LOGICAL THINKING - Grade 1

Lesson 8 of 8

Activity 1

You are going to help Ruby Robin with a problem today.

(Teacher Read Aloud)

One sunny morning in the forest, Ruby Robin fluttered around happily. She had twenty dollars to buy something special, just for herself. She chirped excitedly, “What should I get? A toy? A treat? A cozy sweater?”

Ruby flew to her friend Cindy Spider, who was busy spinning a beautiful web in the corner of an old oak tree. “Cindy,” said Ruby, “I have twenty dollars, but I can’t decide what to buy. Will you help me?”

Cindy tapped one of her eight legs thoughtfully. “Let’s ask Owen Owl! He’s the wisest animal in the forest!”

They flew and skittered to the tall tree where Owen Owl lived. He was perched quietly on a branch, blinking slowly and enjoying the breeze.

“Owen,” Ruby said, “I want to buy something special with my twenty dollars, but I don’t know what to choose.”

Owen gave a wise nod. “A smart shopper makes decisions based on facts,” he said. “Things we can see, count, or measure.”

He looked at Ruby kindly. “What are your considerations? What things are important to you when making your choice?”

Ruby thought for a moment. “Well,” she said, “here is my list of things I might want to buy: a backpack, a computer, gloves, a winter hat, a scarf, a book, a coat, a game, modeling clay, or a remote-control car!”

“Let’s look at your first consideration,” said Owen. “How much money do you have?”

“Just twenty dollars,” Ruby chirped.

“Then we can eliminate anything that costs more than that,” Owen said. Together they crossed off the computer, coat, remote-control car, and backpack.

“Now,” Owen continued, “What else is important to you?”

“I want something to keep me warm in the winter,” said Ruby.

“Good thinking!” said Owen. They crossed off the game, modeling clay, and book, because they wouldn’t help her stay warm.

“Do you have any other considerations?” asked Owen.

Ruby nodded. “Yes! I love colorful things!”

Cindy Spider smiled and spun a bright thread of silk. “That helps! So, which of the warm things left are colorful?”

Ruby looked at the list. “The scarf and the winter hat are colorful. But wait—I don’t have hands, so I don’t need gloves!”

They all laughed. “Then it looks like your best choices are the scarf or the hat,” said Owen.

Ruby fluffed her feathers. “I think I’ll get the bright striped scarf. It’ll keep me warm and match my feathers too!”

With a happy chirp, Ruby thanked her friends and flew off to make her smart and special purchase.

The End.