Math Worksheet · Grades 2–4
Making Change Worksheet
A 3-page member worksheet for grades 2–4 covering making change from coin and dollar amounts. Students subtract costs from amounts paid across 12 fill-in items escalating from cents to multi-dollar transactions, then apply the skill in three word problems. Includes a complete answer key.
Subject
Math
Grades
Grades 2–4
Skill Focus
Making Change, money math
Lesson Length
20 minutes
Lesson Overview
About this worksheet
Making change is one of the most practical math skills students learn in elementary school, and it requires both subtraction fluency and an understanding of coin and dollar relationships. This worksheet builds that fluency through a carefully sequenced set of 12 fill-in exercises that begin with simple cent-to-cent transactions and scale up to paying with a $10 bill. A reference box on page 1 teaches both the subtraction method and the count-up strategy so students have two tools to choose from.
Section A covers eight transactions using amounts from 15 cents up to $2.00 — the range students encounter most often at school stores and classroom economy activities. Section B introduces four larger transactions up to $10.00, where the count-up strategy is often more reliable than straight subtraction. Section C wraps up with three word problems that present realistic purchasing contexts, giving students practice identifying the key information and choosing the right operation before computing.
The answer key on page 3 provides the correct change for every item in a compact two-column grid, organized by section so teachers can quickly confirm student work or students can self-check after completing both pages.
How to Use This Lesson
Read the reference box together and model the subtraction and count-up methods side by side with one example from Section A.
Have students complete Section A independently; encourage them to use whichever method they find more reliable.
Discuss Section B as a class before students attempt it — the count-up strategy is often easier when the difference spans multiple dollar amounts.
Work through Section C word problems in pairs; prompt students to underline the cost and the amount paid before computing.
Use the answer key on page 3 for self-check or spot-check; follow up with Money Word Problems Worksheet for more applied practice.
Printable Resource
A classroom-ready PDF with everything in one printable resource.
Full Member Resource · Printable PDF · 3 pages · Answer Key
Making Change Worksheet
A 3-page member worksheet for grades 2–4 covering making change from coin and dollar amounts. Students subtract costs from amounts paid across 12 fill-in items escalating from cents to multi-dollar transactions, then apply the skill in three word problems. Includes a complete answer key.
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