Money Word Problems

Welcome to Money Word Problems using dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies. A great way to engage students is with real-world problems. There’s no better way than from a Cherry on Top Ice Cream Shop Menu and Task Cards! Before sending students off on their own, worksheets were created to provide structure as the student breaks down the process of solving word problems in the context of real-world situations at an ice cream shop.

Guided Worksheets Will Provide the Following Structure:

• Determine what needs to be found—
• Determine what information needs to be gathered to accurately solve the problem—
• Draw the coins/bills or use provided manipulatives to find a solution—

Manipulatives are included to help aid the struggling student by providing a useful cue, and may also help when checking for accuracy. Manipulatives may also be helpful to the student who is not comfortable drawing coins. This will help provide focus on the structure of solving the problem rather than the skill of drawing.

The task cards were designed to progressively build and become more challenging, ending in bonus task cards with multiple steps. Students should rely on their previous exposure to counting and identifying coins when solving all task cards.

A recording sheet for the student, and an answer sheet for the teacher are also provided.

An Order Form for the Cherry on Top Ice Cream Shop Menu is included for continued use of this resource, and an excellent way for students to build on problem-solving skills using the structure listed above. A blank “solve the problem” worksheet is also included for future menu ordering with friends or as a take-home activity.

EXCELLENT BOOK CHOICES TO HELP FOSTER THE GIFT OF WONDER:

1. The Coin Counting Book by Rozanne Lanczak Williams
2. Once Upon a Dime: A Math Adventure by Nancy Kelly Allen