Publisher’s Story Summary: It is a sad moment when a young boy discovers he doesn't have enough money to buy the waggely tailed dog he sees in the pet store window. Nothing but that waggely tailed pup will do as a pet for the boy, so he's off to make some money to buy the dog of his dreams! Misadventures follow and by the end of the week the boy has less money than when he started. Thinking he will just say hello to the doggie in the window, the little boy finds the dog is gone. Someone else has bought the dog for a very special son to thank him for all the nice things he has done. Who could that lucky boy be? A story as irresistible as waggely tailed doggies and little boys.

LESSON: HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGGIE IN THE WINDOW?

Lesson Summary:
 
A boy really wants a special dog in the pet store window, but he does not have enough money. He attempts to earn the money needed, but spends his own money on his family members instead. Luckily, his family surprises him with the dog as a gift.

Concept:  Economic Wants

Definition: Economic wants are desires that can be satisfied by consuming a good, service, or leisure activity.

Comprehension Questions:

What is the economic want of the boy?
The dog in the pet store window.

Explain why the boy could not have what he wanted in the beginning of the story.
He had a scarcity of income!  He didn’t have enough money to purchase the dog.

What are some other animals in the store the man thought the boy would want?
Hamster, gerbil, lizards, snake

Why do you think the man was willing to sell the dog for $5 less?
He would probably still make a profit at that price. He wanted to make a sale!

What did the boy do to earn the money he needed?
He tried to make and sell lemonade.

Why didn’t his lemonade stand successful?
It was raining and there was no demand for his lemonade. Few consumers wanted lemonade on a rainy day.

The little boy had trouble saving his money as well! Why?  What goods did he purchase?
He spent his money helping others in his family.  He bought these goods:  yogurt, chocolates, and tissues.  These goods satisfied the economic wants of his family.

How did he eventually get the dog?
His parents bought it for him.

Extra Credit Question! 

In the story, the dog was really a “good” that was for sale.  (This is because it took work and effort to breed, care for, and get the dog ready to sell.)  When is an animal considered a natural resource?
Wild animals are considered natural resources.

Other Concepts: Goods, Consumers, Money, Price

  Economic Wants    

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