Money Moves Lesson Plan Money Moves 101
Tier 1 Financial Independence Lesson
30 Minutes
Why This Matters
Mastering everyday money skills empowers 18–22 transition students to handle purchases confidently, improving independence and readiness for community life.
Audience
Transition-Age Adults (18–22)
Objective
Students will learn to count bills and coins, make correct change for simple transactions up to $20, and record their purchases to build real-world financial independence.
Prep (5 mins)
Print enough sets of Fake Money Bills for each student or pair
Make copies of the Change-Making Worksheet and Transaction Template
Cut and shuffle the Real-World Spending Scenario Cards
Familiarize yourself with all materials and example transactions
Materials
Printable Fake Money Bills
Change-Making Practice Worksheet
Real-World Spending Scenario Cards
Transaction Recording Template
Instructional Path
Step Time Action Plan 1. Introduction to Money Values 5 mins
Hold up various fake bills and coins
Review the value of each coin and bill with the class
Check for understanding by flashing random denominations
|
| 2. Guided Change-Making Demo | 10 mins |
Present a purchase scenario from the Scenario Cards
Model counting exact payment and calculating change
Invite a volunteer to replicate the process with guidance
|
| 3. Independent Practice | 10 mins |
Distribute the Change-Making Practice Worksheet
Students use fake money to solve worksheet scenarios
Circulate to support calculations and correct misconceptions
|
| 4. Wrap-Up and Recording | 5 mins |
Complete final transaction on Transaction Recording Template
Collect templates to assess accuracy
Provide feedback and reinforce counting strategies
|
Teaching Approach: Hands-on practice with realistic money scenarios to build functional life skills.
Money Moves Slides Financial Skills
Money Moves 101
Building Everyday Money Skills for Independence
Tier 1 Lesson • 30 Minutes
Teacher Notes: Welcome everyone and introduce today’s lesson: Money Moves 101. Explain we’ll focus on real-world money skills in 30 minutes.
Lesson Objectives
Accurate Counting
Count bills and coins accurately for any amount.
Making Change
Calculate and provide correct change for purchases up to $20.
Recording Transactions
Keep a clear record of your purchases for future reference.
Teacher Notes: Read through objectives and briefly explain each. Ask students if they’ve had to count money or make change before.
Why This Matters?
Confidence
Feel sure of yourself when paying for things in public.
Independence
Live more independently in your community without needing help to pay.
Responsibility
Develop habits for tracking where your money goes.
Teacher Notes: Discuss why handling money builds independence—getting on the bus, buying groceries, paying for services.
Money Denominations
Common Bills
$1
One Dollar
$5
Five Dollars
$10
Ten Dollars
$20
Twenty Dollars
Common Coins
1¢
Penny
5¢
Nickel
10¢
Dime
25¢
Quarter
Teacher Notes: Hold up each denomination from the Printable Fake Money Bills. Ask volunteers to name the value.
Guided Demo
RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
"How to make change like a pro"
1
Draw a Spending Scenario Card
2
Count out the Exact Payment
3
Calculate and Provide Change
4
Your Turn! Practice the steps
Teacher Notes: Use a card from Real-World Spending Scenario Cards. Model paying and counting out change, then invite a student volunteer.
Independent Practice
Complete the scenarios on your worksheet using your fake money sets.
Work Solo
Or with a partner
Use Money
Physical practice
Change-Making Practice Worksheet Money Moves 101
Change-Making Practice
Name:
Date:
Instructions
For each purchase scenario below, calculate the total change owed and list the specific bills and coins you would use to provide that change. Use your fake money to help!
