Learning Resources Pretend & Play LER 2629 User manual

Activity
Guide
The Pretend and Play®Calculator Cash Register encourages
children to learn basic math and calculator skills while it enhances
imaginary play. This unique educational toy features a working
calculator that will familiarize children, from pre-school age up, with
the use of a calculator while they play. The large buttons on the
keypad are easy for little hands to press and the cash draw is
large enough to hold life-size bill and coins.
Children will naturally learn to add and subtract when they use the
Calculator Cash Register for pretend and play, selling products in
their ”store”, ringing up purchases and making change.
Calculator Activities
Calculator features:
• Calculator runs on solar power
• Extra large buttons for small hands to manipulate
• An eight digit display
• Error function to show entry mistakes
• Repetitive equal sign for multi-item purchases
• Negative function for teaching integers
• Student entered order of operations for learning skills
Preschool Age Children
Preschool age children will appreciate the realism the working
calculator adds to imaginative play.Although preschool age
children are not developmentally ready to fully utilize all of the
calculator features, playing with the Calculator Cash Register
will help them become familiar with the keys and numerals on
the calculator.
Calculator
Cash Register
LER 2629

Numerals 1 through 9
Enter the number one, and show children the one on the display.
Then have children enter the number. Repeat with other numbers.
Demonstrate how children can enter numbers larger than nine. As
children becomes adept at copying your numbers, they will begin
entering numbers of their own. Call out a number for children to
enter on the calculator.
Counting Pennies
Count out pennies from the cash drawer. Encourage children to
enter the number of pennies you count out. With practice, children
will be able to enter the amount of pennies that they have counted
themselves.
Beginning Addition
Use the calculator for beginning addition. Use pennies, blocks,
or other counters to help children visualize the addition process.
Group counters into piles that are less than ten. Count one pile
and enter its total into the register. Count the other pile and add it
to the first. Show children how the calculator added the two piles
together. Push the counter piles together and check the
calculator’s addition.
School Age Children
School age children are ready to begin working with the calculator.
Use the calculator to augment basic math facts, not replace them.
How Many
Use the multiplication feature of the calculator to determine how
many fingers there are in the class-room. Count the children in the
room and multiply by ten. Use the same method to calculate how
many eyes there are in the classroom.
How Old are We
Use the calculator to add the ages of everyone in the classroom.
Let’s Go Shopping!
You Need:
Calculator Cash Register
Money
Empty grocery boxes
and containers
Play fruits
Play foods
Shopping bags
Coupons
To Play:
Create a ”supermarket” by arranging products on shelves, the
floor, on tables, or even on a row of chairs! Put prices on items for
sale. (Keep prices in the single digits for young children. Use
double digits and dollars for older children.) Make a shopping list
and use coupons. Encourage children to take turns being
shoppers or the check-out person. Both jobs are fun!
Use language to reinforce learning as you play: ”Oh, you’ve
bought 5 cans of peas!” or ”I’m sorry, you gave me less money
than I need. Could I please have a dollar more?” Don’t limit your
language to real life, use your imagination! This can be very
entertaining (and educational) for all ages. Adult participation adds
excitement and richness that can’t be duplicated.
Shoe Store
You Need:
Calculator Cash Register
Money
Ruler
Assorted men’s, women’s,
children’s and baby’s shoes
To Play:
Help children set up a shoe shop! Jumble shoes into a pile and let
the children sort them into pairs and arrange them by size. Place
the shoes on the floor or on shelves for viewing. Suggest prices
for shoes based on their appearance and type. (Use single digit

whole dollar amounts for younger children and larger
denominations for older children.) Encourage children to take
turns being customers, salespeople, or the check-out person.
Measure children’s feet with a ruler. You may want to make a chart
to record foot size. The fit of the shoes is not as important as the
opportunities for language enrichment and number reinforcement.
”Those shoes are too big!” ”I think these shoes are too small for
you, but they might fit your baby sister.” Children will appreciate
your humor as you try to wear a pair of shoes that is obviously too
small or too large. Help the check-out person ring up the amount
owed and make change.
Lunch Time!
You Need:
Calculator Cash Register
Money
Paper plates
Magazine photos of food
or children’s drawings
of their favorite foods
To Play:
Set up cafeteria! Price food items with realistic values, for example
drinks and desserts should cost less than main courses. Arrange
the food on a long table. Children can select their food, put it on
their paper plates, and pay at the cash register.
All Aboard!
You Need:
Calculator Cash Register
Money
Local map
Tickets
Row of chairs
To Play:
Create a train station! Use the map to decide where your railroad
will go. Plot the route for the imaginary train and make tickets with
prices based upon destinations!
Decide who will be passengers, who will be the ticket seller, the
conductor, and the engineer. Children may want to have
attendants who pass out snacks or magazines. Let their
imaginations make up the play. The ticket seller, attendants and
vendors are responsible for collecting money and making change.
The conductor gets the important job of calling out “All Aboard!”
The more children are involved in planning their journey, the more
fun it will be!
Weigh it, Stamp it, Mail it!
You Need:
Calculator Cash Register
Money
Envelopes from opened mail
Trading stamps or stickers
Small boxes wrapped in brown paper
Scale for weighing letters and packages
Rubber stamps
Pretend mail box
To Play:
Children love to send and receive mail, and they will really enjoy
creating their own post office! There are letters to be written,
stamps to be purchased, change to be made, packages to weigh
and deliver; it’s a game that can incorporates reading, writing, and
math!
Encourage children to create their own roles. Some children might
want to write letters or notes that need to be weighed, stamped,
and delivered. Create prices for various services, for example
extra speedy delivery will cost more. Make sure that all children
receive some mail.

Care and maintenance:
• No assembly is required. •
• Periodic cleaning with a clean dry cloth is
recommended. •
• Store at room temperature. •
• Do not expose to moisture, heat or direct sunlight. •
Calculator
Cash Register
Instructions for replacing
the battery
The beeping sound for the calculator is powered
by a 1.5V (G13/LR44) button cell battery
(included). This battery does not effect the
calculator functions. Should the beep sound stop
working, replace the battery as shown here.
1. Battery should only be replaced by an adult.
2. Remove the small locking screw and battery
cover on the bottom of the cash register.
3. Remove the used button cell battery.
4. Insert one new 1.5V G-13/LR44 button cell or
equivalent. Make sure the “+” positive pole
of the battery faces up (as indicated on the
battery compartment of the cash register.)
Use only the type of battery specified here.
5. Replace the button cell battery cover and
replace small locking screw so that small
children cannot tamper with the battery.
6. Do not use rechargeable batteries.
7. The supply terminals are not to be
short-circuited.
This toy has been type tested to the electrical safety
standard HD271. Do not use rechargeable batteries.
!
WARNING:
CHOKING HAZARD - Small parts.
Not for children under 3 years.
1.5 V
1.35 W
© Learning Resources, Inc., Vernon Hills, IL (U.S.A.)
Learning Resources, King’s Lynn, Norfolk (U.K.)
Please retain our address for future reference.
LRM2629-MTG Made in China
For a dealer near you, call:
[phone] (U.S. & Canada)
[phone] (U.K.)
For more fun and learning visit:
www.pretendandplay.com
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