All Activities
Maths

Simple Shop Game

Overview

Children take part in a simple shop where each item has the same cost.

Learning Objective
Children practise counting and simple addition through a shopping game.

Resources needed

  • Small objects (items for sale)
  • Counters or tokens
  • Containers or boxes

Lesson stages

0 / 7 done
  1. 1 Set up a simple shop with items to buy.
  2. 2 Give each child a fixed number of tokens (e.g. 10).
  3. 3 Explain that each item costs one token.
  4. 4 Children choose items and give one token for each.
  5. 5 Ask: 'How many have you bought? How many tokens are left?'
  6. 6 Count together to check.
  7. 7 Encourage children to use all their tokens.

Tap a step to mark it as done.

Variations

  • Change the cost of items (e.g. 2 tokens each)
  • Add simple offers (e.g. take 2 items for 1 token)
  • Let children take turns being the shopkeeper
More information

Use local market vocabulary. This context is highly familiar in many communities and builds engagement.

Reduce token count for children who need simpler numbers.

Can children track how many tokens remain? Do they check their total independently?

Use leaves, stones, or torn paper as tokens. Items for sale can be any small classroom objects. No printed price labels needed — establish one token per item verbally.

Children may not realise that spending a token reduces their total. They sometimes try to take more items than they have tokens for, not connecting the exchange. Slow the transaction down and count tokens before and after each purchase.

Activity details
Early Years Medium 15–20 minutes 10 minutes prep Small Group Indoor & Outdoor
Topics
Counting Addition