Activity 01
Classroom Shop
Set up a small shop in the classroom with priced items (e.g., pencils, rubbers, small toys) all under 20c. Pupils take turns being the customer and the shopkeeper, using play money to buy items and calculate the correct change.
Identify the change you get from 10c if you buy a sweet for 8c.
Facilitation TipProvide a number line at the 'till' to help pupils count up from the price to the amount paid.
What to look forObserve pupils during the 'Classroom Shop' activity. Note their strategies for calculating change, their accuracy, and their ability to explain their thinking.
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Activity 02
Change Grids
Provide pupils with a simple grid. One column shows an item's price (e.g., 8c, 12c, 5c), and the next column shows 'Paid with' (e.g., 10c, 20c). Pupils must work out the change and write it in the final column.
Explain how to calculate your change from 20c for an item costing 15c.
Facilitation TipEncourage pupils to use real coins or drawings to help them work out the answers.
What to look forProvide a short worksheet with 3-4 illustrated problems, such as: 'A banana costs 15c. You pay with a 20c coin. Draw the change you get back'.
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Activity 03
Counting Up Challenge
Give pupils a starting number (the price) and a target number (the money paid). They must use 1c and 2c coins to physically 'count up' from the price to the target, and then count the coins they used to find the change.
Compare the change you get from 10c for a 6c item versus a 4c item.
Facilitation TipStart with finding change from 10c before moving on to the slightly larger number of 20c.
What to look forAfter a lesson, ask pupils to hold up a red (I need help), yellow (I'm not sure), or green (I understand) card to indicate their confidence level.
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Generate Complete Lesson→A few notes on teaching this unit
Begin with hands-on exploration using play money and a shop role-play. Introduce the 'counting up' strategy on a number line as a visual aid. Once pupils are confident with the concrete materials, move onto pictorial representations and simple written problems.
After these activities, your pupils will be able to confidently work out how much change they should get back when they pay with a 10c or 20c coin.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Pupils add the cost of the item to the money they have, instead of subtracting.
Explain that when you buy something, the shopkeeper keeps the cost. The change is the money 'left over'. Use physical coins to demonstrate the removal of the cost from the initial amount.
The calculation is correct, but the pupil uses the wrong coins to represent the change (e.g., gives two 2c coins for 3c change).
Reinforce coin values regularly. Have pupils practise counting out specific amounts using different combinations of coins before tackling the concept of change.
Pupils struggle with the abstract subtraction and guess the answer.
Always link the problem back to a concrete method. Encourage 'counting up' from the price to the amount paid using a number line or by physically handling coins.
Methods used in this brief