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LESSON: CURIOUS GEORGE GOES TO A
CHOCOLATE FACTORY
Lesson Summary
Curious George and the man with the yellow hat
stop at a chocolate factory store. George follows a tour group around
the factory, and before you know it, he accidentally – and dramatically -
speeds up the candy production. How will the extra candy coming off
the assembly line be handled? Curious George to the rescue! Use
this humorous book to teach your students about productivity.
Concept: Productivity
Definition: Labor productivity measures how many
goods or services are produced per worker over a period of time – usually
per hour. Greater productivity leads to greater efficiency and to
higher standards of living.
Comprehension Questions:
What is a factory?
A factory is a
place where workers produce goods.
In the story, what goods were produced in
the factory?
Many different kinds of chocolate candy
What do we call the machines, tools, and
equipment that help workers produce goods and services?
Capital
resources
What is labor
productivity?
Productivity measures how many goods or services
workers produce in a period of time – usually per hour.
How did the machines in the story help the
workers increase productivity in the factory?
The machines did work
the workers didn’t have to do – or were unable to do. The machines
helped the workers produce lots of candy each day. Also, the machines
helped make the quality of the candy uniform and consistent.
How did Curious George increase the
productivity of the factory?
He accidentally increased the speed of
the assembly line to “Extra Fast.” This forced the workers to work
very fast, and Curious George was able to help them. Even though
there was now one more “worker,” we can assume that the factory’s
productivity increased! That is, more chocolate was produced per
worker.
What are ways that farmers use machines to
increase productivity?
They use tractors, plows, reapers, combines,
trucks, etc. In fact, only about two to three out of 100 workers in
the United States actually work on farms! This is a dramatic increase
in productivity from colonial days, when most workers were farmers.
What are ways that other workers use
tools, equipment, and machines to increase productivity?
Answers
will vary depending on the type of worker chosen. E.g. carpenter –
hammer, saw, screw driver, drill, etc.
What are some machines that help you
and your family increase productivity at your house?
Lawn
mower, vacuum sweeper, electric hedge trimmer, electric drill, dish washer
– all these are examples. And there are many others!
Other Concepts: Capital
Resources, Producers |
