Teachers who would like to introduce their students to coupons in the classroom in an interactive, fun manner can utilize the lesson plan below; it can be modified for a variety of age groups.

If their school has a regularly scheduled information piece sent to parents, teachers may also want to request that the school include information on National Coupon Month and guide parents to the website, www.couponmonth.com, where they can access a "Parents Guide to using Coupons with Children."

"TEACHING KIDS MATH AND HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT USING COUPONS"

AIM: How Can People Save Money Using Coupons?

STUDENT OBJECTIVES:

1. Practice their math skills using coupons as a learning tool.
2. Demonstrate how to become responsible shoppers
3. Gain an appreciation of the value of money using math skills and coupons
4. Teach the practical skills of home management (recommended for older age groups)

MATERIALS NEEDED:

• Coupons, gathered from:
• Free Standing Insert (FSI) enclosure from Sunday Newspaper (coupon booklet with grocery coupons)
• Coupon circular from a supermarket
• Shelf Display Unit (red flashing coupon dispenser on store shelves)
• List of approximately 25 grocery items (which can be found in above FSI/circular/display unit) and estimated cost of each item without coupon

AGE RANGE: This lesson can be used for both students in Elementary and Junior High School. See suggestions below for possible variances by age.

PROCEDURE:

1. Start off the lesson by discussing coupons with the class.
• Put the word coupon on the board and write down any words or phrases that students may come up with that relate to the topic. Your goal is to see how much the students know about coupons.
• Discuss history of and facts about coupons. Information and statistics on coupons can be gathered from this Website by clicking here: http://www.couponmonth.com/pages/allabout.htm
2. Next, explain to the class that they are going to work in groups. Each group (about 4 students) will have to imagine that they are going shopping in a supermarket.
3. The whole class will be provided with the list of items found in a supermarket. Again, be sure to take the items from the FSI/store coupon circular. Next to each item will be the actual price of each item (try to be as accurate as possible).
4. Provide each group with a different list of 10 items that they need to buy. The group will have to add up the total price they would spend on those items.
5. Each group will then be given the coupons. They will need to match the coupons with the items and adjust their total cost.

AGE VARIANCE OPTIONS:

1. The amount needed of each of the items can be different according to the age of the students - e.g. one item each for younger students; multiples of the same item for junior high
2. To increase the difficulty and challenge for junior high students, make it a competition. Provide them with the full list of items and the coupons (but not the list of ten items to buy). Instruct them to develop a shopping list and budget for 3 days of food using the list and coupons; the group which can get the most food for the least amount of money wins.
3. To make it more challenging, and enhance the mathematical aspects, incorporate the following:
• make the list and the time period longer
• incorporate double and triple coupons
• calculate the percentage savings on the bill

ASSESSMENT: After the whole class has completed their assignments; have each group present their findings to the class. Make sure all students understand the difference in price before and after using the coupons. Discuss with the class the benefits of using coupons.

OPTIONAL HOMEWORK/EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENT:

Students are to undertake a shopping trip to a supermarket (with parental/adult supervision if necessary depending upon age group) and make purchases utilizing coupons. Students then submit a brief report on the cost of the items, the amount saved with coupons and their experience using the coupons. For older groups, consider extending this project for the length of National Coupon Month and submit a report on cumulative savings.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
When gathering the coupons needed for your class, it is important to note these two points:

• Duplication by copy machine of any coupon for use, other than demonstration for educational purposes, is prohibited by law. Please do not copy coupons and attempt to redeem these at an actual store. Copying in limited amounts for the purpose of the exercise is acceptable, but copies should be discarded after use, and not used for redemption purposes.
• Get coupons from their original source, such as the Sunday newspaper. Printers/suppliers of coupons are bound by client contracts to distribute only the contracted number. As a result, these companies cannot make extra coupons available in quantity for your classes.

CLICK HERE FOR BLANK GROCERY SHOPPING WORKSHEETS TO USE WITH YOUR CLASS

CLICK HERE FOR A SAMPLE GROCERY SHOPPING WORKSHEET

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© 2005 Promotion Marketing Association, Inc.