Tag Detectives Slides Life Skills: Unit 1
Smart Shoppers
Tag Detectives
Let's learn how to find, read, and understand price tags at different stores!
Finding Prices is Our Superpower!
Slide 1 of 6
Lesson 1: Introduction Tag Detectives
What is a Price Tag?
A price tag tells us exactly how much money we need to pay for an item.
$
The Dollar Sign ($) comes first!
.
The Decimal Point (.) splits dollars & cents.
STORE TAG
CODE-4091
$ 3.50
Three Dollars and Fifty Cents
Look for the green box! Slide 2 of 6
Grocery Store Theme Tag Detectives
Shelf Tags
At the grocery store , the price tag is usually stuck on the shelf right below the item!
Top Line: Item Name
Big Text: The Price Tag
Small Barcode: Store Scan Code
SHELF VIEW
RED APPLES Fresh Organics
RED APPLES BAG
UNIT: $1.99/LB Aisle 3
$4.99
The tag is on the shelf, not on the apple! Slide 3 of 6
Clothing Store Theme Tag Detectives
Hanging Tags
At clothing stores , price tags are printed on paper cards called hang tags tied to the clothes!
Look at the collar or waistband.
They show the Size (S, M, L, XL).
They show the price at the bottom .
Cozy Sweater
STYLE CO
BLUE SWEATER
SIZE: L (LARGE)
RETAIL PRICE $18.00
Flip tags over to see both sides if needed! Slide 4 of 6
Math Breakdown Tag Detectives
Breaking Down The Price
Dollars
Numbers to the LEFT of the dot.
$ 12
. Decimal Point
Cents
Numbers to the RIGHT of the dot.
95 ¢
Combine them: $12.95 is Twelve Dollars and Ninety-Five Cents.
Double digits make cents! Slide 5 of 6
Class Practice Tag Detectives
Let's Solve Together!
How much does this fast-food combo cost?
Point to the Dollar Sign ($) .
Point to the Decimal Point (.) .
Read it out loud with your classmates!
BURGER & DRINK COMBO FAST FOOD CAFE
$8.25
Awesome job, Tag Detectives! Slide 6 of 6
Tag Matching Cards Tag Matching Cards
Activity
Directions: Trace the dotted prices. Then, cut out the 4 Item Cards on the left and glue them next to their matching Price Tags on the right!
NAME:
DATE:
✂️ Cut Out These Items
Fresh Apples Grocery Item
Blue Sweater Clothing Item
Burger Combo Fast Food Item
Vitamin Bottle Pharmacy Item
📌 Paste & Trace Here
Glue Matching Card Here
GROCERY $4.50 T-R-A-C-E
Glue Matching Card Here
APPAREL $15.00 T-R-A-C-E
Glue Matching Card Here
DINER $8.25 T-R-A-C-E
Glue Matching Card Here
PHARMACY $6.10 T-R-A-C-E
Teacher Tip: For students who need fine-motor support, you can pre-cut the cards. Students can also color code the matches (e.g., color both the apples and the $4.50 tag with red crayon) before gluing!
Tag Hunting Worksheet Tag Hunting Worksheet
Worksheet
Let's practice reading prices! Look at the tag, identify dollars and cents, and complete the tasks.
NAME:
DATE:
1 Color the Price Parts
Look at the giant price tag below. Follow the color guide to identify the parts of the price.
$ 1 4.9 5
Circle the Dollars ($14)
Put a box around Cents (95)
2 Read Store Tags & Write the Price
Fresh Milk Grocery Tag
MILK GAL $3.49
How much does it cost?
$
New Shoes Department Tag
SHOES BLK $29.99
How much does it cost?
$
Bandages Pharmacy Tag
BAND-AID $1.89
How much does it cost?
$
Self-Check: Detective Checklist
Did you look for the dollar sign and the dot?
Yes!
Deal Finders Slides Life Skills: Unit 2
Smart Shoppers
Deal Finders
Let's learn how to compare price tags to find out which item costs more and which costs less!
We know how to find the best deals!
