Concepts for KidsWords for Kids to Know entrepreneurs - people who start and run businesses businesses - places where people produce or sell goods and services One of the ways free markets increase prosperity is by encouraging entrepreneurship 1. Entrepreneurs have ideas about goods and services consumers might buy. The businesses they start or run provide these things. Anyone can be an entrepreneur, even kids. 2. Some entrepreneurs figure out better ways to
3. To provide goods and services, businesses must do a lot of work. To get the work done, employees are hired. This creates jobs. 4. The new ideas of entrepreneurs mean more choices for buyers and often lower prices. 5. Businesses are risky.
6. If entrepreneurs need more money to start or run their businesses, they may ask others for help. A person who gives money to help a business is called an investor. 7. The investor's money comes from wealth he or she has saved. Anyone can be an investor. 8. If the business succeeds, the investor gets some of the money the entrepreneur earns. If the business fails, the investor loses money. 9. Because businesses produce wealth and create jobs , entrepreneurs and investors are very important to prosperity. Online ResourcesEntrepreneurship Description and Links to Famous Entrepreneurs
7 Steps to Help Your Child become a Kidpreneur Real Kid Entrepreneurs Family ActivityRelated Topics |
Literature ConnectionBoom Town
by Sonia Levitin Amanda's family moves to California so her father can prospect for gold. While he works, the rest of the family makes a home and struggles to live in their small community. Amanda's life changes when she figures out how to bake pie and Pa finds selling slices of pie pays more than panning for gold. As the town grows, helped along by Amanda's business saavy, life becomes more rewarding in every way. The Tuttle Twins and their Spectacular Show Business by Connor Boyack Viewing a Broadway show during a visit to NYC sparks the Tuttle twins' interest in theater. With the help and support of family, friends, and community members, the twins start a theater in their own town. The process teaches them the planning, work, risks, and joys of being entrepreneurs. Ella Earns Her Own Money by Lisa Bullard In four short chapters, we hear the story of Ella's efforts to earn money for a new soccer ball. Colorful illustrations support the text. Caption boxes keep track of what Ella has earned. One Hen by Kate Smith Milway This wonderful tale describes how a loan to an African boy, which he uses to buy a chicken, leads to prosperity for his community. The story details how hard work, budgeting, saving, investing, and using educational opportunities helps businesses grow, increases employment, and creates wealth. The story would appeal to middle elementary age students and older, the illustrations to everyone. Be a Young Entrepreneur by Adam Sutherland This information-packed book makes entrepreneurship look fun. The information is divided into sections, word clouds, lists, and diagrams. Titles and banners label every part. The illustrations are cartoon-like and include numbered light bulbs. A glossary and index make the information more accessible. Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen This chapter book is suitable for 11 year olds and older to read to themselves. An unambitious twelve year old boy from a cash-strapped family inherits a lawn mower and unintentionally starts a lawn mowing business. Through chapters with titles appropriate for a business textbook, the boy works hard, gives jobs to a force of grateful employees, becomes a sponsor for a prizefighting boxer, agrees to let one of his customers invest his earnings, learns much about entrepreneurship, and makes a small fortune in a few months. Uncle Jed's Barbershop by Margaree King Mitchell Uncle Jedediah Johnson's dream was his own barbershop. He worked nearly all his life to realize it. That meant traveling the county by horseback giving haircuts and shaves. Along the way, Uncle Jed helped his less fortunate relatives, endured Jim Crow segregation, and lost thousands in the Great Depression. Along with lovely illustrations, this book tells his story. Get a Job Helping Others by Ryan Jacobson For kids ten years and older who want to start a service business, this book is a great resource. The author repeatedly stresses the rewards of both helping others and earning money. He details eight kid-suitable services, from concept, through planning, training, expenses, advertising, references, pricing, challenges, and more. The advice and suggestions could easily be extended to other services not detailed in the book. Visions of Beauty: The Story of Sarah Breedlove Walker by Kathryn Lasky The first free-born child of her parents, Sarah Breedlove Walker grew up poor and worked hard to support herself. Though she dreamed of being confidant and proud, she labored as a farm worker, laundress, and cook. Seeing the need African American women had for healthful hair care products, Sarah developed her own. With incredible business acumen, courage, and ambition, Sarah built a beauty product empire. She became wealthy, philanthropic, influential, and helped her many employees become prosperous. The Tortilla Factory By Gary Paulsen This is not a typical Gary Paulsen book. With muted-color illustrations, and only two sentences of text, this book portrays the growing, processing, baking, and consumption of tortillas. Arthur's Pet Business by Marc Brown Arthur proves he understands responsibility by starting a pet care business. This charming and humorous story would especially appeal to animal lovers. |