See how money is made, spent, earned and saved around the world

“Money is a great way to make math skills and economic literacy a lot of fun,” said Henry Schulson, Executive Director of Creative Discovery Museum. “Kids love to play with money from very early ages, as soon as they figure out what’s happening when their parents buy things in stores. This exhibit builds on that fascination with money to teach some very important concepts in an engaging, fun way.”

The world of Moneyville is an immersive urban landscape that includes a bank, store, anti-counterfeiting lab, stock market, and shipping dock. Hands-on activities range from creating your own ‘money’ to exploring anti-counterfeiting measures to seeing what a million dollars looks like.

The exhibit is designed to help visitors of all ages discover how money is made, spent, earned, and saved, and how it connects people around the world. They explore the history, science and culture behind monetary systems and start to see money in a whole new way.

“Money gets people’s attention and offers a great way to teach math concepts,” said Creative Discovery Museum Education Director Dr. Jayne Griffin. “Many kids don’t have the basic background information they need to move forward with confidence in their math skills. Kids need strong math skills to succeed in college and in the workplace, and plenty of adults could use some help with financial literacy, too.”

That’s where Moneyville comes in. Computer games, a multitude of video screens, and eye-popping graphics help kids (and their parents) understand that economics is really about making choices and learning from the consequences of those choices. They leave the exhibit with valuable problem-solving skills they can use every day.

Here are some examples of the fun you’ll have in Moneyville:

The Money Factory ‘ Find out how money is made, explore the history of money, put your face on a million dollar bill, explore security measures used in U.S. currency, and use high-tech equipment to find fake bills in an anti-counterfeiting lab.

The Bank ‘ Discover how compound interest can really add up, and see what a million dollars looks like. At the Kids Bank, children learn math basics and role-play with oversized coins in a kid-sized teller window.

To Market, To Market ‘ Learn about supply and demand as you run a ‘lemonade stand’ and see how long you can stay in business. Take the floor of a simulated stock market and compete with other day traders as you watch for breaking news that can affect stock prices. Younger visitors open shop at the Kids Market, complete with play money, fruit and vegetables, and produce scales.

Dollars and Sense ‘ Try your hand at balancing your budget between needs and wants. Learn about the real cost of credit and discover how your budget savvy can help you in the real world.

Global Trade ‘ Explore the interdependence of international trade and markets, the role of trade in world cultures, and how wealth is distributed around the world. Guess the mystery imports inside shipping crates and view a display of families and their possessions from around the world.

Creative Discovery Museum is open Monday through Saturday (except Wednesday): 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday: noon – 5 p.m.; Wednesday: Closed. Tickets are $8.95 for children and adults. Creative Discovery Museum is located at 321 Chestnut Street in downtown Chattanooga. For more information, call (423) 756-2738, or visit www.cdmfun.org.