Slide 1 of 6
Comparing Prices Deal Finders
Which Costs More?
More means a larger number. It requires more dollar bills to buy!
Compare the first numbers (dollars) :
$8.00 is more than $3.00
Comparison Guide
Fancy Cookies $8.00 Expensive (More)
Basic Cookies $3.00 Cheaper (Less)
Check the dollars first! Slide 2 of 6
Comparing Prices Deal Finders
Which Costs Less?
Less means a smaller number. It costs fewer dollars. Finding items that cost less helps us save money!
Compare the dollars :
$2.50 is less than $5.50
Deal of the Day!
Small Milk $2.50 Great Deal (Less!)
Large Milk $5.50 More Expensive
Less means saving pennies and dollars! Slide 3 of 6
Visual Support Tool Deal Finders
Using the Number Line
If you are unsure which number is bigger, look at the number line. Numbers further right are always bigger (cost MORE).
$1
$2
$3
$4
$5
$6
$7
$8
$9
$10
👈 SMALLER PRICE (LESS) LARGER PRICE (MORE) 👉
Which is further right: $6 or $2? Slide 4 of 6
Advanced Step Deal Finders
What if the dollars are equal?
If the dollar numbers match, we look at the cents on the right of the dot!
Juice Brand A
$ 3 . 25
25 cents is LESS
VS
Juice Brand B
$ 3 . 75
75 cents is MORE
Treat cents like regular double digits! Slide 5 of 6
Class Challenge Deal Finders
Interactive Deal Hunt!
Which of these warm hoodies costs LESS?
Look at the two hoodies and compare their price tags. Which one is the best deal for your wallet?
Tell your teacher which color you choose!
Orange Zip
$15.00
Deal Finders Clip Cards Deal Finders Clip Cards
Tactile Game
Directions: Cut along the dotted lines to make 4 individual Clip Cards. Students look at the prices and use a clothespin, paperclip, or dry-erase marker to select the correct answer!
NAME:
DATE:
CARD 1: GROCERY
Which item costs MORE?
Apples $4.50
Bananas $1.20
Apples
Bananas
CARD 2: DEPARTMENT
Which item costs LESS?
Socks $5.00
Boots $35.00
Socks
Boots
CARD 3: FOOD COURT
Which item costs MORE?
Pizza $2.50
Combo $8.50
Pizza
Combo
CARD 4: COMMONS
Which item costs LESS?
Notebook $1.00
Backpack $15.00
Notebook
Backpack
Scaffolding and Modification Support:
Physical modification: Place actual clothespins on the table. Students pinch and click. For students working towards 1:1 correspondence, guide them to count the dollars on the number line before selecting the card answer.
Deal Finders Worksheet Deal Finders Worksheet
Worksheet
Let's compare prices to find the best deal! Use the Number Line at the top to help you.
NAME:
DATE:
My Number Line Tool
$1
$2
$3
$4
$5
$6
$7
$8
$9
$10
👈 CHEAPER (LESS) MORE EXPENSIVE (MORE) 👉
GROCERY STORE Circle the item that costs LESS
Cereal Bag
$3.00
Cereal Box
$6.00
DEPARTMENT STORE Circle the item that costs MORE
Winter Coat
$45.00
Warm Gloves
$10.00
PHARMACY STORE Circle the item that costs LESS
Toothpaste
$4.20
Floss Pick
$1.80
How did you do? Color your emoji:
😊 😐 🤔
Dollar Builders Slides Life Skills: Unit 3
Smart Shoppers
Dollar Builders
Let's learn how to budget using the Next-Dollar-Up method and standard calculators so we always have enough cash!
Become a Master of Money Estimation!
Slide 1 of 6
Budgeting Method Dollar Builders
The Next Dollar Up
If an item has cents in the price, you need one more dollar bill to buy it.
This makes sure you have enough cash for tax and change!
Look at the dollar number.
Add +$1.00 to that number.
