I have been searching for an economics course that would be suitable for middle school students. Much to my pleasure, I found exactly what I was looking for in Bluestocking Press!
Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? was recommended to me over and over, which was what originally led me to the Bluestocking Press site. I was overjoyed to find an entire curriculum set for middle school students that included not only the book I was looking for, but three others!
Whatever Happened to Penny Candy is a simply written book of 15 chapters that helps students (and adults like me) understand the basics of the economics system in the United States. Not only that, but it incorporates history and current events in as well.
In real terms that aren’t weighty and hard-to-grasp, your children will finish this book with more information than I was ever taught (even in college) about such things as wages, inflation, recessions, federal debt, and so much more. Even better, there’s a common-sense sort of humor to the book that kept me chuckling all the way through.
A Bluestocking Guide: Economics is a sort of workbook/test book/extra study guide to go along with Whatever Happened to Penny Candy. It includes extra articles to further study and understanding of each chapter in the “primer” (which is Whatever Happened to Penny Candy), as well as discussion questions and tests. The tests include everything from short answers and definitions to multiple choice and essay questions. Further reading lists, charts and diagrams are included, too.
You could read the primer without using this book, but it really helps round out the course.
Common Sense Business for Kids is 17 chapters, but only 62 pages of just what it says – common sense. Students learn the ins and outs of what it takes to successfully run a business – things like operating costs, markets, needs vs. wants, changing with the times, keeping inventory, employees and salesmanship.
Since each chapter is only a few pages, the info is not in depth, but instead very to-the-point. I find that extremely refreshing, and I have a feeling your kids will, too!
Capitalism for Kids is subtitled Growing Up to Be Your Own Boss. With a little more depth and a different range of topics, this book continues on the same theme as Common Sense Business for Kids.
Chapters focus on such topics as evaluating what sort of business best suits the child’s interests and talents, capitalism vs. communism and socialism, family businesses, investing time and money, gaining education and experience, and even such things and laws and licenses.
Again, I really like the common sense writing that isn’t too wordy or philosophical. Quite simply it’s written to kids for them to read themselves.
Even though this curriculum is suggested for middle school, I found it to be meaty enough for many high school students.
Loving this!
-Written by Cindy, eclectically Charlotte Mason mom of three from Central KY. You can find her blogging at Our Journey Westward or find her nature study curricula at Shining Dawn Books. Cindy specifically requested this set for her honest review.
The biggest reason Cindy chose to homeschool was because she loves experiencing life with her children and watching them grow inside and out. She's sure that’s why the Charlotte Mason method first caught her attention. It allows her to be creative in scheduling, rigorous in learning, yet opens the door for plenty of close-knit time, opportunities for her children to explore their interests and offers enough free time for them to be children. She implements many of Charlotte Mason's methods with an eclectic twist of things that work for her family! At Cindy's website, Our Journey Westward, you will find a blog packed with fun learning ideas and a shop full of creative curriculum, including the NaturExplorers studies.
I love the Bluestocking Press books! We don’t yet have the business ones, though. Thanks for reviewing them.
Annie Kate
We are using these as part of our government/economics course in my son’s senior year of high school. We have read Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? Whatever Happened to Justice? Money Mystery, and Clipper Ship Strategy (along with corresponding guides). There is no way we would have gleaned a fraction of the information until this year working along with our Modern History study. I would squarely put these in a high school course for maximum benefit.
Great review and information. Thanks for sharing these books with other homeschooling families. We have found them to be valuable and relevant.
Could this be used in a co-op? I’m looking for something that is year-long for middle schoolers that has lesson plans.
Linda,
I can easily see it for use with a co-op. There aren’t a lot of hands-on, cooperative activities, but assigned reading and discussion time for sure.