Summer Fair Maths Investigation

A KS2 maths investigation with a real entrepreneurship twist for Y3–Y6. Run a school fair stall, pick your product and price, and maximise profit. Active learning throughout.

Pupils have £30 to spend on materials and must choose between three products: 60 cupcakes, 80 glasses of lemonade, or 45 bracelets. Survey data tells them how many customers would pay each possible price point. They calculate revenue and profit across all options, then make and justify a final decision about which product and price gives the best return.

The structured seven-step method introduces key business vocabulary (revenue, profit, breakeven) in a context that feels immediately real. The tie-breaker question — where two options produce equal profit — pushes pupils beyond calculation into genuine reasoning about risk and practicality.

Supports the KS2 Mathematics curriculum (multiplication, subtraction, decimals) and links naturally to PSHE and financial education objectives around enterprise and decision-making.

This activity is one of hundreds of resources on the Tykeoons primary financial education platform. Start your school’s FREE pilot.

This resource contains:
One investigation sheet with demand data table and seven-step method (print one per pupil or pair)

Extension challenges:

• Work out the breakeven point for each product at each price
• If your budget doubled to £60, which two products would you choose and why?
• Work out the return on investment (ROI) as a percentage: profit divided by £30, multiplied by 100