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Maths Adventures

Arctic maths quest: money

A story-led junior maths adventure using ice maps, temperature and survival supplies to budget coins, tickets and shop items.

Quick answer

By the end of this Arctic maths quest, you'll be able to count, add, and subtract coins and money amounts to buy survival supplies and tickets for your ice adventure!

Learning outcome

By the end of this Arctic maths quest, you'll be able to:
  • Count different coins (1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, £2)
  • Add up amounts of money to find totals
  • Subtract money amounts to find change
  • Use money to buy items and plan your Arctic supplies

Why this matters

Money maths is super important because you use it every day! Whether you're buying a snack at the shop, saving up for a toy, or planning your Arctic survival kit, understanding how money works helps you make smart choices. In the Arctic, you'll need to budget your coins wisely to get the right supplies for your journey. It's like being a money detective!

How it works

First, we need to know what coins we have:
  • 1p (one penny) = tiny coin
  • 2p (two pence) = slightly bigger
  • 5p (five pence) = even bigger
  • 10p (ten pence) = big coin
  • 20p (twenty pence) = big coin
  • 50p (fifty pence) = biggest small coin
  • £1 (one pound) = big coin
  • £2 (two pounds) = very big coin
To add money amounts, you can:
  1. Count all the coins together
  2. Group coins by value (all 10p coins together, all 20p coins together)
  3. Count up from the smallest amount
To subtract money amounts (find change):
  1. Start with how much you have
  2. Take away the cost of what you bought
  3. Count backwards or count up to find the difference

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you're planning your Arctic adventure. Here's how you can use money maths: Example 1: Buying a survival pack You want to buy a survival pack that costs 80p. You have these coins:
  • 50p
  • 20p
  • 10p
  • 5p
How much do you have?
  • 50p + 20p = 70p
  • 70p + 10p = 80p
  • 80p + 5p = 85p
You have 85p, which is 5p more than you need. That's great! You'll get 5p change. Example 2: Buying ice tickets You and your friend want to go on an ice skating trip. Each ticket costs £1.50. How much do you need for two tickets?
  • £1.50 + £1.50 = £3.00
You need £3.00 to buy both tickets. Example 3: Budgeting for food You have £5.00 to spend on snacks for your Arctic journey. You buy:
  • 1 chocolate bar for 45p
  • 1 bottle of water for 65p
  • 1 packet of biscuits for 30p
How much have you spent?
  • 45p + 65p = 110p = £1.10
  • £1.10 + 30p = £1.40
You've spent £1.40. How much do you have left?
  • £5.00 - £1.40 = £3.60
You have £3.60 left.

Try it as a mini adventure

Arctic Survival Shop Challenge You are planning a journey to the North Pole and need to buy supplies. You have £10.00 to spend. Here's what you need to buy:
  • Warm gloves for £2.50
  • Thermal hat for £1.75
  • Ice skates for £3.25
  • Hot chocolate for £1.00
  • Energy bar for 50p
  1. First, add up the cost of your items:
  2. £2.50 + £1.75 = ?
  3. £4.25 + £3.25 = ?
  4. £7.50 + £1.00 = ?
  5. £8.50 + 50p = ?
  6. Now check if you have enough money:
  7. Do you have £10.00?
  8. How much change will you get?
Let's work it out together:
  • £2.50 + £1.75 = £4.25
  • £4.25 + £3.25 = £7.50
  • £7.50 + £1.00 = £8.50
  • £8.50 + 50p = £9.00
You spent £9.00 out of £10.00. You'll get £1.00 change!

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Mixing up pence and pounds. £1 = 100p, not 1p.
    Why it happens: Confusing the symbols or not knowing the conversion.
    Fix: Remember that £1 is the same as 100p. Count by 100s when changing pounds to pence.
  • Mistake: Adding coins incorrectly by not lining them up properly.
    Why it happens: Not organizing the coins before adding.
    Fix: Group coins by value first, then add each group together.
  • Mistake: Forgetting to check if you have enough money.
    Why it happens: Being excited about buying something and not thinking ahead.
    Fix: Always add up your total before spending to make sure you have enough.
  • Mistake: Subtracting money by counting backwards instead of counting up.
    Why it happens: Not knowing the best way to find change.
    Fix: Count up from the cost to your payment amount to find change easily.

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help your child with Arctic money maths in just 5-10 minutes:
  • Use real coins to practice counting and adding
  • Play a "shop" game with your child using toys or food items
  • Let your child plan a budget for a small purchase, like a treat
  • Ask questions like "How much more do you need?" or "Can you make £2.00 with these coins?"
  • Practice counting money in different combinations
  • Use the Arctic adventure as a fun way to practice real-life maths
Remember, it's okay if your child makes mistakes – they're learning! The key is to keep practicing and make it fun.

Practice questions

  1. How much is 3 x 20p?
  2. What is 50p + 25p + 10p?
  3. If you have £1.00 and buy a snack for 75p, how much change do you get?
  4. How many 5p coins make £1.00?
  5. What is 2 x £2.50?
Answers:
  1. 60p
  2. 85p
  3. 25p
  4. 20 coins
  5. £5.00

FAQ

What coins do I need to know for Arctic maths?

You need to know 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, and £2 coins. These are the most common coins in the UK.

How do I add up money amounts?

You can add money by counting all the coins together, grouping coins by value, or counting up from the smallest amount to the largest.

How do I find change when I buy something?

Subtract the cost from the amount you paid. You can count up from the cost to your payment amount to find the change.

Why is money maths important?

Money maths helps you understand how to buy things, save money, and make smart choices with your coins and notes.

Can I use this Arctic money adventure in real life?

Yes! You can use the same skills to plan your shopping, save up for toys, or budget for your next family trip.