Give the children play checks to cash in. The teller must try to cash the customer s check using the least amount of bills and coins. Have the children check each other to make sure they receive the right amount of money as well as the least amount of coins and bills. Family Involvement Children quickly get the idea of how their change is adding up when they put coins in the paper wrappers that banks provide for coin deposits. It s a good idea to have wrappers handy when it comes time to empty piggy banks or family money jar.
Families order take-out food from time to time.
Give children a dollar amount, a menu, and ask them to order a meal for the family without going over budget. Community Connection Take the children on a field trip to a local bank to learn first hand about what happens to money that is deposited. Back in the classroom, create a flow chart that shows where the money goes, from the cash deposit to the cashed check. Ask a local bank to provide penny wrappers for the classroom. If a goldfish bowl were big enough for a million goldfish it would be large enough to hold a whale.