Classroom · Money · 3rd and 4th grade

Making change worksheets

A free five-page pack for 3rd and 4th grade: learn to find the change after paying, with a worked example, practice pages, word problems and an answer key.

Download the making change pack(5 pages, color)Ink saver (B&W)

Watch it solved

48 sec · with voice and captions

A pencil works one example of each activity, so you can see how the worksheet goes before you print it. Tap a step to jump to it. The rest of the sheet is left for your child to finish.

Read what the video says

0:00 Let's practice making change, step by step.
0:03 Change is the money you get back when you pay more than the price. Count up from the price to the money you paid.
0:11 Count the money. Start with the biggest coin, and count on: 25, 50, 75, 80, 85, 86. That's 86¢.
0:21 How much change? A kite costs 30¢, and you pay $1.00. Count up from 30¢ to $1.00: the change is 70¢.
0:31 Word problems. An apple costs 65¢. Mia pays with $1. How much change does Mia get? The answer is 35¢.
0:42 Great job! Now print the free worksheet, and finish the rest on your own.

How to do it

Change is the money you get back when you pay more than the price. Count up from the price to the amount paid, or subtract: paid minus price.

Teaching tip

Count up like a shopkeeper: from 65¢, add a dime to make 75¢ and a quarter to make $1.00. Then check by subtracting.

Try some

Costs 30¢, paid $1.00Tap to check70¢ change
Costs 80¢, paid $1.00Tap to check20¢ change
Costs 45¢, paid $1.00Tap to check55¢ change
Costs 90¢, paid $1.00Tap to check10¢ change

Word problems

An apple costs 65¢. Mia pays with $1. How much change does Mia get?Show answer

35¢

A notebook costs $3.53. Sam pays with a $5 bill. How much change?Show answer

$1.47

Mia buys 2 cookies for 75¢ each and pays with $2. What is the change?Show answer

50¢

Sam got 35¢ in change after paying with $1. What did the item cost?Show answer

65¢

What the worksheets look like

Making change worksheet: know your money, then a first practice — Page 1: know your money, then a first practice

Making change worksheet: count the money, or find the change — Page 2: count the money, or find the change

Coins and bills chart

Every coin and bill with its value, to keep beside the worksheets.

Template(1 page, color)Ink saver (B&W)

Common questions

How do you teach making change?

Change is the money you get back when you pay more than the price. Count up from the price to the amount paid, or subtract: paid minus price. Count up like a shopkeeper: from 65¢, add a dime to make 75¢ and a quarter to make $1.00. Then check by subtracting.

What grade learns making change?

Usually 3rd and 4th grade. In the Common Core it is part of 4.MD.A.2.

Is there an answer key?

Yes. Page 5 has every answer from the pack and a short teaching tip.