LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Shopping Spree

Students will practice counting money up to five dollars using grocery ads from local stores.

A lesson plan for grade 3 Mathematics

By Lauren Gary

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Learning outcomes

The students will buy food items from local grocery store ads without spending over five dollars.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

45 minutes

Materials/resources

  • calculator
  • grocery store ads
  • construction paper
  • scissors
  • glue

Technology resources

None

Pre-activities

The students will have been previously taught counting money to five dollars and making change.

Activities

  1. Review counting money to five dollars.
  2. Review making change.
  3. Give each student a packet. Each packet includes grocery store ads, construction paper, scissors, and glue.
  4. The teacher gives the students about ten minutes to spend five dollars with the grocery store ads buying as much food as possible.
  5. The students cut out items they would like to buy and glue on the construction paper until they have spent five dollars.
  6. The students will write the total amount of money they spent and the change they will get back from the cashier on the bottom of the construction paper.
  7. The students will check their math using a calculator.
  8. The teacher will let every student share with their classmates the items they bought from the grocery store.

Assessment

The students will explain to the class how they spent their five dollars at the grocery store. The teacher will observe each child’s choices while they are presenting to the class.

Supplemental information

None

Related websites

N/A

Comments

Writing activity - Write a story about your trip to the grocery store.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Mathematics (2004)

Grade 3

  • Goal 1: Number and Operations - The learner will model, identify, and compute with whole numbers through 9,999.
    • Objective 1.01: Develop number sense for whole numbers through 9,999.
      • Connect model, number word, and number using a variety of representations.
      • Build understanding of place value (ones through thousands).
      • Compare and order.
    • Objective 1.02: Develop fluency with multi-digit addition and subtraction through 9,999 using:
      • Strategies for adding and subtracting numbers.
      • Estimation of sums and differences in appropriate situations.
      • Relationships between operations.
    • Objective 1.06: Develop flexibility in solving problems by selecting strategies and using mental computation, estimation, calculators or computers, and paper and pencil.