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.

Year 4-6
1-5 hrs

Mathematics and Statistics
English
Social Sciences

Free to NZ Schools
Led by teachers Training Available

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.

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