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December 3, 2007
Good dog! Comical canine teaches economics in children's DVD
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - |
In "Herschel's World of Economics," the puppet dog Herschel learns about the roles of consumers and producers in an economy, and the choices each makes. The DVD, geared toward elementary school children, was produced by the Indiana Council for Economic Education (ICEE) and Purdue University's Department of Agricultural Communication, with financial support from Teachers Credit Union.
The DVD is being provided to schools in the 13 Indiana counties the credit union serves and to teachers who complete ICEE training. Others may purchase the DVD for $30 through the council's KidsEcon Posters Web site at https://www.kidseconposters.com.
Harlan Day, ICEE executive director, also stars in the DVD and wrote most of the script for the one-hour video. Day plays the economic straight man to the funny and fiscally foolish Herschel.
"Herschel's a spender and not a saver," Day said. "He wants doggie treats, video games, bubble gum and lots of other things, but he doesn't understand what it takes to get them. So during the course of the DVD, he decides to make doggie treats for his friends to earn the money he needs.
"Herschel is very clever, and there's a lot of humor built into the discussions between us. The DVD is done in a creative and fun way."
In their chats outside Herschel's doghouse, Day and the sweatshirt-wearing dog discuss goods and services, producers and consumers, productive resources, scarcity, trade and money, and opportunity cost. Each of the six basic economic principles is covered in a 10-minute segment.
"All of these concepts are part of the Indiana Academic Standards schools are required to teach," Day said. "The DVD comes with a teacher's guide that contains follow-up activities and a list of other books and teaching activities they can use."
Lynn Grebus is the puppeteer and voice of Herschel. Day met Grebus in 2006 when she visited Purdue.
"We got to talking, and I thought, 'We could use a puppet show to teach economics,'" Day said.
That conversation led to a pilot program at Vinton Elementary School in Lafayette, Ind., where the response from students and teachers was positive. A similar program was filmed at Oxbow Elementary School in Elkhart, Ind., and a copy presented to Teachers Credit Union. Executives there liked the program so much they awarded a grant for a professionally produced DVD.
The DVD was taped in Purdue television studios in front of an audience of West Lafayette, Ind., students from Happy Hollow and Cumberland elementary schools. The children laugh as Herschel mistakes "scarcity" for "scared," when he tries to convince Day that a rock helps him with homework and as Day follows through on a promise to taste one of Herschel's homemade doggie treats.
"Herschel, that's not too bad," Day says after taking a bite.
"I told you I used my mom's secret recipe with the secret ingredient," Herschel replies. "You remember what that is, Dr. Day?"
"As a matter of fact, I do," Day answers. "It was molasses."
Grebus, who also provided input on the script, said she was happy to lend her talents to the ICEE project.
"It was fulfilling to be part of something where we're helping kids grasp economic concepts and to do it in a fun, humorous way," Grebus said. "You don't often see puppet dogs talking about economics."
Herschel's economic lessons - and those of the children he entertains - are not over.
"Our plan is to pursue another grant next year for a second Herschel DVD," Day said. "That DVD will focus on higher level business and economic concepts, like supply and demand. We'll probably have Herschel trying to expand his doggie treats business and discovering it isn't as easy as he thinks."
The Indiana Council for Economic Education is a nonprofit organization based at Purdue's West Lafayette campus. The ICEE operates 11 educational centers across Indiana. The council's mission is to improve economic literacy among students through such programs as the Stock Market Game.
For more information, visit the ICEE Web site at https://www.econed-in.org.
Writer: Steve Leer, (765) 494-8415, sleer@purdue.edu
Source: Harlan Day, (765) 494-8545, dayhr@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
Agriculture News Page
Note to Journalists: Clips from "Herschel's World of Economics" and a video interview with Harlan Day are available by contacting Steve Leer at (765) 494-8415, sleer@purdue.edu.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Harlan Day executive director of the Indiana Council for Economic Education, discusses consumer and producer habits with puppet dog Herschel in "Herschel's World of Economics." The DVD teaches children basic economic concepts in a fun and entertaining way. (Purdue Agricultural Communication Service photo)
A publication-quality photo is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2007/DayHerschel.jpg
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