Year 1: Counting money
Part of the Year 1 money chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page · Download worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF)
Counting money
To count coins, start with the biggest coin. Then count on by adding the value of each next coin. Say the value every time, so you do not miss a coin or count one twice.
Let’s count these coins. We start with the 10p.
Key ideas
- Start with the biggest coin.
- Count on the value of each other coin.
- Say the value, not just the coin number.
- Pence coins in this chapter add up to 20p or less. Count £1 coins in pounds.
Method. Start with the biggest coin, then count on. Say the value of each one as you add it.
- Start with the biggest coin or note. Starting with the biggest one is quick.10p
- Count on 5p. Add the value of the next coin or note.10p + 5p = 15p
- Count on 2p. Add the value of the next coin or note.15p + 2p = 17p
- Write the total. 17p
Check. Add them in a different order. You still get 17p. ✓
Watch out. Add the values, not the number of coins. Count each coin only once.
Method. Start with the biggest coin, then count on. Say the value of each one as you add it.
- Start with the biggest coin or note. Starting with the biggest one is quick.10p
- Count on 10p. Add the value of the next coin or note.10p + 10p = 20p
- Write the total. 20p
Check. Add them in a different order. You still get 20p. ✓
Watch out. Add the values, not the number of coins. Count each coin only once.
Method. Start with the biggest coin, then count on. Say the value of each one as you add it.
- Start with the biggest coin or note. Starting with the biggest one is quick.£1
- Count on £1. Add the value of the next coin or note.£1 + £1 = £2
- Count on £1. Add the value of the next coin or note.£2 + £1 = £3
- Write the total. £3
Check. Add them in a different order. You still get £3. ✓
Watch out. Add the values, not the number of coins. Count each coin only once.
Watch out
Watch out: when you count on, add the value of the next coin. Counting on a 5p coin means adding 5, not 1. 5p + 2p is 7p.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Use real coins. Start with the biggest one and say each total out loud: “Ten, fifteen, seventeen.” Counting in 2s, 5s and 10s helps to check the total.
Exercise 12C Counting money
Non-calculatorMethod. Start with the biggest coin, then count on. Say the value of each one as you add it.
- Start with the biggest coin or note. Starting with the biggest one is quick.5p
- Count on 5p. Add the value of the next coin or note.5p + 5p = 10p
- Write the total. 10p
Check. Add them in a different order. You still get 10p. ✓
Watch out. Add the values, not the number of coins. Count each coin only once.
Method. Start with the biggest coin, then count on. Say the value of each one as you add it.
- Start with the biggest coin or note. Starting with the biggest one is quick.10p
- Count on 2p. Add the value of the next coin or note.10p + 2p = 12p
- Write the total. 12p
Check. Add them in a different order. You still get 12p. ✓
Watch out. Add the values, not the number of coins. Count each coin only once.
Method. Start with the biggest coin, then count on. Say the value of each one as you add it.
- Start with the biggest coin or note. Starting with the biggest one is quick.2p
- Count on 2p. Add the value of the next coin or note.2p + 2p = 4p
- Count on 2p. Add the value of the next coin or note.4p + 2p = 6p
- Write the total. 6p
Check. Add them in a different order. You still get 6p. ✓
Watch out. Add the values, not the number of coins. Count each coin only once.
Method. Start with the biggest coin, then count on. Say the value of each one as you add it.
- Start with the biggest coin or note. Starting with the biggest one is quick.10p
- Count on 5p. Add the value of the next coin or note.10p + 5p = 15p
- Count on 1p. Add the value of the next coin or note.15p + 1p = 16p
- Write the total. 16p
Check. Add them in a different order. You still get 16p. ✓
Watch out. Add the values, not the number of coins. Count each coin only once.
Method. Start with the biggest coin, then count on. Say the value of each one as you add it.
- Start with the biggest coin or note. Starting with the biggest one is quick.5p
- Count on 5p. Add the value of the next coin or note.5p + 5p = 10p
- Count on 5p. Add the value of the next coin or note.10p + 5p = 15p
- Write the total. 15p
Check. Add them in a different order. You still get 15p. ✓
Watch out. Add the values, not the number of coins. Count each coin only once.
Method. Start with the biggest coin, then count on. Say the value of each one as you add it.
