Skills Covered

How to Use This Pack

Five pages on counting Australian money and using it, for Years 1 and 2. Page 1 has groups of coins under $1, laid out with the coin worth the most first: children count on and write the total in cents; the first group shows the count under each coin. Page 2 counts dollars: $1 and $2 coins with $5, $10, $20 and $50 notes. Page 3 shows $1 coins in piles of ten on trays with some loose coins: children count the piles in tens, then the loose coins in ones. Page 4 is a toy shop with prices in whole dollars: children find what two or three toys cost, how much more one costs than another, the change from a $10 or $20 note, and whether there is enough money for two toys. Page 5 asks for each amount with the fewest coins and notes, from 15c to $15; there is only one fewest way for each. The coins and notes are our own drawings, in the real shapes, colours and sizes.

In the Classroom

Set out a tray of play money before page 1 and count a handful together, biggest first, out loud: 50, 70, 80, 85. For page 3, stack real or play $1 coins in tens and count the stacks first. Turn page 4 into a class shop with the same five toys and prices, and let children take turns buying and giving change.

At Home

Count the coins in a purse or money box together, biggest first. Make piles of ten $1 coins, or ten 10c coins, and count by tens. When you shop, ask your child which notes and coins you could use, and how much change you should get back.

Tips for Success

• Start with the coin or note worth the most, then count on
• Write c after cents and $ before dollars: 45c, $3
• Ten $1 coins make $10
• To find the change, count up from the price to the note
• For the fewest coins, use the biggest coin or note that fits first