Coin Quest Task Cards
Coin Quest Task Cards
Math Center • Set A (Cards 1 – 6)
Cut along dashed lines
Card 1 Count the total value
What is the total value of these coins?
25¢ QTR
25¢ QTR
10¢ DIME
5¢ NIC
1¢ PEN
1¢ PEN
1¢ PEN
Record your answer on sheet: Box 1
Card 2 Count the total value
What is the total value of these coins?
25¢ QTR
25¢ QTR
25¢ QTR
10¢ DIME
10¢ DIME
1¢
1¢
1¢
1¢
Record your answer on sheet: Box 2
Card 3 Count the total value
What is the total value of these coins?
25¢ QTR
10¢
10¢
10¢
5¢
5¢
1¢
1¢
Record your answer on sheet: Box 3
Card 4 Snack Shack
Leo wants to buy a carton of juice that costs 85¢.
In his pocket:
3 Quarters • 2 Dimes
How much money does Leo have, and does he have enough for the juice?
Record total + Yes/No: Box 4
Card 5 Count the total value
What is the total value of these coins?
25¢ QTR
25¢ QTR
10¢
10¢
10¢
10¢
5¢
Record your answer on sheet: Box 5
Card 6 Piggy Bank Clue
Maya shook her piggy bank and found exactly 6 coins:
Q 2 Quarters
D 1 Dime
N 2 Nickels
P 1 Penny
What is the total value inside Maya's piggy bank?
Record your answer on sheet: Box 6
Coin Math Center Activity Page 1 of 4 • Task Cards 1–6
Coin Quest Task Cards
Math Center • Set B (Cards 7 – 12)
Cut along dashed lines
Card 7 Count the total value
What is the total value of these coins?
25¢ QTR
25¢ QTR
25¢ QTR
5¢
1¢
1¢
1¢
1¢
Record your answer on sheet: Box 7
Card 8 Count the total value
What is the total value of these coins?
25¢ QTR
10¢
10¢
10¢
10¢
10¢
5¢
5¢
5¢
Record your answer on sheet: Box 8
Card 9 Sweet Bakery
A delicious blueberry muffin costs 73¢.
Ava pays with the exact amount using only 7 coins.
Which 7 coins did Ava use?
Hint: Think about the biggest coin you can use first!
List the 7 coins on sheet: Box 9
Card 10 Dollar Buster
What is the total value in dollars and cents?
25¢ QTR
25¢ QTR
25¢ QTR
25¢ QTR
10¢
5¢
1¢
1¢
Write in $ and ¢: Box 10
Card 11 Who Has More?
Sam's Pocket
3 Quarters
1 Nickel
Ella's Pocket
7 Dimes
3 Nickels
Who has more money, and by how much?
Record person + difference: Box 11
Card 12 Mystery Coin Box
Liam bought a pencil for 58¢.
He used EXACTLY 6 coins with no change left over.
What are the 6 coins?
Work backward from 58¢!
List 6 coins on sheet: Box 12
Coin Math Center Activity Page 2 of 4 • Task Cards 7–12
Coin Quest: Student Recording Sheet
Solve each task card and write your work and total value below.
Score: _____ / 12
Name:
Date:
Station #:
Coin Value Key:
Penny (P) = 1¢ Nickel (N) = 5¢ Dime (D) = 10¢ Quarter (Q) = 25¢
Card 1 Skip Count / Work
Total:
¢
Card 2 Skip Count / Work
Total:
¢
Card 3 Skip Count / Work
Total:
¢
Card 4 Word Problem
Leo has: ¢ Enough? [ ] YES [ ] NO
Juice cost = 85¢
Card 5 Skip Count / Work
Total:
¢
Card 6 Piggy Bank
2Q + 1D + 2N + 1P =
Total:
¢
Card 7 Skip Count / Work
Total:
¢
Card 8 Skip Count / Work
Total:
¢
Card 9 7 Coins for 73¢
__ Q + __ D + __ N + __ P
Total: 73 ¢
Card 10 Dollar Format
Total:
$
Card 11 Comparison
Sam = _____ ¢ Ella = _____ ¢ Who has more? _____________
Difference:
¢
Card 12 6 Coins for 58¢
__ Q + __ D + __ N + __ P
Total: 58 ¢
Bonus Coin Master Challenge:
Show 2 different ways to make 45¢ using coins:
Way 1:
Way 2:
Coin Math Center Activity Page 3 of 4 • Student Recording Sheet
Teacher Answer Key & Guide
Complete Solutions • Skip-Counting Strategies • Misconception Alerts
ANSWER KEY
Card 1 68¢
25 + 25 + 10 + 5 + 1 + 1 + 1
50 → 60 → 65 → 68¢
Card 2 99¢
25 + 25 + 25 + 10 + 10 + 4
75 → 85 → 95 → 99¢
Card 3 67¢
25 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 5 + 5 + 2
25 → 55 → 65 → 67¢
Card 4 95¢ (YES)
3Q (75¢) + 2D (20¢) = 95¢
95¢ > 85¢ → Yes, has 10¢ change
Card 5 95¢
2Q (50¢) + 4D (40¢) + 1N (5¢)
50 → 90 → 95¢
Card 6 71¢
2Q (50¢) + 1D (10¢) + 2N (10¢) + 1P
50 → 60 → 70 → 71¢
Card 7 84¢
3Q (75¢) + 1N (5¢) + 4P (4¢)
75 → 80 → 84¢
Card 8 90¢
1Q (25¢) + 5D (50¢) + 3N (15¢)
25 → 75 → 90¢
Card 9 7 Coins
2 Quarters (50¢) + 2 Dimes (20¢)
+ 3 Pennies (3¢) = 73¢
Card 10 $1.17
4Q ($1.00) + 1D + 1N + 2P
$1.00 + 17¢ = $1.17 (or 117¢)
Card 11 Ella (+5¢)
Sam = 80¢ • Ella = 85¢
Ella has 5¢ more
Card 12 6 Coins
2 Quarters (50¢) + 1 Nickel (5¢)
+ 3 Pennies (3¢) = 58¢
Bonus Challenge Sample Solutions (45¢):
• Way A: 1 Quarter + 2 Dimes (25 + 20)
• Way B: 4 Dimes + 1 Nickel (40 + 5)
• Way C: 1 Quarter + 4 Nickels (25 + 20)
• Way D: 9 Nickels (9 x 5)
Teaching Strategies
- Sort first: Encourage students to count the highest value coins first (Q → D → N → P).
- Hairy Money Strategy: Put 1 tick mark (5¢) on nickels, 2 on dimes, 5 on quarters.
Common Misconceptions
- Size vs. Value: Confusing the dime (smaller) as worth less than the nickel (larger).
- Skip-Count Jumps: Losing cadence when switching from +10 (dimes) to +5 (nickels) or +1 (pennies).
Coin Math Center Activity Page 4 of 4 • Teacher Key