Teaching Kids to Count change is part of the Number and Algebra curriculum and can be found under the sub-strand of “Money and Financial Mathematics. “
The skill of giving change is introduced in Year 3 students in All States Across Australia. Once taught, giving change, is forms part of Year 4, 5, & 6 outcomes for students.
The best way to learn about change is by using Role-play shopping situations that involve tendering cash and receiving change. Using play money and even number lines are useful for building understanding of working out change due.
Students need to know that Change is:
- The amount you have overpaid when you don’t pay with the exact amount of money
- It’s the difference between the money you give the cashier and the price of your purchase
- Change is worked out by counting up from the cost price to the amount you have given the cashier
e.g. a book costs $2.70 you give the cashier a $5 note.
To work out the change the student starts counting back the coins as they count
- give back 20 cents and say “two dollars ninety”
- then give back 10c and say :three dollars
- Next give back $2 coin and say “five dollars”
Using play money, shopping catalogues and setting up a shop is the best way to develop giving change, so don’t be tempted to show students an algorithm before they’ve tried it hands on.
With this in mind we’ve created a range of “Money Play Centres” that encourage these transactions so your students will be working out change in no time.
Click the images to download each Giving Change {Australian Money} resource.