Economics in Our Everyday Lives: A Kindergarten Activity

Title: Understanding Money and Making Choices

Compliance Standard: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSS-M)

Subject: Economics

Summary: This kindergarten activity aims to introduce young learners to the concept of money, its value, and making choices through engaging and interactive exercises.

Topic: Exploring Money and Making Choices

Learning Outcomes:

• Know the value of different coins (penny, nickel, dime, quarter)
• Understand the concept of making choices with money
• Can identify and count coins

Methodology:

This activity will involve a combination of hands-on exercises, group discussions, and interactive games to ensure active participation and understanding among the students.

Resources/Materials Required:

• Play money (coins)
• Poster board
• Markers
• Scissors
• Glue
• Magazines/catalogs

Instructions:

Step 1: Introduction (Know)

Begin the activity by gathering the students in a circle and showing them different coins (penny, nickel, dime, quarter). Discuss the value of each coin and explain that money is used to buy things.

Step 2: Coin Collage (Understand)

Provide each student with a poster board, markers, scissors, and glue. Ask them to cut out pictures of items they would like to buy from magazines/catalogs and glue them onto their poster boards. Encourage them to think about the choices they are making and how much money they would need to buy those items.

Step 3: Coin Counting Game (Can Do)

Divide the students into small groups and give each group a set of play money (coins). Instruct them to take turns counting the coins and identifying their values. The group that correctly counts the most coins wins the game.

Assessment:

Assess the students' understanding through observation during the activity. Observe their ability to identify and count coins, as well as their participation in group discussions. Provide feedback and reinforcement as needed.

By the end of this activity, students should have a basic understanding of the value of different coins, the concept of making choices with money, and the ability to identify and count coins.