Money Skills Progression

Context and Curriculum Links

Level: Primary 4 (age 7-8)
Curriculum for Excellence Level: Early Level/Secure First Level (Numeracy and Mathematics, Money)
Experiences and Outcomes:

• MNU 1-09a: Selects and uses appropriate strategies and resources to estimate or calculate using whole numbers in practical money contexts.
• MNU 2-09a: Uses money, including notes and coins, to pay for items and give change; understands equivalences between pence and pounds, relates decimals to fractions and place value.
• MTH 2-16a: Compares and orders a set of simple decimals or whole numbers, including money, using place value understanding.

---

Lesson Duration

60 minutes
Class Size: 25 students

---

Learning Intentions

• To convert between pence and pounds using place value knowledge.
• To represent and write amounts in pounds and pence correctly (e.g., 149p = £1.49).
• To compare prices to decide which is cheaper or more expensive.
• To develop understanding of decimal notation in real-life money contexts.

Success Criteria

I can:

• Convert amounts from pence to pounds and vice versa using place value.
• Write money amounts correctly using £ and p symbols with decimals.
• Compare two or more prices to decide which is cheaper or costs more.
• Work with others to explain my thinking about money and prices.

---

Resources

• Place value grids/charts specific to money (£ and p columns)
• Physical coins and notes for hands-on work (real or plastic)
• Price tags for classroom “shop” items (fictional items with various costs in pence and pounds)
• Whiteboards and markers for group responses
• Worksheets with challenges (differentiated)
• Number lines (0-200p and £0-£2) for visualisation
• “Money conversion” cards (amount in pence on one side, pounds on the other)

---

Lesson Structure

1. Introduction and Recap (10 minutes)

Activity: Quick whole-class quiz and discussion revisiting previous lesson’s knowledge of coins and their values, ordering coins, and equivalent values (e.g. 50p + 50p = £1). Use flashcards and ask:

• “What coins can we use for 100p?”
• “How can we write 148p as pounds and pence?”
• Emphasise decimal place value (pounds to the left of the decimal point, pence to the right).

Outcome: Activate prior knowledge and make connections to new learning.

---

2. Teaching Input: Place Value and Conversions (15 minutes)

Key Teaching Points:

• Explain clearly how 149p is the same as £1.49 (100p = £1, 40p = 0.40, 9p = 0.09)
• Use place value grids with “pounds” in hundreds, tens, and units columns; “pence” in tenths and hundredths columns to demonstrate
• Demonstrate taking a value in pence and splitting it into pounds and pence with examples (e.g., 156p = £1.56, 75p = £0.75)
• Show reverse: from £1.49, count total pence (100 + 40 + 9 = 149p)

Active Element:

• Pupils physically move coins and notes to create the value on place value grids in pairs
• Use money conversion cards in pairs: one pupil shows pence value, the other must say/write the equivalent in pounds and pence

---

3. Collaborative Activity: Comparing Prices “Classroom Shop” (20 minutes)

Setup:

• Create a mock shop corner or tables with price tags on items labelled in both pence and pounds/decimal form.
• Group pupils into 5 groups of 5. Each group receives a set of “shopping lists” with varied budgets (in pence and pounds) and items they want to buy.

Task:

• Pupils compare items' prices to decide which are cheaper/more expensive.
• Convert all prices to the same units (pence or pounds as needed) to compare.
• Groups discuss and decide on best value items within their budget, writing down their choices and reasoning on whiteboards.
• Encourage mathematical discussion and explanation using terms like “more expensive”, “cheaper”, and decimal/pence conversion language.

---

4. Plenary – Reflect and Share (10 minutes)

• Groups present one example of a price comparison and explain how they decided which item was cheaper or more expensive using place value and conversion skills.
• Teacher reinforces correct vocabulary and place value understanding.
• Quick formative assessment with mini whiteboards: show the price in pence, pupils write pounds and pence version, or vice versa.

---

Differentiation Strategies

For learners needing support:

• Use physical coins and notes liberally to aid with concrete understanding.
• Provide place value charts with prompts and visuals.
• Pair with a supportive peer during collaborative tasks.
• Provide simplified shopping lists with fewer items and only round values (e.g., 100p, 150p, £2.00).

For learners who are more able:

• Challenge with larger values (e.g., 245p = £2.45) and addition/subtraction of money values in pence and pounds.
• Include word problems requiring multi-step thinking related to conversion and comparison.
• Encourage use of decimal notation explanation in writing during presentations.

---

Assessment for Learning

• Observations during pair and group activities, focusing on use of place value vocabulary and accurate conversions.
• Formative assessment in plenary via mini-whiteboard responses.
• Evaluate group presentations for understanding of comparison language and reasoning.

---

This lesson plan balances clear curriculum goals with engaging, active, and collaborative tasks, enabling Primary 4 learners to consolidate and deepen their understanding of money through place value and comparison activities. It connects to real-world contexts, encouraging mathematical confidence and communication skills.