Materials
assorted plastic fruitmoney: pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters (each pair of children will need a minimum of $1 in various coins)
Instructions
This is an activity for older children. If doing this activity with younger children, you will need to revise it somewhat and help a lot.
1. Explain to the children that you are the "farmer" who owns the market. You will be giving them money to shop, and they will need to count out the correct amount of money to buy a piece of fruit.
2. Pass out money, giving each pair of children approximately one dollar in coins (adjust according to age and ability).You may want to distribute the change prior to the activity and place in small containers, such as clean yogurt containers, for easier transition and cleanup.
3. Hold up a piece of fruit and name a price. Instruct each pair of children to count their money, working together, until they have the correct sum of change.
4. As each pair finds the correct amount, ask them to raise their hands quietly. When everyone is finished, choose groups to share their money combinations with the class. (For example, if the price was 15 cents for a banana, one pair of children may have three nickels, another may have 15 pennies, and so on.)5. Play until every pair has at least one chance to share their money combinations.
6. Let the children take turns with each other in groups of two or three being the farmer and the shoppers.
