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 grades 2–3 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

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 and making change.
  2. Give each student a packet. Each packet includes grocery store ads, construction paper, scissors, and glue. The teacher gives the students about ten minutes to spend five dollars with the grocery store ads buying as much food as possible.
  3. The students cut out items they would like to buy and glue on the construction paper until they have spent five dollars.
  4. 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. The students will check their math using a calculator.
  5. 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.

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.

  • Common Core State Standards

    • Mathematics (2010)

      • Grade 2

        • Measurement & Data
          • 2.MD.8Solve word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies, using $ and ยข symbols appropriately. Example: If you have 2 dimes and 3 pennies, how many cents do you have?

      • Grade 3

        • Number & Operations in Base Ten
          • 3.NO.2Fluently add and subtract within 1000 using strategies and algorithms based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction.