From Nursery Classroom to Community Market

Ms Stephanie Lewis

Nursery Teacher / Personal, Social and Emotional Development and Inclusion Lead

To kickstart the project, we transformed our role-play area into a bustling market. The children enthusiastically took on roles as buyers and sellers, practicing turn-taking, communication, and the basics of exchange. Using pretend money, they learned to count, recognize currency values. This playful setup helped them grasp social roles in a fun, low-pressure environment, building confidence and teamwork as they bartered over toy fruits, vegetables, and groceries.

To deepen their understanding, we organized an educational visit to a nearby market, just a short walk across the river bridge from our school. The trip brought classroom lessons to life, showing children how markets operate in the real world. Each child brought 10 RMB to spend, turning the outing into a practical lesson in decision-making and budgeting. Math skills flourished as they, compared prices, and discovered that money exchanges for goods—whether a juicy peach or a bunch of grapes.

While the market visit was filled with giggles and excitement, the learning outcomes were profound:

Above all, the children adored every moment. From pretending to run market stalls to proudly clutching their purchases, their enthusiasm was contagious. These experiences didn’t just teach skills—they sparked curiosity, independence, and a deeper connection to their community.

At our nursery, we believe education thrives when rooted in the world beyond the classroom. By turning a simple market visit into a multidimensional adventure, we’ve planted seeds of knowledge that will grow alongside our little learners—one apple, one coin, and one “thank you” at a time.