The Wants & Needs Game

A vital money skill is understanding the differences between wants and needs. The Wants & Needs Game helps children learn that concept and practice purchase decision-making. Players justify their viewpoints, which also teaches communication skills.

Easy to play - Ages 8 and up
The game is in card deck format. It includes 108 common items, such as cell phones, coats, makeup, computers, cars, texting, and bread. Players choose the best want or need in their hand and then explain why. The judge (role rotates) then selects the best item. The player who accumulates either five want or five needs cards is declared winner.

Three games in one
In the next game, players are dealt profile cards. Each player assumes the identity of his/her profile card. The game proceeds the same, except the purchasing perspective might change. For example, a car could be a strong need for an adult, but not a teenager.

Consider opportunity costs
The third game introduces opportunity cost. In this variation, the players include the general cost of the item on their card selection. The cost can influence how the judge chooses the winning wants or needs card.

Great for classrooms!
This is a highly interactive small group activity or kitchen table game.

Developers: J.M. Seymour and Chuck Kuster
Format: Playing cards
Cost: $11.95

Start Young Investors on the Right Foot

Stock Market Pie...Grandma Helps Emily Make A Million is the book for any young boy or girl interested in learning about the stock market.

Stock Market Pie is packed with delicious illustrations and educational sidebars. This award-winning book features detailed explanations of key investment concepts like “bull” and “bear” markets written in understandable language. There is also a glossary, which makes the book suitable for library reference shelves, too.

Parents and grandparents looking for help in introducing children to the basics of investing in the stock market will find this book very useful.

In fact, many adults include copies of Stock Market Pie with their gifts of stock to children/grandchildren.

Reader Reviews:

“What a great investment for parents, grandparents, teachers, and brokers looking to help young people understand the stock market and start their own investment portfolio. Stock Market Pie…can help any beginning investors get started. It’s easy to understand, fun to read…a delightfully palatable lesson.”
Reviewer: Louis M. Thompson, Jr., President & CEO, National Investor Relations Institute

“Don’t be deceived by what looks like a picture book. Stock Market Pie is a good primer for middle schoolers.”
Reviewer: Kiplinger’s Magazine, February, 2004

Author: J.M. Seymour
Edition: Hardcover, 48 pgs.
ISBN: 978097129002-0
Price: $19.95

Turn The Entrepreneurial "Spark" Into a Learning Moment

Most children have expressed an interest in a lemonade stand or similar type of business at some point. Children get excited about making a product, setting up their "store" and making money. And, it can be fun. Or, it can be a huge disappointment.

Such moments are important learning opportunities. A parent or teacher can play an active role in encouraging budding entrepreneurs by teaching business fundamentals.

ENTREPRENEUR EXTRAORDINAIRE ... Grandpa Helps Emily Start A Business follows Emily and her Grandfather as they think through the steps of starting a cookie business. Concepts such as costs, product quality, packaging, advertising and pricing are all discussed.

ENTREPRENEUR EXTRAORDINAIRE contains a number of informative sidebars and a glossary that explains terms. This makes the book a great reference book for library shelves.

Reader Reviews:
“For every young person who wants a lemonade stand...Entrepreneur Extraordinaire is a fun template to nurture sound business fundamentals. Author J.M. Seymour ignites the entrepreneurial spark to unleash a young person’s business acumen. Emily is one smart cookie! “
Connie A. Deshpande, Harvard Business Publishing

“Finally...a book tailored to young readers that describes opportunities in entrepreneurship in a fun, thorough and understandable way.”
Judi Eyles, Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, Iowa State University

Entrepreneur Extraordinaire tells a great story while showing how to set up a business. J.M. Seymour simplifies what can be an overwhelming task into easy-to-follow steps.”
Connie R. Muell, CPA, Tunink Murray Financial Group

Author: J.M. Seymour
Edition: Hardcover, 44 pgs.
ISBN: 978097129002-0
Price: $19.95

The Young Entrepreneur's Classroom Set was developed in response to teachers asking for hands-on lessons and activities that encourage young entrepreneurs.

This Classroom Set features 8 lessons 36 activities to choose from. Topics run from helping the students discover their earning personalities, to learning about the types of businesses, elements of a business plan, developing a business image (brand) and more. Fun activities include helping students develop their elevator speeches, creating a logo and product/service promotion.

Hands-on activities include manufacturing examples such as making play dough or silly putty and then discussing variations in outcomes and their causes.

Maybe you have the next Bill Gates in your classroom, just waiting for a nudge.

The Young Entrepreneur's Classroom Set contains eight meaty lessons, with dozens of flexible and sometimes fun activities.

Lesson 1: Discover Your Earning Personality

• Getting to know your class partners
• What I like about me task sheet

Lesson 2: Types of Businesses and Ideas

• Is my business doable?

Lesson 3: Forming a Plan

• What is a business plan
• How do I start? What do I need?

Lesson 4: Developing a Business Image

• Create an audible image (elevator speech)
• Create a graphic image/logo
• Discussion: Who is my customer?

Other lessons on business economics, marketing, pricing, selling and keeping track of money.

The binder includes many forms and handouts that are easy to reproduce and use.

Classroom Set to Study Stocks and Investing was developed by a financial educator to help teach youth about basic investing and stock market aspects.

This classroom set was developed by J.M. Seymour, author of Stock Market Pie ... Grandma Helps Emily Make A Million. Seymour developed this classroom set after numerous requests by teachers for help in taking various financial literacy topics into their classrooms.

Useable, logical and understandable teaching support
The Classroom Set includes a number of lessons that can be used in mathematics, social studies and history classes. It's a perfect talented and gifted student special project.

Sample lessons/topics include:

• How to find and study a stock
• The magic of compounding
• Price/ earnings ratio
• Discovering dividends
• How to research stocks
• Investment diversity
• Tracking and charting stock prices
• Developing a dream portfolio
• Investor crossword

Author: J.M. Seymour
Format: 3-ring binder
Price: $19.95