Scratch shop games maths mission

Quick answer

You can use Scratch shop games to practice money skills by designing virtual shops, setting prices, and calculating costs for customers.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to calculate the total cost of items in a shop, work out how much change you should give, and plan your own virtual shop using Scratch.

Success signs:

• You can add up prices of different items
• You can subtract to find change
• You can create a simple shop in Scratch with prices

Why this matters

Money maths is super important because you use it every day when you go shopping, save pocket money, or buy treats. When you play shop games in Scratch, you're practising real-life skills like counting, adding, and solving problems. This helps you become more confident with money, which is useful for your future when you'll need to pay for things, save for big purchases, or even run your own business one day!

How it works

Let's imagine you're building a shop in Scratch. First, you choose what items to sell. Then, you set prices for each item. Next, you work out how much a customer will pay if they buy several things. Finally, you calculate how much change they should get. This is all about adding and subtracting money amounts.

Here's how it works step by step:

1. Choose items to sell (like apples, bananas, or toys)
2. Set a price for each item (like £1.50 for an apple)
3. When a customer buys items, add up the prices
4. Take the money they give you and subtract the total to find change

Examples you can see

Let's say you're running a fruit shop in Scratch. You have these items:

If a customer buys 2 apples and 1 banana, how much do they owe?

First, calculate the cost of 2 apples:

2 × £1.20 = £2.40

Then, add the cost of 1 banana:

£2.40 + £0.80 = £3.20

So the customer owes £3.20.

If they give you £5.00, how much change should you give?

£5.00 - £3.20 = £1.80

You should give them £1.80 in change.

Try this example with your own items and prices!

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Scratch Shop Mission

You are the shopkeeper of a magical fruit shop in Scratch! You have 3 types of fruits:

• Sparkle Apples - £1.50 each
• Glow Bananas - £0.75 each
• Twinkle Oranges - £1.25 each

Today, 4 customers come in with different orders:

1. Customer 1 wants 3 Sparkle Apples and 2 Glow Bananas
2. Customer 2 wants 1 Twinkle Orange and 4 Glow Bananas
3. Customer 3 wants 2 Sparkle Apples, 1 Twinkle Orange, and 3 Glow Bananas
4. Customer 4 wants 5 Twinkle Oranges

Your mission is to calculate how much each customer owes and how much change to give if they pay with £10.00.

Let's start with Customer 1:

3 Sparkle Apples = 3 × £1.50 = £4.50

2 Glow Bananas = 2 × £0.75 = £1.50

Total = £4.50 + £1.50 = £6.00

Change from £10.00 = £10.00 - £6.00 = £4.00

So Customer 1 owes £6.00 and gets £4.00 change.

Can you work out the rest?

Common mistakes

Mistake 1: Adding prices wrong

Some children add prices incorrectly, like 50p + 50p = £1.00 but then forget to write the decimal point.

Why it happens: Not paying attention to decimal points or mixing up pence and pounds.

Fix: Always write the decimal point clearly and check that your answer makes sense.

Mistake 2: Forgetting to count change

Children might calculate the total but forget to subtract to find the change.

Why it happens: Thinking that adding is all you need to do.

Fix: Remember that change = money given - total cost. Always double-check this step.

Mistake 3: Using wrong multiplication

Some children might think 3 × £1.20 = £3.60 instead of £3.60.

Why it happens: Confusion between multiplication and addition.

Fix: Use repeated addition to check: £1.20 + £1.20 + £1.20 = £3.60

Parent and carer guide

Helping your child with this Scratch shop mission is a fun way to practice money skills. Here's how:

• Start by playing a simple shop game together using real coins
• Ask your child to set prices for different items in your house
• Give them £10 and let them buy 3 items, then calculate the total
• Check their work together to make sure the math is correct
• Encourage them to explain their thinking out loud
• Let them create their own items and prices in Scratch

Remember, it's okay if they make mistakes. These are learning opportunities! Focus on their process, not just the final answer.

Keep the atmosphere light and playful. If they get frustrated, take a break and come back later.

Practice questions

1. You sell lemonade for £1.25 per cup. How much would 4 cups cost?
2. You sell stickers for 50p each. How much would 6 stickers cost?
3. You sell 3 toys at £2.50 each. A customer pays with £10.00. How much change should they get?
4. You sell 2 sandwiches at £3.00 each. A customer pays with £10.00. How much change should they get?
5. You sell 5 apples at £0.80 each. How much would they cost in total?

Answers:

1. 4 × £1.25 = £5.00
2. 6 × 50p = £3.00
3. 3 × £2.50 = £7.50. £10.00 - £7.50 = £2.50
4. 2 × £3.00 = £6.00. £10.00 - £6.00 = £4.00
5. 5 × £0.80 = £4.00

FAQ

How can I make my Scratch shop more interesting?

You can add different types of items, use animations, and make your shop look colorful. You can also add sound effects when someone buys something.

What if I don't know how to use Scratch yet?

Start with simple blocks like "move 10 steps" and "say 'Hello'". Gradually try more blocks like "ask and wait" and "change score by". You can find many free tutorials online.

Can I use this to learn other math skills too?

Yes! You can also learn about addition, subtraction, multiplication, and even division. You can also learn about organizing data, making decisions, and solving problems.

How can I make sure my math is correct?

Double-check your calculations by using repeated addition or drawing pictures. You can also use a calculator to check your work.

What are some real-life uses of this kind of math?

Shopkeepers use this math every day when they work out how much customers owe and how much change to give. You also use it when you buy things, save money, or plan a party.