Cash Counter Slides
Elementary Math & Life Skills
Money Master Series
Cash Counter:
Mastering Dollar Bills
Learn how to identify bills, skip count money, add mixed amounts, and make smart real-world purchases!
$1 • Washington
1st President
$5 • Lincoln
16th President
$10 • Hamilton
Treasury Leader
$20 • Jackson
7th President
1
Our Mission: Today's 4 Goals
Overview
Goal 1
Recognize the Bills
Spot visual clues, portraits, and numbers for $1, $5, $10, and $20 bills.
Goal 2
Count Matching Bills
Use skip counting by 1s, 5s, 10s, and 20s to quickly add groups of the same bill.
Goal 3
Count Mixed Bills
Apply the Golden Rule: start with the largest bill and count on to find the grand total!
Goal 4
Shop in the Real World
Check if you have enough money, pay for items, and calculate your correct change.
Paper bills are also called banknotes or currency!
2
Recognize the Bills: $1 & $5
Identification
$1 The United States of America $1
George Washington
1st U.S. President
Series 2021 ONE DOLLAR $1
Key Clues for the $1 Bill:
- Portrait of George Washington in an oval frame
- Large word "ONE" written across the back
- The numeral 1 in all four corners
$5 Federal Reserve Note $5
Abraham Lincoln
16th U.S. President
Lincoln Memorial on Back FIVE DOLLARS 5
Key Clues for the $5 Bill:
- Portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the center face
- Giant purple numeral 5 on the back corner
- Lincoln Memorial building featured on the back
Look at the portraits: Washington led the Revolutionary War; Lincoln preserved the Union!
3
Recognize the Bills: $10 & $20
Identification
$10 Federal Reserve Note $10
Alexander Hamilton
1st Secretary of Treasury
U.S. Treasury on Back TEN DOLLARS 10
Key Clues for the $10 Bill:
- Portrait of Alexander Hamilton (faces to the left)
- Warm orange and gold background tints
- Red Statue of Liberty torch beside Hamilton
$20 Federal Reserve Note $20
Andrew Jackson
7th U.S. President
White House on Back TWENTY DOLLARS 20
Key Clues for the $20 Bill:
- Portrait of Andrew Jackson centered on the face
- The White House is printed on the back
- Light green and peach tones with color-shifting numeral 20
Did you know? Hamilton was never President, but he founded the nation's financial system!
4
Spot the Bill Quiz!
Quick Check
A
Who is on this bill?
"I feature Abraham Lincoln on the front and have a giant purple number on the back."
Answer:
$5 Bill
B
Who is on this bill?
"I have Alexander Hamilton on the front and subtle warm orange & gold colors."
Answer:
$10 Bill
C
Who is on this bill?
"I have Andrew Jackson on the front and the White House on the back."
Answer:
$20 Bill
Pro Tip: If you are ever unsure, check the digits printed on all 4 corners!
5
Count Same Bills: Skip Counting
Skip Counting
When all bills in a stack are the same denomination, use skip counting to find the total fast!
$1 Bills Count by 1s:
$1 → $2 → $3 → $4 → $5 → $6...
$5 Bills Count by 5s:
$5 → $10 → $15 → $20 → $25 → $30...
$10 Bills Count by 10s:
$10 → $20 → $30 → $40 → $50 → $60...
$20 Bills Count by 20s:
$20 → $40 → $60 → $80 → $100 → $120...
Skip counting by 20s is just like counting by 2s with a zero at the end: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10!
6
Practice: Count the Stacks
Guided Practice
Stack #1 5 Bills
Five $5 Bills
$5 #1 $5
$5 #2 $5
$5 #3 $5
$5 #4 $5
$5 #5 $5
Skip count by 5s: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25
Total Amount: $25
Stack #2 4 Bills
Four $20 Bills
$20 #1 $20
$20 #2 $20
$20 #3 $20
$20 #4 $20
Skip count by 20s: 20, 40, 60, 80
Total Amount: $80
Quick Math: 5 × $5 = $25 | 4 × $20 = $80!
7
The Golden Rule for Mixed Bills
Secret Strategy
The Number One Rule
Always Start with the LARGEST Bill!
Sort bills from highest to lowest, then count on.
1
Sort & Organize
Line up your bills in order from greatest value to smallest:
$20 > $10 > $5 > $1
2
Count On
Start your running total with the largest bill, then add each next bill one by one.
$20... +$10 is $30...
3
Double Check
Group the same bills together to verify your mental math before making a payment!
Accuracy = Confidence!
Why start with largest? Counting $1 + $1 + $5 + $20 is much easier to mix up than $20 + $5 + $2!
8
Walkthrough: Counting Mixed Bills
Model Example
Let's find the total for this mixed wallet:
One $20 bill, One $10 bill, One $5 bill, and Two $1 bills
Start with $20
$20
Total so far:
$20
Add $10
+$10
$20 + 10 =
$30
Add $5
+$5
$30 + 5 =
$35
Add $1
+$1
$35 + 1 =
$36
Add $1
+$1
$36 + 1 =
$37
Counting Chain: $20 → $30 → $35 → $36 → $37
Grand Total: $37
9
You Count It: Challenge Problem
Challenge
How much money is on the table?
Use the Golden Rule!
$5
$20
$1
$20
$10
$1
1. Sorted from Greatest to Least:
$20 + $20 + $10 + $5 + $1 + $1
2. Mental Counting Track:
$20 → $40 → $50 → $55 → $56 → $57!
Did you get it? Great job!
Total: $57
10
Real-Life Purchases: Do I Have Enough?
Shopping
Bookstore Scenario
Buying a Graphic Novel
Price: $16
What is in your wallet:
$20
One $20 Bill
Total in hand: $20
$20 is GREATER than $16 → Yes, you can buy it!
How much change will you get back?
Amount Paid - Price = Change
$20 - $16 = $4 in Change
Cashier will give you: Four $1 bills!
Always verify your change before leaving the counter: $16 (book) + $4 (change) = $20 (what you paid)!
11
The Snack Shack Challenge
Application
Your Lunch Order:
Veggie Sandwich $8
Fresh Fruit Juice $4
Crispy Apple Slices $2
Total Bill: $8 + $4 + $2 = $14
How to Pay $14:
Look in your wallet. Here are two great ways to pay:
Way 1: Exact Amount ($14)
• One $10 bill + Four $1 bills ($14)
• Change back: $0 (Exact payment!)
Way 2: Pay with a $20 bill
• Hand over one $20 bill ($20 > $14)
• Change back: $20 - $14 = $6 (One $5 + One $1)
Both ways are correct in real-life shopping!
When paying with cash, always give equal to or slightly more than the total!
★
Money Master Checklist!
Wrap-Up
Know Your Leaders & Numbers
$1 (Washington), $5 (Lincoln), $10 (Hamilton), $20 (Jackson).
Skip Count Matching Bills
Count by 1s, 5s, 10s, or 20s to calculate identical stacks in seconds.
Follow the Golden Rule
For mixed bills, sort largest to smallest, then count on ($20 → $30 → $35...).
Check Your Change
Amount Paid - Total Price = Change. Verify your cash before you leave!
Congratulations, Money Master!
You are ready to count cash like a pro!
100% Ready
★
Next Activity
Interactive Practice
Classroom Direction
PLEASE EXIT THE SLIDESHOW AND CLICK ON THE GAME LINK IN THE DRIVE TO COMPLETE THE LESSON
Step 1: Exit
Close presentation
Step 2: Open Drive
Find the class folder
Step 3: Play Game
Complete challenge
Great job on the lesson today! Good luck on your money counting game!
