Estimating and Counting Money

Omega L. Minor-Clark           R. Nathaniel Dett Elementary School
                               2306 W. Maypole
                               Chicago IL 60612
                               (312)534-7160

Objectives:

     The purpose of this lesson is to review estimating and rounding to the
nearest dollar as well as gain skills and practice in counting money.  The
students will define the meaning of estimate and rounding.  The students will 
gain experience in estimating sums and products.

Materials Needed:

     Toy cash register, game sheets, identification cards, play money, and
Jewel Food Store adds. 

Strategy:
     
     The students will play "Estimate the Cost" - a game similar to tic-tac-toe. 
At the top of this game sheet are pictures of six different items with the 
price tags attached.  There are two game boards on the page (Game 1 & 2).  Each 
board contains nine boxes with various dollar amounts in each.  The students 
will select two items.  Next they will round the prices to estimate the cost.  
The cost will be located on the game board and marked with an X or an O.  Three 
marks in a line wins.  Next the students will play "Estimate It".  This game 
follows the same rules, however, there will be four items in each line as 
opposed to three items in each line in the first game played.  The final game 
will be "Estimate a Meal".  In this game, the students will be divided into 
groups of four.  One student will be given a "breakfast" card to wear, another 
student will be given a "lunch" card to wear, and the third student will be 
given a "dinner" card to wear.  Another student will wear a "cashier" card.  The 
students with the "meal" cards will use Jewel Food Store adds to select four to 
six items for their particular meal.  Next, the students will estimate the cost 
of their meal (individually), go to the "Cash Machine" and make a withdrawal 
using play money.  Following this, the students will then go to the Jewel Food 
Store and make their purchases.  They will be given a total by the "cashier".  
At this time the students will pay the cashier using the play money.  The 
cashier will then give the students their change by counting aloud.  The 
students will then count the change they received. 

     The counting of the change is the concluding activity.
     
Performance Assessment:

     The teacher will evaluate the students as they estimate, count money and
make correct change using play money.