Objective
By the end of this lesson, the student will understand basic money concepts, including saving, spending, and making choices based on their budget. The student will learn how to count money and make simple calculations to see how much they can spend at Target.
Materials and Prep
- Play money (or real coins, if available)
- Paper and crayons for drawing
- A list of items they might want to buy at Target (toys, snacks, etc.)
- Calculator (optional, for fun)
Before the lesson, prepare a list of fun items that Willow might want to buy at Target, along with their prices. This will help the student practice counting and making choices.
Activities
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Money Counting Game: Use play money to practice counting. Ask the student to count out $60 using the play money. This helps them visualize the amount they have saved.
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Shopping List Creation: Have the student draw or list 3-5 items they want to buy at Target. Discuss the prices and help them add up the total cost of their desired items.
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Budgeting Activity: With the total cost of their items, help the student calculate how much money they would have left after buying their items. This can be done using simple subtraction.
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Shopping Role Play: Set up a mini Target in your home. Let the student "shop" for their items using play money, practicing their counting and spending skills.
Talking Points
- "Can you count how much money we have? Let's count together!"
- "What do you want to buy at Target? Let's make a list!"
- "If you buy this toy, how much money will you have left? Let's figure it out!"
- "How does it feel to spend your money? Is it fun to choose what to buy?"
- "What is your favorite item on your shopping list? Why do you want it?"