Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday

Jennifer Rosari

Author: Judith Viorst

Illustrated: Ray Cruz

Grade level: 1-2

Standards:

Common Core State Standards: English Language Arts

Reading: Literature

• Key Ideas and Details

CCSS. ELA-LITERACY RL1.1: Ask and answer questions about key ideas in a text.

CCSS. ELA-LITERACY RL2.1: Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where,

when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.

Speaking and Listening

• Comprehension and Collaboration

CCSS ELA-LITERACY SL1.2: Ask and answer questions about the details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.

Common Core State Standards: Mathematical Practice

Operations and Algebraic Thinking

• Add and Subtract Within 20

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.OA.C.5: Relate counting to addition and subtraction (e.g., by counting on 2 to add 2).

• Work with Equal Groups of Objects to Gain Foundations for Multiplication

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.OA.C.3: Determine whether a group of objects (up to 20) has an odd or even number of members, e.g., by pairing objects or counting them by 2s; write an equation to express an even number as a sum of two equal addends.

Measurement and Data

• Represent and Interpret Data

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.MD.C.4: Organize, represent, and interpret data with up to three categories; ask and answer questions about the total number of data points, how many in each category, and how many more or less are in one cate- gory than in another.

• Work with Time and Money

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.MD.C.8: Solve word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies, using $ and ¢ symbols appropriately. Example: If you have 2 dimes and 3 pennies, how many cents do you have?

Summary: Alexander's grandparents give him a dollar on Sunday, and instead of saving his money for a walkie-talkie, at the end of the day he realizes he spent all of his money. The story incorporates money and finance.

Rating: 4 stars

Classroom Ideas: Read aloud the story to my class and have an activity with toy money and small groups. Children can pretend pay for items and practice using money and counting.