October · Month 2 of the money year

Choices

“How do you decide what's really worth it?”

By the end of the month, pupils can tell a need from a want when the situation changes, name the opportunity cost of a choice, compare the full price of two options, pause before an impulse buy, and reach a fair decision when people want different things.

Ages 8–11 · 4 lessons + a mission · 45 min each

🖨️ Print the pupil workbook Browse in the Lesson Finder

📖 Also in the printable year workbook (PDF), pupil pp. 22–38

The month's teaching plan

Four 45-minute lessons in this order, then the classroom mission.

Need, want, or it depends?

Penny · 45 min

Goal: Explain how context changes a priority.

needwantdependspriority

You need: three signs and cards: water, winter coat, branded trainers, phone, bus ticket, birthday cake.

Lesson plan (45 min) + what pupils do+

Scenario

Sort water, an adequate winter coat, branded trainers, a phone, a bus ticket and a birthday cake. For each, choose NEED, WANT or DEPENDS. Invent one context that changes an answer.

45-minute flow

5m show a phone card and take a silent vote; 8m model “depends” with a phone needed for an agreed safety plan versus a new model for style; 20m pupils sort cards into three spaces and defend two choices; 8m invite respectful changes of mind; 4m exit: one item and a reason.

What pupils do

For water, choose need/want/depends and write “because…”.
Do the same for a winter coat and branded trainers.
Do the same for a phone.
What information would help you decide about the phone?

The choice you leave behind

Penny · 45 min

Goal: Name the opportunity cost of a decision in plain language.

trade-offopportunity costgoal

You need: fictional Saturday plan with €10: museum ticket €8, art kit €7, picnic ingredients €2.

Lesson plan (45 min) + what pupils do+

Scenario

Museum ticket €8. Art kit €7. Picnic ingredients €2. Choose a plan that fits, and name what you postpone.

45-minute flow

5m ask pupils to pick one Saturday plan; 8m model “if I choose X, I give up Y for now”; 20m teams make three plausible plans under €10, each with one trade-off; 8m compare without declaring a universal winner; 4m exit: write a complete trade-off sentence.

What pupils do

Can museum + art kit fit in €10?
Find two combinations that fit.
If you choose museum + picnic, what can you not buy now?
What might change your decision?

The real price tag

Tally · 45 min

Goal: Compare full prices including extras and identify what matters besides the number.

feetotalcomparisonquality

You need: fictional offers A: game €12 plus €3 delivery; B: same game €14 collection; C: borrowed from library for €0, return next week.

Lesson plan (45 min) + what pupils do+

Scenario

Offer A: game €12 plus €3 delivery. Offer B: same game €14 with collection. Offer C: borrow it from the library for €0 and return it next week. Compare money, time and ownership.

45-minute flow

5m ask which €12 or €14 offer is cheaper; 8m reveal delivery and model total cost; 20m groups make a comparison table for A/B/C, including time and ownership; 8m discuss why borrowing may suit one goal but not another; 4m exit: write the full price of A.

What pupils do

Total A and B.
Which paid option costs less and by how much?
List one advantage and one limit of C.
State which you would choose for a one-week project and why.

Sleep on it

Penny · 45 min

Goal: Tell a considered choice from an impulse one and use a simple pause-and-check before deciding.

impulsepausecheckdecide

You need: two fictional offer cards ("Buy now, only today!" toy €6 and a plain toy card €6), a three-question check card.

Lesson plan (45 min) + what pupils do+

Scenario

A toy is "€6, only today!"; the same toy is €6 tomorrow. Use three questions — do I need it, do I already have one, will I still want it tomorrow — to decide buy, wait or skip.

45-minute flow

5m show a flashy "only today" toy card and ask how it makes pupils feel; 8m model a pause — do I need it, do I already have one, will I still want it tomorrow; 20m pairs run the three questions on four fictional offers and decide buy, wait or skip; 8m discuss why "only today" is usually a pressure trick; 4m exit: write the first question you will ask before buying.

