Design money, open a store, add up purchases, make change—this game is packed with consumer math!

• 1.

  Set up your own classroom Super Sale Store Game. Match the game to a topic you are studying, such as pets, nutritious foods, or books.

• 2.

  Choose four colors of construction paper. Use Crayola® Scissors to cut each piece into fourths to make price cards. Make a price indicator by arranging one card of each color in a column, connecting them with clear adhesive tape. Write different monetary amounts on each card. Display on a chalkboard or bulletin board.

• 3.

  Brainstorm items you would like to buy in your store. Draw one item on each store card using Crayola Construction Paper Crayons. Write the name of the item on the card as well. Shuffle cards so colors are mixed.

• 4.

  Create your own play money with crayons, scissors, and construction paper. Make paper bills and coins, depending on how items are priced. You will pay, and make change, with this play money.

• 5.

  Play the game in small groups of 3 to 5. Take turns being the storekeeper. Agree on how much play money each player needs to purchase items and how much the cashier needs to make change.

• 6.

  The storekeeper holds up one card at a time for the others to purchase. Shoppers refer to the price indicator on display for the cost of each item. They pay the storekeeper, who counts the money and makes change as needed. Switch roles often, putting cards back into a pile and shuffling each time.

Standards

• VA: Use different media, techniques, and processes to communicate ideas, experiences, and stories.
• VA: Use visual structures of art to communicate ideas.

Adaptations

• Possible classroom resources include: Domino Addition by Lynette Long; 12 Ways to Get to 11 by Eve Merriam; Elevator Magic by Stuart J. Murphy; Animals on Board by Stuart J. Murphy; Each Orange Had 8 Slices by Paul Giganti
• While at a grocery store, students investigate the price of several frequently purchased items such as tissues, pasta, juice, etc. Students make a list of the item and its price. Students groups work together to make item cards for their math game. When playing the game, students select an item and make the price using their money cards. If purchasing multiple items, students add the price of each and create the price using their money cards. Continue the game with singular or multiple item purchases, addition problems, and/or subtraction problems.
• Student groups brainstorm another form of the game that they will write new directions/rules for playing.
• Invite a local merchant to visit with the class. Prior to the meeting, students compose questions for the merchant. After the visit, students post learning to a class blog.
• Students groups write original word problems involving multiple steps of addition and subtraction for classmates to solve. If time permits, students may illustrate their problem cards using Crayola Crayons or colored pencils.