1. Morning Coffee Cost: $2.35 | Paid: $5.00
Change Owed:
$
Bills & Coins Used:
2. Deli Sandwich Cost: $4.50 | Paid: $10.00
Change Owed:
$
Bills & Coins Used:
3. Used Book Cost: $6.80 | Paid: $10.00
Change Owed:
$
Bills & Coins Used:
4. Snack & Drink Cost: $3.25 | Paid: $5.00
Change Owed:
$
Bills & Coins Used:
5. Movie Ticket Cost: $7.25 | Paid: $10.00
Change Owed:
$
Bills & Coins Used:
Part 2: Continuing Practice
6. Bottle of Shampoo Cost: $5.75 | Paid: $10.00
Change Owed:
$
Bills & Coins Used:
7. New T-Shirt Cost: $9.50 | Paid: $20.00
Change Owed:
$
Bills & Coins Used:
8. Winter Hat Cost: $3.99 | Paid: $5.00
Change Owed:
$
Bills & Coins Used:
9. Magazine Cost: $2.20 | Paid: $5.00
Change Owed:
$
Bills & Coins Used:
10. Quick Meal Cost: $12.43 | Paid: $20.00
Change Owed:
$
Bills & Coins Used:
Printable Fake Money Bills Printable Play Money
Money Moves 101 • Cut along the dashed lines
Paper Currency
11
The United States of Learning
ONE DOLLAR
11
55
The United States of Learning
FIVE DOLLARS
55
1010
The United States of Learning
TEN DOLLARS
1010
2020
The United States of Learning
TWENTY DOLLARS
2020
Coinage
Penny 1¢
Penny 1¢
Nickel 5¢
Nickel 5¢
Dime 10¢
Dime 10¢
Quarter 25¢
Quarter 25¢
Teacher Note:
Print multiple copies of this page on heavy cardstock. For a full class, it is recommended to have at least 10 of each bill and 20 of each coin per group/station to allow for realistic change-making scenarios.
Real-World Spending Scenario Cards Scenario Cards
Money Moves 101 • Real-World Transactions
Card 1
You buy a bus pass for $2.50 and pay with a $5 bill .
Calculate Change
Card 2
You purchase a bottled water for $1.25 and pay with a $5 bill .
Calculate Change
Card 3
You grab a cup of coffee for $3.75 and pay with a $5 bill .
Calculate Change
Card 4
You buy a snack for $2.15 and pay with a $5 bill .
Calculate Change
Card 5
You purchase a magazine for $4.20 and pay with a $10 bill .
Calculate Change
Card 6
You buy a sandwich for $6.30 and pay with a $10 bill .
Calculate Change
Card 7
You get a slice of pizza for $3.45 and pay with a $5 bill .
Calculate Change
Card 8
You purchase a greeting card for $1.99 and pay with a $5 bill .
Calculate Change
Card 9
You buy a notebook for $4.60 and pay with a $10 bill .
Calculate Change
Card 10
You get a soap bar for $2.85 and pay with a $5 bill .
Calculate Change
Card 11
You purchase a pair of socks for $7.50 and pay with a $10 bill .
Calculate Change
Card 12
You rent a movie for $3.99 and pay with a $5 bill .
Calculate Change
Card 13
You grab a smoothie for $5.25 and pay with a $10 bill .
Calculate Change
Card 14
Transaction Recording Template Transaction Log
Money Moves 101 • Recording Template
Name:
Date:
1. What are you buying?
Item Category
2. Cost of Item
$
3. Payment Given
$
4. Total Change Owed
$
Breakdown of Bills and Coins Used:
Bills
Coins
5. Calculation Strategy / Notes How did you figure it out?
PRO TIP: Always count the change back to the customer (or yourself!) starting from the cost of the item and counting up to the amount paid. It's the best way to double-check your math.
Answer Key for Change-Making Worksheet Answer Key
Change-Making Practice Worksheet
Teacher Resource
1. Coffee ($2.35) $2.65
2 × $1 bill, 2 × 25¢, 1 × 10¢, 1 × 5¢
2. Sandwich ($4.50) $5.50
1 × $5 bill, 2 × 25¢
3. Book ($6.80) $3.20
3 × $1 bill, 2 × 10¢
4. Snack/Drink ($3.25) $1.75
1 × $1 bill, 3 × 25¢
5. Movie Ticket ($7.25) $2.75
2 × $1 bill, 3 × 25¢
6. Shampoo ($5.75) $4.25
4 × $1 bill, 1 × 25¢
7. T-Shirt ($9.50) $10.50
1 × $10 bill, 2 × 25¢
8. Hat ($3.99) $1.01
1 × $1 bill, 1 × 1¢
9. Magazine ($2.20) $2.80
2 × $1 bill, 3 × 25¢, 1 × 5¢
10. Meal ($12.43) $7.57
1 × $5, 2 × $1, 2 × 25¢, 1 × 5¢, 2 × 1¢
Strategy Checklist
Did the student subtract the cost from the payment correctly?
Did they use the largest bills/coins possible first?
Does the combination of bills and coins add up to the total change?
