Cool Cash Transactions: Money Worksheets help students determine the smallest number of notes and coins needed to give change. Learners interpret a real world cash transaction, represent it as a number sentence, solve it accurately, and then decide on the most efficient combination of Australian notes and coins to return to the customer.

Each worksheet set is differentiated so you can target the exact level of your class. Students move from simple transactions that use only dollars or only cents, to mixed dollars and cents that require regrouping, and finally to scenarios where the cash presented can simplify the change given. Clear visuals and scaffolded prompts support all learners while encouraging precise mathematical thinking.

Perfect for whole class lessons, small group rotations, or independent practice, these worksheets reinforce subtraction with money, rounding and regrouping strategies, and smart use of the money system. Print the appropriate level for each student, or create a tiered station that students rotate through. Answer pages are included to streamline feedback and quick marking. This resource is also part of the Year 6 Economics and Business Unit.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Interpret prices and cash tendered to represent transactions as number sentences
• ✅ Subtract with dollars and cents accurately, using regrouping when needed
• ✅ Determine the smallest number of notes and coins to provide correct change
• ✅ Apply efficient mental and written strategies for money calculations
• ✅ Use correct financial vocabulary to explain choices and justify solutions

What’s Included:

• Three differentiated worksheet levels covering dollars only, cents only, and mixed amounts
• Realistic scenarios with item prices and images of cash presented
• Student prompts for number sentences, workings, and final change
• Answer pages for quick self checking or teacher marking
• Teacher guidance notes with grouping and regrouping strategy reminders

Materials Needed:

• Printed worksheets on paper or light cardstock
• Pencils and rulers for neat working and place value alignment
• Optional plastic coins and play notes for concrete modelling
• Laminator and whiteboard markers if creating reusable sets
• Envelopes or folders for storing differentiated levels

How to Use:

1. Model reading a price tag, identifying the cash presented, and writing a number sentence.
2. Demonstrate subtraction with dollars and cents, showing regrouping where required.
3. Select the smallest set of notes and coins to make the change and explain why it is efficient.
4. Assign the appropriate level to each student and circulate to prompt strategy talk.
5. Check work against the answer pages and have students reflect on efficiency of their choices.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Run three stations by level so students progress from simple to complex transactions.
• 💡 Pair students to compare solutions and justify different change combinations.
• 💡 Add a role play checkout where one student is cashier and another is customer.
• 💡 Use mini whiteboards for the number sentence, then record final answers on the sheet.
• 💡 Embed quick exit tickets that ask for the most efficient change for a single price point.

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Pre teach coin and note equivalences to speed up decision making.
• 💛 Encourage estimation first, then compute and compare for reasonableness.
• 💛 Colour code levels to streamline differentiation during rotations.
• 💛 Keep a coin and note anchor chart visible for fast reference.
• 💛 Laminate a small class set for repeated use and quick wipe clean practice.

Cool Cash Transactions: Money Worksheets provide targeted, real world practice with subtraction and efficient change making - a practical, ready to print solution for whole class, small group, and independent learning.