Shopping Maths Fun

Lesson Details

• Duration: 40 minutes
• Class size: 30 students (adapted for 2 students in detailed interaction)
• Age group: Year 2 (6-7 years old) – following Key Stage 1 (KS1) Mathematics Programme of Study
• Topic: Addition and Subtraction related to Shopping
• Curriculum references:
  • National Curriculum for England, Mathematics KS1
  • Number - Addition and Subtraction
  • Understanding money: recognise coins and notes, solve simple problems involving money

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Solve addition and subtraction problems involving money within 20p and £1.00, reflecting real-life shopping scenarios.
• Apply their understanding of coins and notes to calculate totals and change accurately.
• Demonstrate problem-solving and reasoning skills using concrete, pictorial, and abstract representations.
• Develop confidence to explain their mathematical thinking using precise language.

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Resources Needed

• Play money sets (coins and notes up to £1) for each student
• Realistic mini shopping lists with prices (in pence and pounds)
• Shopping baskets and labelled toy items with price tags
• Whiteboards, markers, and erasers
• Printed worksheet with addition and subtraction shopping problems (differentiated tasks)
• Visual number lines (0 to 50 and 0 to 100)
• Interactive digital timer (to manage time effectively)

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Lesson Structure

1. Engage: Setting the Scene (5 minutes)

• Welcome students and create excitement: "Today, we’re going shopping!"
• Introduce a story: “Imagine we only have £2 to spend, and we want to buy some snacks.”
• Show real play money and ask: “How much do these coins add up to? If we buy an item for 35p, how much money do we have left?”
• Use questioning to check prior knowledge of coins and number bonds within 20 and 50.

2. Explore: Hands-On Shopping Activity (15 minutes)

• Divide class into pairs (2 students each) working as ‘shoppers’ and ‘shopkeepers’.
• Each pair receives a mini shopping total (e.g., buy apples for 35p and bread for 55p).
• Step 1: Add items’ costs together using real coins and whiteboards.
  • Encourage using number lines or coin counting to find totals.
• Step 2: Subtract from the amount of money given (e.g., £1) to find out how much change they will get.
• Teacher circulates to scaffold: ask probing questions like “What happens if you spend 70p but only have £1?” or “Show me how you find your change.”

3. Explain: Discuss & Model the Maths (8 minutes)

• Come together as a class; select pairs to explain their strategies to the group.
• Demonstrate written methods on the board: column addition and subtraction, including the concept of ‘borrowing’ if needed.
• Emphasise using maths vocabulary: total, difference, cost, change, pounds, pence.
• Highlight connections between concrete actions (handling coins) and abstract maths (written sums).

4. Apply: Independent Problem Solving (8 minutes)

• Hand out differentiated worksheets with shopping problems suited to ability:
  • Simple addition (combining prices) for emerging learners
  • Mixed addition and subtraction problems (finding change, comparing prices) for confident learners
• Students complete tasks independently using whiteboards and coins at their desks as needed.
• Teacher supports and challenges individuals, encouraging explanations of answers.

5. Review and Reflect: Plenary (4 minutes)

• Quick quiz game: Teacher names an item price and a starting amount; students shout out the change or total cost.
• Ask student volunteers: “What was tricky today? What helped you?”
• Introduce the idea that maths helps us in everyday shopping and budgeting.

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Cross-Curricular Links and Enrichment Ideas

• PSHE: Discuss budgeting and making wise choice when shopping.
• English: Encourage writing sentences about their shopping experience using key vocabulary.
• Computing: Use simple tablet apps for virtual shop maths games in future lessons.
• Art: Create price tags and design own shop items for role-play.

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Assessment for Learning

• Observations during pair activity and plenary to assess reasoning and methods.
• Mark and review worksheets to identify misconceptions or progression in calculation strategies.
• Use targeted questioning to elicit deeper understanding.

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Differentiation and Inclusion

• Provide concrete resources for SEN and EAL learners for tactile engagement.
• Scaffolded number lines and visual supports for struggling learners.
• Challenge extension: mental addition/subtraction of larger amounts, calculating totals for multiple items.

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Teacher Reflection & Notes

• Note how well students transfer concrete understanding of coins into formal addition/subtraction.
• Reflect on effectiveness of peer collaboration and student explanations.
• Adjust next lesson based on assessment data to reinforce tricky concepts like giving change.

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This innovative, real-world focused lesson exemplifies the UK National Curriculum approach by combining practical maths with problem-solving and language development. Using role-play and tactile resources ensures engagement and deep understanding for all learners.