Lossie P1s balance the books
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LOSSIEMOUTH P1 pupils' school financial project was a success story when they helped out their local library using their own hard-earned cash.
As part of a project to learn about the value of money, P1S and P1G at St Gerardine Primary School have been working hard carrying out jobs at home to earn money. They decided to buy a Children's Atlas for Lossiemouth Library with some of their earnings and presented the book on June 18.
The classes' project encourages pupils save some of their earnings, spend some and share some.
The children have made beds, washed dishes, laid tables, sorted recycling, tidied away toys and fed family dogs to earn the cash. They were encouraged to earn under 5p per job and record this in a "tens-frame" bankbook.
The P1 teachers, Fiona Miller and Clare McConnachie, said they wanted the youngsters to understand the real value of money. The project enabled the children to look at money in a real-life context and related their learning to the world of work, incorporating banking, librarians and shopkeepers.
The children chose the library to benefit as they and their families have been regular visitors at "shared learning" sessions over the last year. The teachers added that the library staff had been helpful and accommodating. Many of the children have now joined the library too, so supporting the library service.
The teachers said: "Finally, the children’s big challenge was to have a little money to take home to encourage them to earn and save.
"The children have clearly embraced the financial project and we are delighted with their efforts and the support of their families. We hope that the children are motivated to carry on with their earning and savings. Well done, boys and girls."
But it's not all work and no play for the youngsters – they decided to spend a little of their money on an ice-cream treat from Miele’s in Lossiemouth.
