Rent a Third Grader
Little Apple Series
What’s inside...
Brad, Jenny, and Louisa, along with their fellow third-grade classmates, try to find ways to raise money to save Partner, a retired police department horse, from being sent to a pet food company. Under the guidance of their teacher, Miss Bilgore, each student takes on odd jobs to earn money and pay for Partner's care, hoping to secure a better future for the beloved horse.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
7-10
Length
192 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How did the idea of renting a third grader make you feel? Do you think it’s fair?
What would you do if you were in the shoes of the third graders in the book?
How did the characters change throughout the story? What do you think caused those changes?
What are some ways the characters could have solved their problems differently?
Can you think of a time when you had to work together with others to solve a problem? What was that like?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to think critically about the story by asking them how they would feel in similar situations. Discuss the importance of teamwork and fairness, drawing parallels to real-life scenarios. Highlight the character development and ask your child to identify any personal growth they’ve noticed in themselves or others. Finally, use the book as a stepping stone to talk about ethics and values in everyday decisions.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of teamwork
Explanation: In 'Rent a Third Grader', the third-grade class bands together to raise funds for their school by renting themselves out to do various tasks, demonstrating effective teamwork.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by participating in group activities or collaborative projects, learning to listen to others, and contributing their own ideas effectively.
Example Lesson: Understanding the value of hard work
Explanation: Throughout the story, the students undertake different jobs to achieve their collective goal. This instills an understanding of the effort needed to succeed.
Real-World Application: Kids can relate this to their own lives by understanding that their efforts in schoolwork, chores, or other responsibilities can lead to rewarding outcomes.
Example Lesson: Ethics and honesty
Explanation: When faced with ethical dilemmas during their jobs, the children in the story learn to choose honesty over the easier route, underscoring the importance of integrity.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages children to practice honesty in their daily interactions and make ethical decisions, even when it's challenging.
Example Lesson: Empathy and understanding
Explanation: As the third graders work various jobs, they encounter different people and situations, which teaches them empathy by seeing life from others' perspectives.
Real-World Application: This can help children understand the importance of empathy in real life, encouraging them to be considerate and understand people's feelings and situations.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving skills
Explanation: The book shows children facing unexpected challenges during their tasks and finding creative solutions, highlighting the importance of adaptability and critical thinking.
Real-World Application: Children can use this skill by applying creative thinking to solve problems at school or at home, developing resourcefulness and resilience.