Nickel and Dimed

by Barbara Ehrenreich  |  Grades 9-12  

When a journalist with a Ph.D. in biology decides to go undercover as a minimum–wage worker, she discovers just how challenging life is for millions of Americans. Ehrenreich’s stinging critique of welfare reform will make your students think about responsibility — of individuals and governments both — and it’s a great starting point for conversations about the causes and effects of income inequality.

Available Teacher Guides, Novel Units, Lesson Plans, and Activities for Nickel and Dimed: