Give each student two $1 bills, four quarters, ten dimes, 20 nickels and five pennies of toy money.
Give students a shopping scenario. For example, have students determine the total amount of money spent when purchasing a pencil case for $0.80, a glue stick for $0.75 and a pencil for $0.13. Do not include tax in this problem, as multiplying decimals is not part of fourth grade math. The total is $1.68.
Tell students they will pay for this purchase using their two $1 bills. Have students use subtraction to determine the amount of change they will receive. They should determine their change will be $0.32.
Ask them to count the change they will receive using only quarters, nickels and pennies. They should determine the change will include one quarter, one nickel and two pennies.
Have students count their change using only dimes and pennies. They should determine the change will include three dimes and two pennies.
Tell students to count their change using only nickels and pennies. They should determine the change will include seven nickels and two pennies.
Create additional shopping scenarios to help students practice what they have learned about making change with money.