Publisher Story Summary: Katy, a brave and untiring tractor, who pushes a bulldozer in the summer and a snowplow in the winter, makes it possible for the townspeople to do their jobs.

Reviews:
From Horn Book: "Bright, vigorous pictures with plenty of action and endless detail portray Katy at work for the Highway Department of the city of Geoppolis."

LESSON: KATY AND THE BIG SNOW

Lesson Summary

Katy the red crawler tractor could do a lot of tasks – in all types of weather. Things were a bit slow one winter day in Geoppolis, when all of a sudden the “big snow” hits town. Who will help all the people, businesses, and government agencies in their distress? Katy, of course! Follow her around the city as she digs a path in the deep snow. 

Concept: Goods and Services (focus on public goods and services)

Definition: A good is an object people want that they can touch or hold. A service is an action that a person does for someone else.

A public good or service is provided by government using taxes collected from citizens. An example of a public service provided by the federal government is national defense. Public services often provided by local and state governments are roads, police and fire protection, and education. Certain services, such as water or electric power, can be provided by government or by private companies.

Comprehension Questions

Katy the tractor is an example of what kind of productive resource?
A capital resource

What is a public good or service?
A good or service provided by government using taxes collected from citizens

Were the services that Katy provided a public service or private service?
Her services were public, since she was owned and operated by the City of Geoppolis. Thus, her services must have been paid for by taxes collected from citizens.

Why was Katy so valuable to the city?
She could do difficult work that people alone couldn’t do very efficiently – pushing big piles of rubble on road construction; puling equipment out of difficult places – like a pond, and pushing big mounds of snow. Capital goods, like Katy, help increase productivity.

On the map of Geoppolis (pages 6-7) we see all the places Katy visited throughout the book as she helped people stranded and in trouble by the big snow. Which of the places represent public services that can be provided by government.
An asterisk (*) indicates a service that can also be provided by private companies/organizations. Indeed, sometimes such a service is more likely to be provided by private companies, e.g. electric power

Highway Department Fire Department Fire Tower Grammar School* Library High School* Post Office Auto Bus* Electric Company* Telephone Company* Water Deparment* Hospital*

In your community, are the services above provided by government, or are they provided by private businesses?
Answers will vary. If you’re not sure, it may take some sleuthing to find out!

Other Concepts: Capital goods, Productivity

  Good and Services   

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