Business Adventure

Curriculum Area

Social Sciences: Level 1 (Year 1) - Understanding how people organise themselves for different purposes

Lesson Objectives

By the end of the lesson, the student will:

1. Understand the basic concept of money and its use in purchasing goods.
2. Identify basic needs and wants.
3. Recognise the role of a 'business' in providing goods.

Materials Needed

• Play money
• Basket
• Various small toys/items (representing goods)
• Tablet with an app for counting/money
• Mini whiteboard and markers
• Blanket
• "Shop" sign, basket, and small table (to set up an outdoor shop)

Lesson Outline (45 minutes)

Introduction (10 minutes)

1. Welcome and Warm-up:

   • Greet the student cheerfully. Engage in a brief conversation about their favourite toys and foods. This helps to ease them into the lesson.
   • Discuss what money is and show actual coins and notes. Explain how we use money to buy things we need and want.

2. Interactive Money Exploration:

   • Use a tablet with a money-counting app to show different coins and notes.
   • Allow the student to explore different amounts using the app.

Activity 1: Outdoor Shop Role-Play (20 minutes)

1. Set Up the Shop:

   • Take the student outside to a pre-set ‘shop’ area. If weather is not suitable, set it up near a window where sunlight is visible.
   • Display the various small toys/items on a small table with a "Shop" sign.

2. Shopper and Shopkeeper Role-Play:

   • Give the student some play money.
   • Teacher acts as the shopkeeper initially, demonstrating how to ‘purchase’ items with money. Use a basket for collecting items.
   • Then, let the student play the role of both shopper and shopkeeper alternately. Encourage the student to decide which items they want to "buy" and "sell."
   • Discuss needs vs wants (e.g., food is a need, a toy is a want).

Activity 2: Money Counting and Sorting (10 minutes)

1. Money Sorting Game:
   • Return inside and use mini whiteboards and markers.
   • Scatter various play money on a blanket.
   • Ask the student to sort the coins and notes by type and size.
   • Count the sorted money with the student, writing the amounts on the whiteboard.

Follow-Up Activity for the Next Day

1. Create a Personal ‘Shop’ at Home:
   • Encourage the student to set up their own 'shop' area with their toys and items from around the home.
   • Use real coins (if available) or continue with play money.
   • The student can invite family members to "shop" using the play money, reiterating the concepts learned.
   • Ask them to draw their favourite items bought or sold in the shop and to explain if each item is a need or a want.

Assessment

• Observe the student’s participation and engagement during the role-playing activity.
• Ask questions about the differences between needs and wants.
• Check for understanding through their use of money in the homemade shop, their sorting skills, and the drawings of their favourite items.

Reflection

• Discuss what the student enjoyed the most.
• Reflect on the importance of understanding how money works and the basics of a business.

Feel free to adapt the activities to better suit the student’s interests and engagement levels.