lesson takes a situation from a book’s plot and applies it to economic principle “voluntary trade creates wealth.”

Citation

Stover, L.F. and Haynes, B.F. (2007), "Notable Trade Book Lesson Plan: The City of Ember and The People of Sparks", Social Studies Research and Practice, Vol. 2 No. 2, pp. 244-252. https://doi.org/10.1108/SSRP-02-2007-B0008