Three Jars: Spend, Save, Share
Cash has nine play coins and three jars — how many coins get a job in Spend, Save and Share?
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In the year workbook
My Money YearThis lesson has a companion in the printable year workbook: pupil pp. 49–50, teacher companion p. 41.
Learning objectives
- Split nine play coins across the Spend, Save and Share jars
- Explain why every coin having a job beats spending it all at once
- Name a saving goal the Save jar could be for
Vocabulary
- Spend
- To use money to buy something.
- Save
- To keep some money instead of spending it now.
- Share
- Giving some money to help others, or a small part of a company.
- Plan
- A set of steps you decide on before you start.
Materials
Minute-by-minute flow
5′
Hook
Teacher does
Read Cash’s story: nine play coins, a book that costs 3 coins now, an art kit to save for and optional sharing. Ask what is known and what to find out.
Students do
Say what Cash has and what to decide.
10′
Model
Teacher does
Think aloud through task 1: put 3 coins in SPEND, 4 in SAVE and 2 in SHARE — how many coins have jobs? (3 + 4 + 2 = 9).
Students do
Count that all nine coins have a job.
20′
Practise
Teacher does
Set tasks 2 and 3: which jar pays for the 3-coin book, and could Cash choose 0 for SHARE and still make a valid plan?
Students do
Answer that SPEND buys the book and any plan must still assign all nine coins.
7′
Discuss
Teacher does
Surface the misconception: giving is voluntary and never a test of a family’s means or a child’s kindness.
Students do
Explain that a 0-coin Share plan can still be a good plan.
3′
Exit
Teacher does
Pose the reflection: what is one thing the SAVE jar could be for?
Students do
Name a future goal, such as art supplies.
Check for understanding
Can the child assign all nine coins with a reason for each jar, rather than spending everything?
Exit ticket
Finish: My Save jar is growing for… (one goal, such as an art kit).
Support
Use three cups and nine paper coins.
Stretch
Move one coin between jars and explain what changes and what does not.
Home connection
At home, use three cups as Spend, Save and Share jars and sort a few play coins, then say what your Save jar is for.