Minding the Store: Strengthening Student Numeracy Through Role Play

Minding the Store: Strengthening Student Numeracy Through Role Play is a mathematics curriculum unit that guides students through the authentic task of running a classroom store. Students will identify a product to sell, design and manufacture their product, organize and operate their store, and analyze data they collect to determine if their venture has been a successful one. As students problem-solve their way through these experiences, they will expand their understanding of mathematical concepts like number sense, number operations, and collecting and organizing data. The unit culminates with a field trip to a local business where students can measure their experience against that of a local proprietor. Though this unit is primarily focused on mathematics, it is explained how other subjects can be integrated with ease. Minding the Store: Strengthening Student Numeracy Through Role Play was designed for kindergarten students in the regular classroom setting. However, the lessons were designed with flexibility as a priority and could be adapted for use in the higher grades or in smaller classroom settings.