Tutorpip← About this lessonOpen the sheet →Download PDF
Ages 7+ · Money · The story of money
Shells, beads and salt as money
🐚cowrie shells📿beads🧂salt
Things people used as money.
The big ideaMany things were money. People agreed they were worth something.

How it works

Many things have been money. Nia's market took cowrie shells, and Tobo swapped a block of salt for a string of beads.

A good money is small, easy to carry, and it lasts. A cowrie does not rot or rust.

A fresh fish goes off and an ice cube melts, so they cannot be saved.

Money is something everyone agrees to accept. Not every place used the same thing.

Prices in shells01234565Grain2Fish6Cloth4Potshells
What things cost in shells at Nia's market.
Works as money• Small• Lasts• Easy to carry• Everyone agrees on its worthDoes not work• A fresh fish goes off• An ice cube melts• A big rock is too heavy
Works as money or not.

Example 1: Paying for grain

  1. A bag of grain costs 5 shells at Nia's market.
  2. Nia hands over 5 shells.
  3. The seller hands over the grain.
  4. Everyone there knew what a shell was worth.

Example 2: Two things at once

  1. Nia buys a pot and a fish.
  2. The pot costs 4 shells and the fish costs 2 shells.
  3. 4 + 2 = 6
  4. Nia pays 6 shells.

Example 3: What is left?

  1. Nia has 10 shells.
  2. She buys grain for 5 shells and a pot for 4 shells.
  3. 5 + 4 = 9
  4. 10 − 9 = 1
  5. Nia has 1 shell left.

Example 4: Would it work as money?

  1. A cowrie is small and it lasts, so it works.
  2. A fresh fish goes off, so it does not.
  3. A big rock is too heavy to carry to a market.

Words to know

cowrie
A small, smooth, glossy shell.
rare
Hard to find, with not much of it.
agree
To all say yes to the same thing.

Watch out

Try it

  1. Nia buys grain and a fish. Grain is 5 shells and a fish is 2. How many shells?
  2. Which works as money, a shell or an ice cube?
  3. Cloth costs 6 shells and a fish costs 2. How many more shells for cloth?
  4. Why did the seller take Nia's shells?
Answers: 1. 7 · 2. A shell · 3. 4 · 4. Everyone at that market knew what a shell was worth
Try at homeWith a grown-up, talk about what small things children swap today, like stickers or cards. Why does everyone want them?
For grown-upsMoney works because everyone agrees on it. Ask your child what a group of children could use as money, and what would make a bad money.
Open these notes on screenScan the code, or go to tutorpip.com.