Prices at the Market
A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on comparing prices across stalls and working out why they differ.
Prices at the Market is a free 40-minute Kindergarten to Grade 2 social studies lesson plan for Common Core standard D2.Eco.5.K-2 — find out what things cost in a local shop or market. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the mathematics, names 3 misconceptions with the teaching move that addresses each, and ends with an exit ticket and a printable worksheet with its answer key.
- Grade:
- Kindergarten to Grade 2
- Length:
- 40 minutes
- Standard:
- D2.Eco.5.K-2
Kindergarten to Grade 2 · Economics
D2.Eco.5.K-2
Identify prices of products in a local market.
Objective
Students will be able to compare two prices and give a reason for the difference.
Students are successful when they can
- Compares prices across stalls.
- Adds a basket total.
- Gives a reason for a price difference.
What you need
- The market stall list with prices added
- Coins
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — two stalls, one good
5 min- Two stalls sell cheese at different prices.
- Ask which you would buy and why.
Teach — why prices differ
13 min- Compare local cheese with imported fish. The fish travelled further.
- Name the reasons a price can differ: distance, scarcity, quality, cost of making.
- Say the Grade 2 addition: a higher price is not automatically unfair.
- Work out a basket total and the change.
- Ask why the rule requires prices to be displayed.
“The fish costs more because somebody carried it inland. That is in the price.”
Guided practice — compare and explain
12 min- Pairs compare four price pairs and give a reason for each difference.
- They total two baskets.
- They decide which basket is better value.
Independent practice
8 min- Students complete the prices page.
- Read each question aloud.
Close
2 min- Take one price difference and its reason.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Thinks a higher price means cheating.
Why: It costs more for the same kind of thing.
Fix: Name the four reasons. Distance and scarcity are in the price.
Compares prices without checking quantity.
Why: The number is the visible part.
Fix: Five oranges for 5 is not the same as one for 5.
Thinks the trader sets the price freely.
Why: They write it up.
Fix: Ask what happens if they price above the next stall.
If they are not there yet
- Two comparisons rather than four.
- Give the reason to match.
If they finish early
- Work out value per item.
- Say what would happen if one trader raised prices sharply.
- Explain why the same good costs differently in two towns.
Exit ticket
Fish costs more than local cheese. Give a reason why.
What to look for: Distance or transport. 'The trader is greedy' means the four-reasons list needs revisiting.
Printable practice for D2.Eco.5.K-2
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- Prices at the MarketCircle the best answer.
Questions about Prices at the Market
How long does the Prices at the Market lesson take?
40 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 5 min, teach 13 min, guided practice 12 min, independent practice 8 min, close 2 min. The minutes are stated per section and add up to the stated length, so the plan can be cut or extended at a section boundary rather than abandoned halfway.
Which standard does Prices at the Market teach?
D2.Eco.5.K-2 — D2.Eco.5.K-2, Economics for Kindergarten to Grade 2: “Identify prices of products in a local market.” In plain terms, find out what things cost in a local shop or market.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
The market stall list with prices added, coins and the printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan. Everything listed is either ordinary classroom equipment or a free printable from this site — there is nothing to buy and nothing to prepare beyond photocopying.
What mistakes should I expect in this lesson?
Three, each a reasoning error rather than carelessness: thinks a higher price means cheating; compares prices without checking quantity and thinks the trader sets the price freely. The plan gives the thinking behind each one and the teaching move that addresses the thinking rather than the symptom.
How do I know whether the lesson worked?
The exit ticket asks: “Fish costs more than local cheese. Give a reason why.” Distance or transport. 'The trader is greedy' means the four-reasons list needs revisiting. That tells you whether the class needs a reteach or a thirty-second conversation before you plan tomorrow.
Is there a worksheet to go with Prices at the Market?
Yes — 1 printable D2.Eco.5.K-2 worksheet, linked at the end of the plan and free like the rest of the site. Each one comes with an answer key and 25 versions, so the practice after the lesson can be a different paper on every desk.
Is Prices at the Market free to use?
Yes. The plan, its printables and their answer keys are free to read, print and photocopy for your own class, with no account and no email capture. It was last reviewed on 7 September 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-09-07. Aligned to D2.Eco.5.K-2 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.