How Santa Got His Job
So how did Santa Claus get his job? Learn how in this humorous story that recounts all the jobs that Santa got – and then lost – that helped him acquire the skills he needed to be the Santa Claus that we all know today.
Interested in using this resource in your classroom? Check out the posters that go along with this book: Human Resources
Author: Stephen Krensky
Illustrator: S.D. Schindler
Published: 1998
Accelerated Reader Level/Points: .5
Lexile Measure: AD380L
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Comprehension Questions
Why do people have jobs?
To earn money (income) by producing goods and services.
What is the economic name for people who work to produce goods and services?
Human resources.
What were some of the jobs that Santa Claus had in the story?
Chimney cleaner, making postal deliveries, cook, zoo worker, circus worker, toy deliverer.
People who work to produce goods and services (human resources) need special skills (human capital) to do their jobs. What special skills did Santa have or learn in the jobs above? How did they help him in his final job as “Santa Claus”?
The ability to climb and work in tight places, make speedy deliveries, work well with animals, enjoy flying through air at the circus. All of these were skills that made him a better “real” Santa Claus.
What are some skills that a teacher must have? (What are some of the skills that other workers need?)
Ability to communicate well, manage students, create lessons. Also, a teacher must have good knowledge of the subject matter.
On the cover of the book is a picture of Help Wanted Ads. What are these? How are they helpful for people?
Help Wanted ads are notices that show jobs that are available. Help Wanted Ads help businesses (buyers of labor) and job seekers (sellers of labor) to “connect” with each other.
Does it cost money to put a help wanted ad in the newspaper? Why?
Yes. Information is scarce. A newspaper is a business that provides this scarce information to people. The newspaper must buy productive resources – including human resources – to run the business. These are costs of production. To be successful, a newspaper has to earn enough money through advertising and subscriptions to cover these costs, hopefully earning a profit.
What are some of the human resources it takes to produce a newspaper?
Possible answers: reporters, delivery people, writers, editors, secretaries, truck delivery people, etc.
In real life do businesses give toys away?
No, in order to make a profit and stay in business, businesses must sell their toys for a price. The money toy businesses get from sales is used to pay for the productive resources needed to produce the toys.