Money Matters: Currency & Trade

Year Level

Year 6 (Australian Curriculum v9 Alignment)

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Unit

Economics in Action – Lesson 3 of 5

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Duration

60 minutes

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Class Size

25 students

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Learning Area

Economics and Business (Humanities and Social Sciences)

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Curriculum Alignment

Australian Curriculum v9 – Humanities and Social Sciences: Economics and Business

• Understand how money functions as a medium of exchange, and the importance of trade in society.
• Explore how different forms of currency and barter support economic activity and meet needs and wants.
• Develop economic reasoning by engaging in practical trading activities.

Relevant content descriptions for Year 6 Economics and Business (adapted for Year 6, referencing v9 concepts):

• Recognise the role of money as a means of exchange and a store of value and explain how trade meets needs and wants【7:AC9HS6K05.md†Australia's interconnections】.
• Investigate the characteristics of money and the way currencies have evolved over time, including barter systems and modern money【6:AC9HE7K01.md†economic scarcity and exchange systems】.
• Understand how trade creates interdependence between individuals and communities【7:AC9HS6K05.md†Australia’s interconnections】.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

1. Understand and describe different forms of currency and their role in trade.
2. Recognise the importance of trade in meeting needs and wants in society.
3. Create their own currency (using templates or custom designs) to simulate trade.
4. Engage in a simulated trading environment to experience economic exchange firsthand.
5. (Extension) Research and present on a historical trade system, understanding its impact on society.

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Key Vocabulary

• Currency
• Barter
• Trade
• Medium of Exchange
• Goods and Services
• Needs and Wants
• Economic Interdependence
• Value

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Resources Needed

• Pre-made currency templates (for lower-level students)
• Blank paper, coloured pencils, markers (for designing currency)
• “Trading marketplace” materials: simple items for trading (stickers, pencils, erasers, cards, etc.)
• Research materials: Books/tablets with access to information on historical trade systems (e.g., Silk Road, Indigenous Australian trade networks)
• Whiteboard or chart paper
• Timers

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Lesson Structure

Time	Activity Description	Details & Differentiation	Curriculum Links
5 mins	Introduction & Set Expectations	Discuss with students: What is currency? Why do we need money? Why do people trade? Use questions to activate prior knowledge.	AC9HS6K05 - Interconnections and trade importance
10 mins	Mini-Walkthrough – Forms of Currency	Display images/examples of: barter systems, early currency (shells, beads, coins), modern money. Discuss how currency represents value and helps trade.	AC9HE7K01 - Exchange systems and scarcity
15 mins	Activity: Design/Create Currency	Lower-level: use pre-made templates to colour and personalise money. At-level: design original currency notes & coins – think about symbols, value, security features. Extension: Begin researching a historical trade system and prepare for presentation.	Creativity, economics concepts, cultural understanding
20 mins	Simulated Trade Marketplace	Students use their created currencies to trade items with classmates. Set simple rules: only currency can be used to buy/sell; students decide prices. Teacher facilitates and monitors to ensure fair play and understanding.	Hands-on learning about trade, value, and decision-making
5 mins	Group Reflection & Discussion	Ask: How did the currency help trade? What made trading easier or harder? How does trade affect us and communities?	Consolidation of learning, critical thinking
5 mins	Extension Student Presentations (if ready) or Homework Setup	Extension students briefly share initial findings about their historical trade research. Homework: Prepare a short presentation for next lesson.	Research skills, presentation, history

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Assessment Opportunities

• Observation during the trading simulation—students’ ability to use currency effectively, negotiate and understand value.
• Review of created currency for understanding of features that make money secure and meaningful.
• Evaluation of extension student presentations about historical trade systems (clarity, relevance, understanding).
• Participation in class discussions and reflection answers.

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Teacher Notes & Tips

• Encourage students to think about what might make a currency trustworthy and useful in real life (e.g., recognisable symbols, consistent values).
• For the trading activity, prepare a sufficient variety of small items for exchange – these can be classroom items or symbolic goods.
• Support lower-level students with structured currency templates to build confidence before moving to creativity.
• Encourage critical thinking and teamwork during trading, highlighting that trade creates connections between people.
• Use timer reminders to keep activities on track.
• Use real-world examples that are relevant to Australian culture and history, such as referencing Indigenous Australian trade networks or Pacific trade systems, where appropriate.

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Extensions for Higher Ability Students

• In addition to researching a historical trade system (e.g., The Silk Road, Indigenous Australian trade routes, or the first Australian coins), encourage students to analyze why the system worked and how it shaped economies and societies.
• Ask students to compare different trade systems and think about the benefits and challenges of each.

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Connections to General Capabilities

• Literacy: Using economic terms, writing descriptions, presenting research findings.
• Critical and Creative Thinking: Designing currency, making trade decisions.
• Personal and Social Capability: Collaboration, negotiation during trade activities.
• ICT Capability: Research using digital devices for the extension activity.

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This lesson plan provides a rich, hands-on experience deeply aligned with the Australian Curriculum Year 6 Economics and Business content and skills. It balances practical activities with reflection and research, ensuring all students engage at appropriate levels and linking learning to real-world economic concepts and Australia’s historical and cultural context【6:AC9HE7K01.md】【7:AC9HS6K05.md】.