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4GRADE

And Then It Happened

Using the children’s series “And then It Happened” by Canadian author Michael Wade, this lesson o� ers teachers ideas on how to incorporate fi nancial literacy learning into a novel study. This lesson can be adapted to any literature that has a similar theme.

After reading a section from “And Then It Happened” students are asked to calculate how much it would cost to fi x one of the items that Gordon breaks in the short stories assigned. Students will compare their fi ndings to determine which item is the most expensive to fi x and then advise Gordon on ways he can earn the money he needs to get the item repaired.

Subject Mathematics / Language

Suggested Timing 40 minutes

Financial Literacy Objectives

At the end of this lesson, students will:• use fi nancial symbols and terminology;• calculate cost of purchases.

Curriculum Expectations

Language, Grades 1-8 (2006)Language

Reading1.1 Read a variety of texts from diverse cultures, including literary texts and

informational texts. 1.4 Demonstrate understanding of a variety of texts by summarizing important ideas

and citing supporting details.

Writing1.3 Gather information to support ideas for writing using a variety of strategies and

oral, print, and electronic sources.2.1 Write more complex texts using a variety of forms.

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GRADE 4And Then It Happened

Curriculum Expectations(continued)

Mathematics, Grades 1-8 (2005)Mathematics

Number Sense and Numeration • Represent, compare, and order whole numbers to 10 000, using a variety of tools -

read and print in words whole numbers to one thousand, using meaningful contexts.• Add and subtract two-digit numbers, using a variety of mental strategies.• Add and subtract money amounts by making simulated purchases and providing

change for amounts up to $100, using a variety of tools.

Assessment Use: Gordon’s Expensive Mistakes Teacher Record Sheet (Appendix E)

What You Need • “And then it Happened” series of books• Computer lab OR catalogues to research how much specifi c items cost• Things That Get Broken, Reading Notes (Appendix A)• Sales receipt exemplar (Appendix B)• Template to make a sales receipt (Appendix C)• “And then it Happened” chart (Teacher resources showing what gets destroyed in

which book and chapter) (Appendix D)• Gordon’s Expensive Mistakes Teacher Record Sheet (Appendix E)

Minds On Ask students “Who in the class has ever made a mistake that cost money to fi x?” “What was that mistake?”

Students share their answers and explain what happened.

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GRADE 4And Then It Happened

Action ReadingCreate cooperative groups.

Hand out copies of “And Then It Happened”, and assign one story segment per group. Assign individuals within the group to read sections of their assigned story to their group aloud. (Note: for a list of stories that have items that are broken see Appendix D.)

As students read the story ask them to identify any items that get broken and need repair. Assign a recorder in the group to write down these items and describe what needs to be fi xed (Appendix A).

Group WorkUsing computers or catalogues/fl yers, students will research how much it would cost to repair Gordon’s mistakes. If in a lab, a list of appropriate websites should be provided to direct children where they can fi nd the price of items that need to be replaced.

Using the template provided (Appendix B), each student will then create a sales receipt by recording how much Gordon’s mistake cost to fi x.

An exemplar can be shown in advance of this activity (see Appendix B) and the teacher should explain what a receipt is, identify its features and explain why and how it is used during a purchase. Explain to students that while tax would normally be charged on a receipt, today they will just be recording the price on their template.

The individuals in the group compare their fi ndings to see how their research on prices may have diff ered.

Note: The teacher can take observation notes of student work habits using Appendix E, as they are completing each activity.

Consolidation/Debrief

Class presentation A volunteer speaker from each group explains to the class what Gordon broke and gives examples of amounts the item(s) would cost to fi x. After each group presents, the class as a whole should decide which of the character’s mistakes were the most expensive.

As a class the students and teacher discuss the critical thinking questions below:• Who do you think should pay for things when they get broken? • What advice would you give Gordon and his friends to avoid making such

costly mistakes?• If you broke something in a store by accident, what would you do?• When you did your research, why do you think some websites or catalogues/

stores had higher prices than others for the same item?

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GRADE 4And Then It Happened

Things That Get Broken - Reading Notes

Who broke it? What item(s) were broken?

A P P E N D I X A

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GRADE 4And Then It Happened

Sales Receipt Example

Canadian Wheels #140120 STEELES AVE E.

MILTON, ON

905-878-2349

11/05/2011 11:05 AM

043-0248-0 B&D 7L SS Kettle $34.99

13% HST $ 4.55

T O T A L $39.54

CASH $40.00

APPROVAL

PURCHASE TOTAL $39.54

CHANGE $ 0.46

VALU FOR PETS #1126890 MAIN STREET E.

MILTON, ON

CARD 99999**************

CARD TYPE INTERAC

ACCOUNT TYPE CHEQUING

DATE 2011/11/22

TIME 16:12

RECEIPT NUMBER

C30851350-002-083-098-0

TASTE OF THE WILD CANNED 3 @ $2.89

SUB TOTAL $8.67

BONE-A-MINTS, 6 PK $8.99

SAM COCO WNTR DOG COAT, LG $36.99

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

PURCHASE TOTAL $54.65

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A P P E N D I X B

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GRADE 4And Then It Happened

Sales Receipt Template

Total

Total

A P P E N D I X C

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GRADE 4And Then It Happened

Chapters where Gordon breaks/destroys something (Teacher Resource)

A P P E N D I X D

Book # Chapter What was destroyedWebsites to research amounts of each of Gordon’s mistakes

Book 1 Ch. 6 A bicycle built for 3 • bicycle built for 3 NOTE: listing of websites for teacher only

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Kent-Dualdrive-Tandem-Bicycle/3663045

Ch. 10 Christmas Disaster • sleigh http://buggy.com/sssleigh.html

Book 2 Ch. 9 The Camping Trip • 3 sets of boys clothing http://thechildrensplace.ca/

Ch. 11 The Big Fish • wetsuit http://www.scuba.com/shop/ppc/ppcParentCategoryCustom2.asp?category=Wet-Suits&rf=9&ppcurl=wetsuits2.asp&PKeyword=wetsuit&gclid=COb7raaKtK0CFUHRKgodI025mQ

Book 3 Ch. 9 Night Visitor • 1 small pup tent

• 3 sleeping bags

• 3 pillows

• 3 pairs of boys pajamas

http://thechildrensplace.ca/

http://www.walmart.ca/

Book 4 Ch. 7 Lover’s Leap • soft top for convertible http://www.convertibletop.com/?gclid=CK_Bv7KLtK0CFSwBQAodhxezkw

Book 5 Ch. 4 The Giant Cupcakes • Chopper eats 3 giant cupcakes

http://www.fl ourgirls.com/cupcakes.aspx

Book 7 Ch. 3 Halloween • 2 wooden wagons http://www.tscstores.com/Search.aspx?k=wagon

Ch. 5 Dashing Through the Snow (longer chapter)

• costumes for 3 wise men http://www.buycostumes.com/browse/_/N-/Ntt-three+wisemen/results1.aspx

Book 8 Ch. 4 The Snake • deep sea fi shing rod http://www.alltackle.com/crowder_bluewater_rods.htm

Ch. 8 The Talent Show Disaster

• gold pocket watch http://www.pocketwatchsite.com/

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GRADE 4And Then It Happened

Gordon’s Expensive Mistakes - Teacher Record Sheet

A P P E N D I X E

Student NameCooperation

in GroupParticipation Research Sales Receipt