Rounding & Multiplying Dollars: From Sea to Sky is an engaging maths activity that helps students strengthen their understanding of rounding and multiplication in the context of money. Designed to promote the use of efficient mental strategies, this resource allows students to practise rounding to the nearest ten and adjusting their answers to arrive at accurate solutions. As students solve each problem, they’ll be working toward revealing a colourful, themed image—making learning both purposeful and fun!

This resource is ideal for supporting lessons on estimation, place value, money, and multiplication facts. Students begin by reading a worded multiplication problem involving a dollar amount. They then round the value up or down to the nearest ten before multiplying it by a given number. After calculating using the rounded value, they adjust their answer by either adding or subtracting the amount that was initially rounded. This process strengthens their number sense and encourages flexibility in problem-solving.

To add an extra layer of engagement, students use a colour-by-number key after solving the 20 problems. Each solution corresponds to a specific colour, and students fill in sections of the themed image based on their answers. As they complete the worksheet, a surprise picture with a “From Sea to Sky” theme is revealed. This element of creativity helps to maintain student motivation, making it a perfect blend of academic challenge and artistic reward. A landscape working out template is also included to support students in organising their calculations.

Key Learning Outcomes

• ✅ Apply rounding and adjusting strategies to multiplication problems
• ✅ Strengthen mental maths skills using real-world contexts
• ✅ Build fluency and confidence with money calculations
• ✅ Reinforce estimation, place value, and number sense

What’s Included

• 1 x problem-solving worksheet with 20 multiplication questions
• 1 x “From Sea to Sky” colour-by-number page
• 1 x working out template to support step-by-step problem-solving
• 1 x teacher answer sheet with completed solutions
• 1 x colour key guide to complete the final image

Materials Needed

• Pencils or coloured markers
• Printed worksheet and working out page
• Optional: calculator for scaffolding or extension activities

How to Use

1. Review rounding to the nearest ten and the adjusting strategy with your class
2. Hand out the worksheet and optional working out page
3. Students solve each money problem by rounding, multiplying, and adjusting
4. They use the colour key to fill in the picture based on their answers
5. Review answers together using the teacher sheet and discuss strategies used

Ideas for Classroom Use

• 💡 Use during a maths rotation focused on money and mental computation
• 💡 Incorporate into a financial literacy or budgeting unit
• 💡 Offer as an early finisher activity with a creative twist
• 💡 Challenge students to design their own problems and colour keys

Top Teacher Tips

• 💛 Model a sample problem and adjustment process on the board
• 💛 Encourage students to label each step clearly on the working out page
• 💛 Print in A3 for students who need larger text and visual space

By blending multiplication, money skills, and creativity, this resource offers a dynamic and rewarding way to strengthen mental maths fluency and keep students actively engaged.