Mad Minutes and Money Exchange

As a way to spice up daily mad minutes and to work with counting and spending money I created a kind of "trading post".  Children earn money for the number of mad minutes they get correct.  (mad minutes are leveled for children's success).  I set a list for how much money each score would earn.  

After we complete our mad minutes children are given a wallet and the coins for the money they have earned.  They keep daily records of how much money they have.  I divide the class into 5 groups and each group is given a day to go to the store.  I buy small candy, stickers and some small toys for children to purchase.  They then figure out how much money they spend, how much change they may need, and how much money they have left.

Children use the calculator to confirm the amount of money they have to spend, and the amount of money they have left.

Submitted by Kathy