What pupils do

A toy costs €6 today and €6 tomorrow. Does "only today" change the price?
Write the three pause questions.
For a €6 gadget you already own, choose buy, wait or skip.
Why can waiting a day make a better choice?

Final mission

A choice for everyone

Tally · 45 min · independent, after rehearsal

Goal: Make a fair group choice when people prefer different things, using a simple method.

Lesson plan (45 min) + what pupils do+

Scenario

The class must pick one shared treat: story time, an extra outdoor game, or a drawing session. Tally a fictional vote, find the winner, then choose a fair method if the vote ties.

45-minute flow

5m the class must pick one shared treat but people disagree; 8m model three fair methods — vote, take turns over weeks, or combine two into a shorter version; 20m groups run a fictional vote, then design a fair plan when the vote is close; 8m discuss why a fair method matters more than always getting your own way; 4m exit: name one fair way to decide.

What pupils do

Tally a fictional vote for three treats.
Which won, and by how much?
If the vote is a tie, name one fair way to decide.
Why is "take turns" fair over several weeks?

Optional extensions

Extra lessons for classes that move faster — invitations, not compulsory homework.

Put them in order

Penny · 45 min

Rank several fictional wants and needs by priority and explain the order when not everything fits.

Four ways to get one thing

Tally · 45 min

Compare buying, borrowing, making and sharing as ways to meet the same need, weighing money, time and ownership.

Ask before you choose

Tally · 45 min

Ask useful questions that lead to a better choice rather than choosing on looks or an advert alone.

The cost of your time

Penny · 45 min

Name the opportunity cost of a choice about time, not only money, across one afternoon.

Practise it — free games & tools

The same ideas as a game or tool a child does themselves — for a station, quiet time or home.

Needs vs Wants workshop Real Price Tag Want vs Need check

For the teacher

Prepare once

Print the core workbook pages and prepare a few fictional option cards (two lunches, two outings, two gadgets) with simple prices and one hidden extra cost each. Have scrap paper ready for a 'pause and think' sheet. No real purchases or family spending needed.

Adapt for your class

For ages 6–8, use two clearly different options and whole-euro prices, and accept drawn or spoken reasons. For ages 9–12, add a hidden extra cost, ask pupils to state the opportunity cost in a full sentence, and compare three options. Offer sentence starters (“I would choose… because… instead of…”) and paired talk time.

Assess the mission

In the mission (a fair group choice), look for three strands marked Developing / Secure / Extending: names the opportunity cost of the choice; compares options on more than price; and reaches a decision others can accept as fair. Reasoning matters more than picking the 'right' option — there often isn't one.

The pupil workbook

Print-ready A4 pages: cover, diagnostic, every lesson with writing space, the mission, reflection and cut-out coins. Open and print (or save as PDF).

Open the workbook →

Next month: November — Budgeting

Education only — not financial advice. All shops, prices and people in the scenarios are fictional.

Choices

“How do you decide what's really worth it?”

Ages 8–11 · 4 lessons + a mission · 45 min each

📖 Also in the printable year workbook (PDF), pupil pp. 22–38

⚖️ Choices

The month's teaching plan

Need, want, or it depends?

The choice you leave behind

The real price tag

Sleep on it

A choice for everyone

Optional extensions

Put them in order

Four ways to get one thing

Ask before you choose

The cost of your time

Practise it — free games & tools

For the teacher

Prepare once

Adapt for your class

Assess the mission

The pupil workbook

⚖️ Choices

The month's teaching plan

Need, want, or it depends?

The choice you leave behind

The real price tag

Sleep on it

A choice for everyone

Optional extensions

Put them in order

Four ways to get one thing

Ask before you choose

The cost of your time

Practise it — free games & tools

For the teacher

Prepare once

Adapt for your class

Assess the mission

The pupil workbook

Choices

Choices