|
Mel's Diner by Marissa Moss
Troll Associates, Inc.
32 pages
ISBN 0-8167-3460-7
Summary:
Mabel loves helping mama and Pop run their diner. From morning to
night, there's always something to do --- setting the table, greeting
the guests, and listening to their jokes and stories. Mabel and
her best friend, Rhonda, especially like to dance to the music of
the jukebox. They dream that some day they will have a diner of
their own. Till then, it's just another day at Mel's Diner.
Concept:
Entrepreneur
Definition:
An entrepreneur is someone who takes risks to develop
a new product or start a new business.
Comprehension
Questions:
Describe what
work Mabel did every day at the diner? (set the silverware on
the tables and make coffee, bring customers their menus, serve food,
fill sugar bowls and napkin holders, etc.)
Does Mel's Diner
provide a good or service? (This is tricky! Although customers
purchase tangible food items, technically restaurants provide a
service. The main idea is that customers are paying someone else
to cook, serve, and clean up for them. The labor and capital resources
represent a much larger part of the bill than the food itself.)
Why were there
so many customers at Mel's Diner? (They received good service
and the food and atmosphere were great.)
Do you think
Mabel's parents made a profit at their diner? (Yes! The story
indicates that Mel's Diner has been there a while and will continue
to succeed. There were many customers. Also, the family could keep
their human resource costs low since family members all pitched
in to help.)
Do all businesses
make a profit? Why or why not? (No, many businesses do not make
enough profit and must go out of business. The business may overestimate
the consumer demand. Or, business costs might increase significantly.
There are many factors that affect supply, demand, and therefore
business profits.)
In the future,
what did Mabel and Rhonda dream about doing? (They wanted to
be entrepreneurs and open their own diner.)
What is an entrepreneur?
(Someone who takes the risk to develop a new product or start
a new business.)
What were the
names that they considered for their diner? (Rhonda liked the
name "Eat Your Dinner Diner," while Mabel liked "Deedle,
Doodle Diner.")Why can the name of a business be important?
(The name of a business can help attract customers.) Can
you think of another name for their diner?
What good or
service would you like to produce when you grow up? (Answers
will vary.)
Other
Concepts: Goods and Services,
Consumer
(From KidsEcon Posters©: www.kidseconposters.com)
|