Example Case
JUICE BOTTLE $3.45
PAY WITH $4.00 4 Dollar Bills
Read the dollar, count one more! Slide 2 of 6
Classroom Examples Dollar Builders
Let's Try It Together!
Item Price
$1.50
NEXT DOLLAR UP $2.00
Item Price
$5.25
NEXT DOLLAR UP $6.00
Item Price
$9.99
NEXT DOLLAR UP $10.00
Easy and worry-free! Slide 3 of 6
Digital Tool Support Dollar Builders
How to use a Calculator
When buying multiple items, we use a standard calculator to add the prices together.
1
Press [ C ] to clear any old numbers.
2
Type the numbers and don't forget the dot [ . ] .
3
Press [ + ] to add another item.
0.00
C / * - 7 8 9 + 4 5 6 1 2 3 =
Use standard desk calculators for high physical feedback! Slide 4 of 6
Step-by-Step Example Dollar Builders
Adding Two Items
Let's add $3.50 and $2.10 together.
Key Press Order
3 . 5 0 + 2 . 1 0 =
Total: $5.60
The calculator does the heavy lifting! Slide 5 of 6
Class Challenge Dollar Builders
Active Estimate!
How many dollar bills for this medicine?
The price tag shows $6.75 .
Use the Next Dollar Up method. Do you need 6 dollars or 7 dollars?
Point to the right count of dollar bills!
6 Dollars
Dollar Builders Match Board Dollar Builders Match Board
Interactive Match
Directions: Use the Next-Dollar-Up method! Draw a straight line from the Store Item Tag to the matching Stack of Dollar Bills.
NAME:
DATE:
🏷️ Price Tags
Sweet Cookie Next Dollar Up is $3
$2.15
Blue Cap Next Dollar Up is $8
$7.50
Lunch Wrap Next Dollar Up is $5
$4.95
Bath Soap Next Dollar Up is $2
$1.10
💵 Dollar Bill Stacks
$1 $1 $1 $1 $1
Stack of 8 Bills ($8.00)
$1 $1
Stack of 2 Bills ($2.00)
$1 $1 $1
Stack of 3 Bills ($3.00)
$1 $1 $1 $1
Stack of 5 Bills ($5.00)
Scaffolding Tip: Guide students to count out physical play money bills matching the stacks on the right to build concrete cognitive links before drawing lines.
Dollar Builders Worksheet Dollar Builders Worksheet
Worksheet
Let's practice adding prices on a calculator, then use the Next-Dollar-Up method to find our budget!
NAME:
DATE:
SCENARIO 1: AT THE CAFE Calculator Practice
Sandwich
$5.50
Soda Can
$1.25
Press These Keys
5 . 5 0 + 1 . 2 5 =
1. Calculator Sum
$
2. Next Dollar Up
$
SCENARIO 2: CLOTHES shopping Calculator Practice
Warm Socks
$3.49
Hair Clip
$2.10
Press These Keys
3 . 4 9 + 2 . 1 0 =
1. Calculator Sum
$
2. Next Dollar Up
$
Self-Check: I used a real calculator!
Yes!
Cart Masters Slides Life Skills: Unit 4
Smart Shoppers
Cart Masters
Let's put all our skills together! We will read tags, compare prices, use our calculators, and estimate our totals.
You are officially a Cart Master!
Slide 1 of 6
Review Toolkit Cart Masters
My Smart Shopping Checklist
Before we fill our shopping cart, let's review the 4 steps to smart shopping.
1
Find Tag
Look below the shelf or on the clothing card.
2
Compare
Check which option costs LESS to save money!
3
Calculate
Add prices using your calculator keys.
4
Dollar Up
Estimate how many dollar bills you need.
Ready to master the store? Slide 2 of 6
Grocery Shopping Cart Masters
Let's Buy Groceries!
We want to buy fresh soup and a box of crackers .
Our Shopping Cart
🍜 Fresh Tomato Soup $3.25
🍪 Wheat Crackers $2.50
Your Calculator Task
Type the sum on your desk calculator:
$ 5 . 7 5
Use the Next Dollar Up . How many bills do we pay?
