If Money Grew on Trees

Financial Literacy / Self-Control / Accountability

Legend has it that Dionys-hiss grants wishes to those who display acts of kindness…

Afton, a pragmatic and altruistic child, is granted one wish from a magical snake. With hopes of helping her family and others, she wishes that every tree she touched grew money. As her riches increase, and word spreads to her community about her wealth, her need to budget and control her spending does as well. In this loose adaptation of “Midas and the Golden Touch, Afton  learns the importance of responsible money management and personal accountability through the S.S.S.S. acronym.

Learning Objectives

  • Define the value of money and self-control
  • Learn the difference between a want and a need
  • Discover that money is finite—once it is spent it is no longer available for other things
  • Demonstrate smart and ethical ways to spend our money by using our self-control
  • Discover safe ways kids can earn money
  • Develop students’ financial accountability by teaching them basic budgeting habits and ways to keep their money safe