What is Money? Let’s hear a story!

🍎
Alex
Alex has lots of apples. But Alex really wants some bread!
🍞
Sam
Sam has lots of bread. But Sam really wants some fish!
🐟
Mia
Mia has fish. But Mia really wants some apples!
😰
Everyone
Oh no! Alex needs bread, Sam needs fish, and Mia needs apples… but nobody wants what the other person has! No one can trade!
💡
Alex
I have an idea! What if we all use pretty shells as “money”? We can buy and sell anything with shells! Now everyone can trade happily!

What did we learn?

Long ago, people tried to trade things directly — this is called bartering. But if the other person doesn’t want what you have, you can’t trade! So people agreed to use something everyone liked as money. With money, you can trade with anyone easily!

Quiz Time! 🧠

Can Alex trade apples for bread if Sam doesn’t want apples?

If everyone agrees to use shells as money, can everyone trade what they need?