$6.00 (6 bills)
Food shopping is fun when you have a plan! Slide 3 of 6
Clothing Shopping Cart Masters
Let's Buy Apparel!
We want to buy a cool hat and warm socks .
Our Clothing Cart
🧢 Style Co. Baseball Hat $10.00
🧦 Cozy Cotton Socks $4.50
Your Calculator Task
Type the sum on your desk calculator:
$ 1 4 . 5 0
Use the Next Dollar Up . How many bills do we pay?
$15.00 (15 bills)
Check size labels too! Slide 4 of 6
Community Trip Cart Masters
Let's Buy Lunch!
At the community mall food court, we want to buy a pizza slice and a large juice .
Our Lunch Tray
🍕 Pepperoni Pizza Slice $2.50
🍹 Organic Orange Juice $3.10
Your Calculator Task
Type the sum on your desk calculator:
$ 5 . 6 0
Use the Next Dollar Up . How many bills do we pay?
Cart Masters Roleplay Cards Cart Masters Roleplay Cards
Classroom Roleplay
Directions: Cut along the dotted lines to make 4 individual Shopping Mission Cards. Set up a play store in class, complete the missions, and write your totals!
NAME:
DATE:
MISSION 1: GROCERY
🛒 Find & Buy Grocery Staples
🍞 Loaf of Bread $2.50
🍓 Fruit Jam Jar $3.10
Sum Total
$
Dollar Up
$
MISSION 2: CLOTHES
🧢 Buy Accessories
🧢 Baseball Cap $6.00
🧦 Warm Socks $2.25
Sum Total
$
Dollar Up
$
MISSION 3: COMMUNITY
🍩 Buy Sweet Treats
🍩 Glazed Donut $1.50
🍹 Fruit Juice $1.90
Sum Total
$
Dollar Up
$
MISSION 4: PHARMACY
🧼 Buy Health Hygiene Items
🧼 Fresh Soap $1.20
🪥 Toothbrush $2.50
Sum Total
$
Dollar Up
$
Play Money Roleplay Setup:
Provide students with plastic shopping baskets, mock item packages labeled with matching prices, and a calculator. Encourage peers to act as cashier and shopper to promote communication skills!
Cart Masters Worksheet Cart Masters Worksheet
Page 1 of 2
Let's checkout! Fill in the prices, add them up on your calculator, and write down the Next Dollar Up !
NAME:
DATE:
CHECKOUT 1: GROCERY STORE Aisle 4
🍉 Sweet Melon $3.50
🥛 Yogurt Cup $1.25
Total Sum:
$
Dollar Bills Needed (Dollar Up):
$
CHECKOUT 2: DEPARTMENT STORE Register 1
🧢 Baseball Cap $6.00
🧦 Fuzzy Mittens $2.10
Total Sum:
$
Dollar Bills Needed (Dollar Up):
$
CHECKOUT 3: BAKERY & CAFE Espresso Bar
🍩 Sweet Donut $1.75
🥤 Fruit Smoothie $3.25
Total Sum:
$
Dollar Bills Needed (Dollar Up):
$
Calculator Tip: Remember to type the decimal point . for cents! (Example: type 3 . 5 0)
Cart Masters (Continued)
Page 2 of 2
You are doing great! Let's complete the final two checkouts and claim your certificate!
CHECKOUT 4: TOY & BOOK SHOP Hobby Corner
🎨 Colored Pencils $4.50
📓 Sketchbook $3.40
Total Sum:
$
Dollar Bills Needed (Dollar Up):
$
CHECKOUT 5: CORNER PHARMACY Wellness Aisle
🧴 Hand Lotion $5.15
🧼 Bubble Soap $2.50
Total Sum:
$
Dollar Bills Needed (Dollar Up):
$
SMART SHOPPERS GRADUATION CHECKLIST
Check off your superpower milestones and have your teacher sign off below!
Tag Finder Superpower
Deal Hunter Champion
Dollar Builder Expert
Teacher Sign-off:
Date Approved / Stamp
