Teach the basics of economics in simple, child-friendly language. This is the aim of the project “ABC Economy”, proposed And started in some schools in the province of Varese. Among these also the primary Pascoli of Busto Arsizio, where the fourth grade teachers actively participated in the training course.
ABC of economics – First steps in the world of finance it is a project based on the book created by Abc Czpeczynski And Czpeczynski Family Foundationtranslated and distributed also in Italy thanks to BCC Cooperative Credit Bank of Busto Garolfo and Buguggiate, Noi del Tosi Association And ITS INCOM Academy Foundation. The book aims to explain to children the value of money and the basics of the economy, through the story of Sofia and Max told in simple language and many colorful illustrations.
In the Busto school, the project fell within the didactic planning of Civic Education, a discipline regulated by law no. 92 of 2019. The teachers spontaneously asked themselves “Who of our students has never entered a bank?”, “Who among them has never witnessed a digital payment?”, since the teaching team of the fourth grades promptly decided to embrace the teaching proposal, considering it notable and valid. In this regard, educational activities have been planned with a naturally economic focus in the different disciplines of the school curriculum. The starting point was reading the text “The ABC of economics, first steps in the world
of finance”; subsequently, reflections on the matter were initiated, which led schoolchildren to acquire greater awareness of topics such as: what is money, where does money come from, what is work, etc.
The pupils have always shown considerable interest, since these issues concern them closely.
How to teach the ABC of Economics to children, the course in Laveno
The teachers made use of active teaching methodologies, so that the students felt like real protagonists of their own learning process: for example, through role-playing and the use of flash cards they identified themselves in a “clothes shop” and simulated a buying and selling situation, making use of the language English; again, they operated numerically with the concepts of discount or percentage through the analysis of advertising flyers and the final realization of an authentic task “Today I am going to shopping”.
In addition, in Italian the teaching focus was mainly on Volunteering. It was explained to the young students who a volunteer is, what functions they hold in society or, again, the importance that this figure has for those most in need.
So that the topic aroused curiosity and interest in the children, the teachers thought about creating a pragmatic initiative, in which the students could feel like volunteers for a day. Starting from the requests of our kids, we asked ourselves who
we could help: the children promptly responded, declaring that even animals in kennels or catteries are needy beings.
Therefore, a collection of dog food and biscuits, cans and sachets for cats and used sheets was organised. The initiative was welcomed with enthusiasm by children and families, who supported the proposal with great generosity.
Saturday 8 June. the students, accompanied by their parents and teachers, they will go to the municipal shelter of Busto Arsizio to donate the proceeds of the food collection.
