Texas TEKS 3.5.A

Social Studies3rd GradeEconomics

The Standard

identify ways of earning, spending, saving, and donating money

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students recognize how people get money through work or selling goods. They explain choices people make with money, such as buying items, setting funds aside, or giving to others.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students can correctly label everyday money scenarios and explain the clue that supports each choice. They can distinguish saving from spending and donating from buying.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think any money received, including a gift, is earned. They may think saving means keeping only leftover money. Some confuse donating with lending money or buying a gift.
How to Assess It: Give students four scenarios about a paycheck, a purchase, a savings jar, and a charity gift. Have them label each and explain one answer.

Lesson moves

Set out four labeled jars and have pairs sort picture cards showing jobs, purchases, piggy banks, and charity gifts.
Ask students to write what Maya should do with $10 if she wants shoes next month and wants to help an animal shelter.
Play Money Choice Corners by reading short scenarios as students move to the matching corner and explain their choice.
Examine a simple weekly budget and decide how much to use now, set aside, and give to a class food drive.

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