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Set Up a Pretend Shop

A companion sheet — print it, scribble on it, keep it or recycle it

Voleio

What we're doing

The oldest game in the book, and still one of the best for early maths.

  • About 40 minutes
  • Life Skills
  • Game

Gather these

  • Empty packets and tins
  • Coins
  • Paper for signs

Step by step

  • Choose your stock and arrange the shelf.
  • Make a shop sign and price labels.
  • Take turns as shopkeeper.
  • Count the takings at closing time.

Worth talking about

Counting
Coins
Conversational language
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Record what happened

There's no wrong way to fill this in

Voleio

What we did

Write, list or draw — whatever suits today.

Skills we touched on

SkillHow it showed up

Reflect together

What surprised you about set up a pretend shop?
What was the easiest part? What was the fiddliest?
What would you change if you did it again tomorrow?
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Take it further

Three doors out of the same activity

Voleio

If it felt tricky

Everything costs 1p or 2p.

If it felt easy

Introduce change from 50p and a daily total.

If you'd rather do it differently

Run a garden centre, a bakery or a bus.

Next time, we could

  • Try it outdoors
  • Invite a friend or sibling
  • Stretch it over a whole week

Our own ideas