UNDERSTANDING COMMUNITY
DOLLAR SCHOLAR
PURPOSE:

To focus attention on details

To practice seeing the familiar with new eyes

To introduce community analysis
MATERIALS:
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Scratch paper
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Pens/pencils
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$1 bill
TIME: 20-30 minutes
EXPERIENCE:
1. Ask who in the group thinks he/she knows a lot about money. (Hopefully, someone will raise
a hand.) Announce that you’re going to give participants a chance to show how much they
know about the most familiar piece of paper money – the $1 bill.
2. Read aloud the questions from the “Dollar Scholar” quiz, leaving time for participants to write
down their answers (from memory only).
3. After you’ve given the quiz, go over the answers together. Participants will probably want to
take out a $1 bill to confirm the answers.
REFLECTION:
Use the debrief to link this activity to community analysis with questions such as:

How did you get the correct answers that you did? Why did you miss some questions?
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How can something we see every day be so unfamiliar to us?
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How might your community be like the $1 bill?
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Why is it important for a business owner to know his/her community in detail? Which
details do you think are most important?

How can you get to know your community better?
JOURNAL: Create a list of at least 10 things you can do to learn more about the community in which
you hope to do business. Set a goal to do at least three of the things you’ve listed over the next few
weeks, and add to the list as new ideas come to you. Keep a record of what you learn.
Copyright © 1992-2012 NC REAL Enterprises, Inc.
DOLLAR SCHOLAR, p. 1
UNDERSTANDING COMMUNITY
EXPANSION & APPLICATION:

“Dollar Scholar” does not necessarily have to be linked to community analysis, but be sure to
put it in some business context, or it will be just a fun diversion.

Consult the Topic Index and the Annotated Curriculum Outline for other activities related to
community analysis.

Connections may be made between this and other topics such as identifying business
opportunities, analyzing the competition, and understanding a particular industry.
DOLLAR SCHOLAR QUIZ:
1. What are the dimensions of a $1 bill, rounded to the nearest ½ inch? (6" x 2.5")
2. How many eyes are there on the $1 bill? (four)
3. What 3 words appear below George Washington’s picture? (Washington, one, dollar)
4. There are two signatures on every dollar bill. What is the title under one of those signatures?
(Treasurer of the United States, Secretary of the Treasury)
5. What familiar Egyptian structure appears on the $1 bill? (pyramid)
6. How many “ones” (numeral and word) are there on every $1 bill? (seventeen – the 17th is
the Latin word “Unum” on the eagle’s ribbon)
7. What city’s name is on every $1 bill? (Washington, DC)
8. What religious reference appears on the dollar bill? (In God We Trust)
9. What does the eagle hold in its talons? (olive branch, sheaf of arrows)
10. What two languages appear on the $1 bill? (English, Latin)
Copyright © 1992-2012 NC REAL Enterprises, Inc.
DOLLAR SCHOLAR, p. 2