X Tables
Game Design Maths

Design a shopkeeper game

Use prices, discounts, coins and stock to practise money maths in a playful setting.

Quick answer

You can design a shopkeeper game to practice money maths by setting up prices, managing stock, giving change, and offering discounts – all while playing pretend and learning real-life maths skills.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to use prices, coins, and discounts to run a pretend shop and solve money problems – just like a real shopkeeper! Success signs:
  • You can set prices for items in your shop
  • You can add up the cost of things you buy
  • You can work out how much change you should give
  • You can use discounts to make shopping fun

Why this matters

When you play a shopkeeper game, you're learning important maths skills that help you in real life. You use money maths when you go shopping, save pocket money, or plan a party. You also learn to think like a shopkeeper – keeping track of what you have, how much it costs, and how much change to give. This kind of play helps you understand how numbers work in the world around you.

How it works

Designing a shopkeeper game is like building a fun world where you can practice maths. Here’s how to do it step by step:
  1. Choose your items: Pick 5-10 things you want to sell, like toys, snacks, or books.
  2. Set prices: Decide how much each item costs – use whole numbers like £1, £2, £5.
  3. Decide on stock: Say how many of each item you have (like 3 apples or 5 pencils).
  4. Choose coins: Use real coins or pretend ones – 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, £2.
  5. Plan discounts: Think of ways to make shopping exciting – like “Buy 2, get 1 free” or “50% off”.
  6. Play the game: Let a friend be a customer, and practice selling and giving change.

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you’re the shopkeeper in a toy shop. You have 3 toys: a teddy bear, a toy car, and a doll.
Item Price (£) Stock
Teddy bear 3 5
Toy car 2 8
Doll 4 3
Now, let’s say a customer buys a teddy bear and a toy car. How much do they need to pay? Step 1: Add the prices: 3 + 2 = 5 Step 2: The customer gives you £10. Step 3: Work out the change: 10 – 5 = 5 So, you give them £5 in change. You can also add discounts. For example, if you say “Buy 2 toy cars, get 1 free,” then a customer buying 3 toy cars would only pay for 2. Step 1: 2 toy cars cost 2 x £2 = £4 Step 2: The third one is free. Step 3: The customer pays £4 for 3 cars.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Great Toy Shop Challenge You are the shopkeeper of a new toy shop. Your job is to make sure customers are happy, money is counted correctly, and the shop doesn’t run out of stock. Step 1: Choose 5 toys for your shop. Give each one a price. Step 2: Decide how many of each toy you have. Step 3: Pick 3 customers to visit your shop. They want to buy different things. Step 4: Work out how much each customer spends and how much change they get. Step 5: Try adding a discount – like “Buy 2, get 1 free” or “10% off” – and see how that changes the prices. Step 6: Keep a note of how many of each toy you sold and how much money you made. Step 7: See if you can make a profit by selling more than you bought!

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Forgetting to count change correctly.
    Why it happens: When adding or subtracting, it’s easy to make a mistake.
    Fix: Use coins to count out the change. This helps you see the numbers clearly.
  • Mistake: Thinking that 2 x £3 = £5.
    Why it happens: Confusing multiplication with addition.
    Fix: Use repeated addition: 3 + 3 = 6, so 2 x 3 = 6.
  • Mistake: Not keeping track of how many items are left.
    Why it happens: It’s easy to forget to subtract when someone buys something.
    Fix: Write down how many you start with, then cross off or subtract as items are sold.
  • Mistake: Not understanding what a discount means.
    Why it happens: A discount is a reduction in price, but it can be confusing.
    Fix: Think of a 50% discount as half price. So a £6 toy becomes £3.

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help by:
  • Choosing the items for the shop together – this makes it more fun and meaningful.
  • Using real coins to practice counting and giving change.
  • Encouraging the child to explain their thinking as they play.
  • Adding a bit of fun with a discount or a special offer.
  • Using the game to talk about real-life money skills – like saving, budgeting, and shopping wisely.
  • Not worrying if the child makes a mistake – it’s part of learning!
This game can be played at home, in the kitchen, or even in a pretend corner of the garden. It helps children understand that maths is useful and fun when it’s part of play.

Practice questions

  1. How much does it cost to buy 2 apples at 50p each?
  2. If a child has £3 and buys a toy for £1.50, how much change should they get?
  3. If a shop has 6 bottles of juice and sells 4, how many are left?
  4. If a toy costs £4 and there is a 50% discount, how much does it cost now?
  5. How much money is in 3 £1 coins and 2 50p coins?
Answers:
  1. 2 x 50p = 100p = £1
  2. £3 – £1.50 = £1.50
  3. 6 – 4 = 2 bottles
  4. 50% of £4 = £2, so the toy costs £2 now
  5. 3 x £1 = £3, 2 x 50p = £1, so total = £4

FAQ

What is the best way to start a shopkeeper game?

The best way is to pick 5-10 items you like, set simple prices, and use real coins or pretend ones to play with.

Can I use a calculator to play my shopkeeper game?

Yes! Using a calculator can help you check your answers. But try to do the maths first, then use the calculator to check.

How can I make the game more challenging?

You can add more items, make harder prices, use bigger numbers, or introduce more complex discounts like “Buy 3, get 1 free” or “20% off”.

What if my child finds money maths hard?

Start with simple prices and coins. Use real-life examples like shopping or pocket money. Keep it playful and encouraging.

Can I use this game to teach other maths skills?

Absolutely! You can use the shopkeeper game to teach counting, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and even fractions and percentages.