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LESSON: SAM AND THE LUCKY
MONEY
Lesson Summary
Sam can't
wait to go shopping in Chinatown with his mom. He has his traditional
gift of "lucky money" to spend - any way he chooses! But when Sam
realizes he doesn't have enough money to purchase the things he
wants, his excitement turns to disappointment. His mother reminds him
that he should appreciate his gift, although Sam is not convinced -
until he has a surprise encounter with a poor stranger.
Concept: Scarcity
Definition: Scarcity is the condition of
not being able to have all of the goods and services that you
want.
Comprehension Questions:
How did
Sam get the four dollars that he had to spend?
He got it as a
traditional gift from his grandparents for the Chinese New
Year.
How do
grown up people normally get the money they spend?
They work
at their jobs to earn their income/money.
What
were some of the goods in the stores that Sam considered buying with
this money?
Pastries such as sweet egg tarts, coconut
pastries; toys such as cars, planes, robots, stuffed animals, and
basketballs.
What
was the scarcity problem in the story that made Sam angry and
disappointed?
He didn't have enough income/money to get the toys
that he wanted!
What
scarcity problem did the old, poor man face?
He had very
little or no money. He couldn't buy the things he wanted - such as
shoes, food, and shelter.
What
are some possible reasons why the man was so poor?
There are
many possible answers. Some may not be the man's fault - too ill to
work, couldn't find a job, natural disaster destroyed his farm, etc.
Some may be the result of poor decisions he made - didn't work hard
at school or on other jobs he had, decided he didn't want to work,
etc.
Do all
people face scarcity situations with their money, even rich
people?
Yes! All people, regardless of how much money they
have, tend to want more than they can afford to buy.
Other Concepts: Goods and Services | 