- Start with the biggest coin or note. Starting with the biggest one is quick.1p
- Count on 1p. Add the value of the next coin or note.1p + 1p = 2p
- Count on 1p. Add the value of the next coin or note.2p + 1p = 3p
- Count on 1p. Add the value of the next coin or note.3p + 1p = 4p
- Count on 1p. Add the value of the next coin or note.4p + 1p = 5p
- Write the total. 5p
Check. Add them in a different order. You still get 5p. ✓
Watch out. Add the values, not the number of coins. Count each coin only once.
Method. Start with the biggest coin, then count on. Say the value of each one as you add it.
- Start with the biggest coin or note. Starting with the biggest one is quick.£1
- Count on £1. Add the value of the next coin or note.£1 + £1 = £2
- Write the total. £2
Check. Add them in a different order. You still get £2. ✓
Watch out. Add the values, not the number of coins. Count each coin only once.
Method. Start with the biggest coin, then count on. Say the value of each one as you add it.
- Start with the biggest coin or note. Starting with the biggest one is quick.£1
- Count on £1. Add the value of the next coin or note.£1 + £1 = £2
- Count on £1. Add the value of the next coin or note.£2 + £1 = £3
- Count on £1. Add the value of the next coin or note.£3 + £1 = £4
- Write the total. £4
Check. Add them in a different order. You still get £4. ✓
Watch out. Add the values, not the number of coins. Count each coin only once.
Method. Start with the biggest coin, then count on. Say the value of each one as you add it.
- Start with the biggest coin or note. Starting with the biggest one is quick.5p
- Count on 2p. Add the value of the next coin or note.5p + 2p = 7p
- Count on 2p. Add the value of the next coin or note.7p + 2p = 9p
- Write the total. 9p
Check. Add them in a different order. You still get 9p. ✓
Watch out. Add the values, not the number of coins. Count each coin only once.
Method. Start with the biggest coin, then count on. Say the value of each one as you add it.
- Start with the biggest coin or note. Starting with the biggest one is quick.10p
- Count on 5p. Add the value of the next coin or note.10p + 5p = 15p
- Write the total. 15p
Check. Add them in a different order. You still get 15p. ✓
Watch out. Add the values, not the number of coins. Count each coin only once.
Method. Start with the biggest coin, then count on. Say the value of each one as you add it.
- Start with the biggest coin or note. Starting with the biggest one is quick.10p
- Count on 1p. Add the value of the next coin or note.10p + 1p = 11p
- Count on 1p. Add the value of the next coin or note.11p + 1p = 12p
- Write the total. 12p
Check. Add them in a different order. You still get 12p. ✓
Watch out. Add the values, not the number of coins. Count each coin only once.
Method. Start with the coin we know. Count on to the total to find the other coin.
- Start with 10p. This is the coin we know.10p
- Count on to 12p. The amount we count on is the other coin.10p + ? = 12p
- Write the other coin. 2p
Check. Add the two coins: 10p + 2p = 12p. ✓
Watch out. Check that the two coins make the total, not just one of them.
Method. Start with the biggest coin, then count on. Say the value of each one as you add it.
- Start with the biggest coin or note. Starting with the biggest one is quick.5p
- Count on 2p. Add the value of the next coin or note.5p + 2p = 7p
- Count on 1p. Add the value of the next coin or note.7p + 1p = 8p
- Write the total. 8p
Check. Add them in a different order. You still get 8p. ✓
Watch out. Add the values, not the number of coins. Count each coin only once.
Method. Try coins that are all the same. Three of one coin should make 6p.
- Try 1p coins. Three of them make a small amount.1p × 3 = 3p
- Try 2p coins. Three of them make 6p, which is what we want.2p × 3 = 6p
- Write the answer. 2p, 2p and 2p
Check. Add them up: 2p + 2p + 2p = 6p. ✓
Watch out. Check the total of your three coins, not just the first coin.
Method. Start with the biggest coin, then count on. Say the value of each one as you add it.
- Start with the biggest coin or note. Starting with the biggest one is quick.10p
- Count on 5p. Add the value of the next coin or note.10p + 5p = 15p
- Count on 1p. Add the value of the next coin or note.15p + 1p = 16p
- Write the total. 16p
Check. Add them in a different order. You still get 16p. ✓
Watch out. Add the values, not the number of coins. Count each coin only once.