Word problems, while never much fun for students, are not only an essential component of standardized testing, they are also a part of the Common Core State Standards.  In second grade grade, students are asked to solve word problems involving money while using the $ and ¢ signs properly (2.MD.8).  The activity below turns those boring word problems into some really good lesson fun.

Word Problem Worries at Reese and Rosely’s Really Good Store

Standard Objective:  2.MD.8

Materials:

• Reese and Rosely downloads
• Short story (below)
• Index cards with the word problems written or glued on
• An basket to store the word problem cards
• Receipt answer page
• A basket of play food
• A pretend cash register
• Play money

Directions:

• Introduce the learning center during math time by reading aloud the short explanation/story.
• Explain where students can find items in the center and how they should record their answers and results.
• Once in the center, present students with word problem cards that they must solve using the pretend food and play money as visual aids as needed.

Story for Center:

Reese and Rosely are a brother and sister who opened up a neighborhood grocery store.  They have been working hard, but sometimes find that their receipts just don’t match up to the money in their cash register.  Can you help them make sure their receipts are correct?

Solve the 10 word problems in the basket using the money and food in their store.  Write your answers down on the the receipt and add them up at the end to see if Reese and Rosely have added correctly.  Good luck!

Word Problem:

1. Anna bought 3 cans of tuna for her cat, Lumpy.  Each can of tuna costs 7 cents.  How much did all three cans of tuna cost?
2. Bob bought a banana for 4 cents and a bag of carrot sticks for 15 cents.  How much did Bob spend in Reese and Rosely’s Really Good Store?
3. Sam has 4 brothers.  He bought each one a cupcake and one for himself.  The cupcakes were $1 each.  How much did Sam spend altogether?
4. Mark loves gum.  He chews 4 pieces every day after school.  Each piece of gum costs 2 cents.  How much money does it cost Mark to chew gum on Monday?
5. Pat got to Reese and Rosely’s Really Good Store right before it closed.  The bread was only 25 cents a loaf.  Pat bought two loaves of bread and a bottle of milk that was 45 cents.  How much money was Pat’s purchase?
6. Sue bought a bunch of flowers for her mom from Reese and Rosely’s Really Good Store.  Each flower was 5 cents.  If there were 5 flowers in Sue’s bunch, how much did it cost altogether?
7. Brian ate one free chocolate cookie sample at Reese and Rosely’s Really Good Store and bought another one to give to his brother.  If each cookie was 8 cents, how much did Brian pay?
8. Mr. Smith comes to the store every morning for his morning newspaper.  The paper costs 35 cents each day.  How much money altogether does Mr. Smith pay for his paper for 3 days?
9. Mary bought a dozen apples.  Each apple was 4 cents.  How much money did Mary spend altogether?
10. Jack bought 4 fresh muffins at Reese and Rosely’s Really Good Store:  1 blueberry, 2 chocolate chips, and 1 peach.  The blueberry muffins cost a quarter.  The chocolate chip muffins cost a quarter and a nickel.  The peach muffins cost two dimes.  How much money did Jack spend for all four muffins?

Receipt Paper
Print out a receipt page for each child here.