Spend a Buck

Recommended for: • Social Skills

• Communication Skills• Decision Making• Thinking Skills

Spend a Buck- Description

To make a team decision, teammates use play money to “spend a buck”

and vote on their top picks. The option with the most bucks is deemed the team decision.

Spend a Buck- Steps

1. Divide class into teams2. Each person is given 10 play dollars3. Option cards are laid out on team

tables4. Students put a dollar on each option5. Student spend remaining dollars any

way they want6. Teams count the results to

determine team decision.

Notes:

• Students should voice their opinions in proactive statements prior to voting. Students should say WHY they chose the option(s) they chose.

• To break a tie, losing items are set aside and students repeat steps 1-4 with remaining items.

Ways to use Spend a Buck

Teambuilding- • Teams can come up with opinions on prize options (pizza party, extra

recess time, free homework pass, pencils/stickers)• Favorites game- favorite books, movies, place to visit, etc…basically a

get to know one another activity• Getting to know each other activity when teams are newly formed• Sharing opinions on a particular topic

Content Area- • Math-Steps to solve, which one is most important, first, second, etc. • Social Studies- George Washington life facts (Kindergarten SS standard)

…which one most important?

Assessment- • Pre-assessment to determine what students already know• Review before test

Why this strategy is effective

• Lowers affective filter for ELL’s and all students.

• Provides a kinesthetic activity for kinesthetic learners and ADHD students.

• Gives every student the opportunity to voice their opinion and they MUST explain WHY they think so.

• Teaches effective persuasive skills.

References:

• Kagan, S. and Kagan, M. (2009). Kagan cooperative learning. San Clemente, CA: Kagan Publishing.