Enterprising Storybook 1: The Short and Incredibly Happy Life of Riley

This humorous story compares the short and incredibly happy life of a rat named Riley, with the long, but sometimes unhappy life of many human beings.

Student learning

  • Differentiate between the concepts of needs and wants.
  • Understand that humans need to provide for their needs before their wants.
  • Identify their own needs and wants.
  • Give examples of short-term, medium-term and long term-goals.
  • Identify the steps required to achieve a short-term, medium-term, or long-term goal.
  • Write a plan to achieve a short-term, medium-term, or long-term goal (may include writing a budget to assist decision making).

Curriculum links

This unit of work relates to the following key competencies and values:
Thinking; Managing Self; Innovation, Inquiry and Curiosity; Integrity; Respect. 

Enterprising Storybook 1: The Short and Incredibly Happy Life of Riley

  • Year 4-6
  • 1-5 hrs
  • Mathematics and Statistics
    English
    Social Sciences
  • Free to NZ Schools
  • Led by teachers
    Training Available
Download overview

Students taking part will

  • Discuss what makes you happy and explore hopes and dreams. 
  • Discuss differences between needs and wants. 
  • List Riley's needs which are met in the story. 
  • List the human needs and wants which are met in the story.
  • Compare differences between Riley's needs and wants and that of humans. 
  • Students sort their lists based on cost. 
  • Discuss short, medium and long-term goals. 
  • Complete a short, medium and long-term goals template. 

Download includes:

  • ESB1 The Short and Incredibly Happy Life of Riley

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