Swap Meet Slides The Great Swap
Learning how to trade things with friends!
What is Trading?
Trading is when you give something to get something else!
People have been trading for a long, long time.
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Trading an apple for a toy!
Let's Play: The Great Swap!
1
Pick a Card
This is what you have in your hand.
2
Find a Friend
Look for someone who has what you want!
3
The Big Ask
Ask nicely: "Would you like to swap?"
Ready? Let's go trading!
Was it Easy?
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Did everyone want to trade with you right away?
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Did you have to talk to a lot of people to get what you wanted?
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What happened if nobody wanted your card?
Swap Cards Printable The Great Swap Cards
Cut these cards out for the trading game!
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Apple
TRADE CARD
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Teddy
TRADE CARD
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Pencil
TRADE CARD
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Toy Car
TRADE CARD
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Dino
TRADE CARD
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Cookie
TRADE CARD
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Crayon
TRADE CARD
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Ball
TRADE CARD
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Puzzle
TRADE CARD
Teacher Instructions
Print multiple copies of this page (enough for 1 card per student).
Cut along the card borders.
Give each student ONE card to start.
Tell them their "Secret Mission" is to trade their card for a specific item (e.g., "Everyone who has an apple must find someone to trade for a Dino!").
Money Makers Teacher Guide Money Makers
Sequence Facilitation Guide
Subject
Social Studies: Economics
Target Grade
Kindergarten
Duration
5 Lessons (approx. 30-45m each)
Essential Question
Why is it easier to use money than to trade our things?
Lesson Pacing & Key Points
Lesson 1
The Great Swap
Goal: Experience the basic concept of barter.
Key Concept
Barter is trading one thing for another. It requires finding a partner who wants what you have.
Teaching Tip
Allow for genuine frustration. If students can't find a trade, use it as a learning moment during the debrief.
Lesson 2
Trading Trouble
Goal: Identify why bartering is difficult.
Key Concept
"Coincidence of wants": Barter fails when two people don't want each other's items.
Teaching Tip
Use the "Farmer Fred" story to spark brainstorming. Ask: "What if Fred had something that everyone wanted?"
Lesson 3
Magic Tokens
Goal: Understand the function of currency.
Key Concept
A "token" (money) is a neutral object that acts as a bridge between two trades.
Teaching Tip
Use literal buttons or shells during the "Magic Token" simulation to make it tactile and concrete.
Lesson 4
Things and Help
Goal: Categorize goods and services.
Key Concept
Money isn't just for "things" (goods); it's also for when people do something for you (services).
Teaching Tip
Ask students to pantomime "services" (brushing hair, driving a bus) to help them understand the concept of "doing" vs "holding".
Lesson 5
Minting Money
Goal: Apply learning through creation and simulation.
Key Concept
Money is a design that represents value. It usually has symbols, numbers, and pictures.
Teaching Tip
Set up a "Dramatic Play Store" immediately after they finish their money to see the concepts in action.
Kindergarten Skills Addressed
Vocabulary: Trade, Money, Goods, Services Social Skills: Negotiating, Cooperation Math: Counting, Identifying Values Problem Solving
Trading Trouble Slides Trading Trouble
Why is trading so hard sometimes?
The Story of Farmer Fred
Farmer Fred has lots of eggs. ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ
He needs a new pair of sturdy boots. ๐ฅพ
"Will you trade boots for my eggs?" he asks the Shoemaker.
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The Shoemaker says... NO!
"I already have 100 eggs! I don't want any more eggs!"
"I want a new hat. ๐ฉ"
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What's the Problem?
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Trading only works if BOTH people want what the other has.
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It takes a long time to find the right person.
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Sometimes things (like apples) can get mushy before you trade them!
"How can we make this easier?"
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Trading Trouble Worksheet The No-Trade Zone
Drawing Trading Trouble
Name
Farmer Fred had eggs, but the Shoemaker didn't want them!
Draw a picture of a trade that did not work. Show why it was hard!
Draw your trading trouble here!
Tell a friend: "This trade didn't work because..."
Magic Tokens Slides โจ
Magic Tokens
The Secret to Fast Trading!
What is a Magic Token?
It's one thing that EVERYONE in the group wants.
You can give a token for ANYTHING else!
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Tokens like shells, stones, or coins!
The Token Swap Game
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Farmer Fred
Gives eggs to the Shoemaker...
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MAGIC TOKEN
"I can use this to get my hat!"
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The Shoemaker
Trades the token for a hat!
What is Money?
Money is a special token that we all agree is valuable!
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Paper Cash
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Metal Coins
Magic Tokens Printable The Magic Tokens
Cut these out to make trading magic!
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Activity: The Magic Swap
Step 1: Set Up
Hand out the Swap Cards from Lesson 1. Give each student 1 or 2 Magic Tokens .
Step 2: The Rules
Explain that anyone can use a token to "buy" a card, and anyone with a card can sell it for a token. They can also still trade card-for-card if they want!
Step 3: Play
Watch as the speed of trade increases. Without needing a "perfect match," students can get what they want much faster.
Step 4: Debrief
"Why was the token better than just trading cards?"
Goods and Services Sorting Worksheet Things or Help?
Goods and Services Sorting
Name
Date
Cut out the pictures at the bottom and glue them in the right box!
Goods
Things you can hold
Services
Help that people give
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Ice Cream
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Haircut
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Bicycle
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Doctor's Help
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Teddy Bear
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Cleaning
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Crayons
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Bus Ride
Things and Help Slides ๐งธ
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Things and Help
What can we trade for money?
Goods are "Things"
Goods are things you can hold in your hands.
They fit in a bag or a box!
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Apples
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Shoes
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Books
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Puzzles
Services are "Help"
Services are things people do for you.
You can't hold them, but they are very helpful!
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Cutting Hair
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Checking Health
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Teaching Art
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Walking Dogs
Trading with Money
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Money
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Goods
OR
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Services
"We use money to pay for things AND help!"
Minting Money Slides ๐ช ๐ต ๐ช
Minting Money
Creating our own classroom cash!
Looking at Money
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Numbers
To show how much it is worth.
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Pictures
Famous people, animals, or places.
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Symbols
Cool shapes and patterns!
Let's Design!
"We need to decide..."
1
What is our money called?
2
What pictures should go on it?
3
What colors should we use?
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It's time to be artists!
Classroom Cash Template My Classroom Cash
Designer Name: ___________________________
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1
1
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Draw a face or symbol here
One Token Bill
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5
5
5
Draw a special place or animal here
Five Token Bill
Design
a coin
Small Coin
Design
a big coin
Big Coin
Classroom Market Idea
Once students have designed and colored their money, help them cut it out! You can use this money in a Classroom Store where they can "buy" small rewards or classroom privileges like:
Extra recess time
Special seat for the day
Line leader pass
Choosing the class story