Last week saw all pupils learning about money and finance at Stoneyburn Primary School as part of West Lothian’s Money Week. All pupils had a busy week with a range of activities aimed at developing pupils’ awareness of how money is spent or saved.

Primary 2/1 and Primary 3/2

Primary 2/1 and 3/2 had a focus on developing their awareness of the types of coins available, what they look like and how much they are worth. They played a variety of games and participated in activities that allowed them to use coins.

Primary 4/3

Primary 4/3 were also learning about different types of coins and how to use them through a range of game based activities. They also played an online game where they had to earn and spend money ( www.moneyville.co.uk)

Primary 5/4

Primary 5/4 were learning about money through a family called The Sterlings. They found out about how the family earns and spends money and participated in activities helping the family to spend and save their money wisely. Primary 5/4 also participated in games to develop their awareness of pounds and pence.

The Sterling Family

Primary 6/5

Primary 6/5 discussed the difference between necessities and luxuries and identified where money should be spent first. They were learning about how money was used before coins were developed and saw some strange money, such as beaver pelts, eggs, shell money and tea bricks. Primary 6/5 then investigated how notes were made and what security features are present on modern British notes. They then had the opportunity to design their own range of coins and notes for the future. Finally they were learning about budgeting and had to plan a holiday which involved choosing flights, accommodation, food, leisure activities and insurance all on a budget.

Primary 7

Primary 7 focussed for a lot of the week on the saving of money. They had visits from a Credit Union representative who shared how the Credit Union is run. Primary 7 then used this information to design a range of posters and to make an assembly which was shared with the whole school. Primary 7 also were learning about how coins are designed and made and the features of modern British notes. They also had the opportunity to design coins and notes.