Lesson 108: Using play money

🧮 MATH (40 Lessons) • 🟣 D. Data and Money

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Objective

I can use play coins and notes to show small amounts of money. I can match a price with coins, choose the right coins to pay, and say which set of coins shows more money or less money.

Materials

Mini-lesson — Playing shop with coins

In this lesson, you use play money to pretend you are in a small shop. You match prices with coins and count how much money you have.

Coins and their values

  • We have small coins like 1c, 2c, and 5c.
  • We have bigger-value coins like 10c, 20c, and 50c.
  • More value means the coin is worth more money, not that it is bigger in size.

Making a price with coins

  • If a toy costs 10c, you can pay with one 10c coin.
  • You can also use two 5c coins because 5c + 5c = 10c.
  • Different coins can make the same total.

More money and less money

  • When you count coins, you look at the values on them.
  • If one set of coins makes 20c and another set makes 15c, then 20c is more money than 15c.
  • If two sets both make 10c, they are equal.

In this lesson, you use play money to practise counting, making totals, and paying for small items in a fun game.

Picture strip: Play money and a tiny shop.

Play coins

Tiny shop

Guided Practice — Play shop with real or paper coins

You will pretend to be in a tiny shop. You use play coins (or paper circles) to pay for little items. Then you use the tracing pad to write prices and short money words.

  1. Make your coins: If you do not have play coins, draw small circles on paper and write 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, or 50c on them.
  2. Choose three items: Pick three small things near you (for example, a pencil, an eraser, and a toy). Give each item a price, such as 5c, 10c, or 15c.
  3. Pay with coins: For each item, choose play coins that make the same total as the price. Count out loud as you place each coin.
  4. Try a different way: If you can, find another way to make the same amount with different coins (for example, 10c = 5c + 5c).
  5. Write money words: On your paper, write a short list of money words like coin, cents, total, and price.
  6. Use the tracing pad: Choose two prices (for example, 10c and 20c) and trace them on the pad. Then trace one money word like coin or total.
  7. Add a small picture: Next to each traced price, draw a tiny coin stack to show the money you used.
Tracing Pad
Tracing snapshot for print
Tip: After you trace a price like 10c, you can write a short sentence such as "My toy costs 10c." and draw the toy beside it.

Practice 1 — Matching prices and coins

[PLACEHOLDER PRACTICE 1]

Practice 2 — Making the same amount in different ways

[PLACEHOLDER PRACTICE 2]

Practice 3 — Play shop word problems

[PLACEHOLDER PRACTICE 3]

Quick Check — Using play money

Answer each question about coins, prices, and totals. You may look back at the mini-lesson and your play money.

1) Which of these is a coin?

A 10c piece is a coin. A notebook and ruler are not coins.

2) Which coin is usually worth the most?

20c is more than 1c or 5c, so it has the greatest value.

3) You have one 10c coin. How much money is that?

One 10c coin is worth exactly 10c.

4) A eraser costs 5c. Which coins could you use to pay?

A 5c coin is the best match for a price of 5c.

5) A sticker costs 10c. Which set of coins makes 10c?

5c + 5c = 10c, so that set pays the price exactly.

6) A pencil costs 15c. Which set of coins is a good way to pay?

10c + 5c = 15c, so that matches the price.

7) You have 2c + 2c + 1c. How much money is that?

2c + 2c + 1c = 5c.

8) Which price is more money?

12c is more than 5c and 8c.

9) You have 10c in your hand. Which set of coins could you have?

A single 10c coin is exactly 10c.

10) In a play shop, why do we use coins with numbers on them?

The number tells us the value of the coin.

11) Your friend has 5c + 5c. You have 2c + 2c + 1c. Who has more money?

Your friend has 10c, and you also have 5c, so the amounts are equal.

12) A toy car costs 20c. Which set of coins is a good way to pay?

10c + 10c = 20c.

13) A sweet costs 3c. Which coins could you use?

2c + 1c = 3c, so that set pays the exact price.

14) Which sentence is true?

20c has a larger value than 5c or 1c.

15) Why do we practise with play money?

Play money helps us learn how to count and pay before using real money.

Assessment (parent/teacher)

Exit ticket (student)

Next time I will practise…

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