Bakery maths quest: money
A story-led junior maths adventure using recipes, sharing and delicious fractions to budget coins, tickets and shop items.
Quick answer
By the end of this page, you'll know how to use money to buy items, share treats fairly, and solve bakery maths problems using addition, subtraction, and fractions.Learning outcome
By the end of this page, you will be able to:- Count money using coins and notes
- Add and subtract amounts of money
- Share items equally using fractions
- Solve real-life bakery problems using maths
Why this matters
Money maths helps you understand how to buy things, save your pocket money, and share treats with friends. Whether you're helping in a bakery, shopping for ingredients, or sharing cookies with siblings, knowing how to work with money makes life easier. This is also the foundation for understanding more complex maths later, like percentages and budgeting.How it works
Working with money involves:- Recognising different coins and notes
- Adding up amounts to find totals
- Subtracting to find change
- Sharing items fairly using fractions
Examples you can see
Let's imagine you're at a bakery with your family. You have 50p and want to buy a cookie that costs 20p. How much change will you get? Step 1: Start with your 50p Step 2: Subtract the cookie cost (20p) Step 3: 50p - 20p = 30p So, you will get 30p in change. Now, let's say you and your 3 friends want to share 12 cupcakes equally. How many cupcakes does each person get? Step 1: Total cupcakes = 12 Step 2: Number of people = 4 Step 3: 12 ÷ 4 = 3 Each person gets 3 cupcakes.Try it as a mini adventure
Bakery Maths Quest: The Great Cookie Sale You are the bakery helper for a day. Your mission is to help your family sell cookies and make sure everyone gets the right amount of change. Adventure Steps: 1st time: You have 10p in coins. You buy a cookie for 5p. How much money do you have left? 2nd time: You get 30p from your parents to spend. You buy 2 cupcakes that cost 10p each. How much money do you have left? 3rd time: You have 50p and want to buy 3 biscuits that cost 12p each. How much will that cost? 4th time: You and your 2 friends want to share 15 muffins equally. How many muffins does each person get? 5th time: You have 80p. You buy 1 cake for 40p and 2 drinks for 10p each. How much money do you have left?Common mistakes
- Mistake: Adding coins without checking the value Why it happens: Children might mix up 5p and 10p coins Fix: Use real coins to practice and say the value out loud
- Mistake: Forgetting to count change properly Why it happens: Not understanding that change = money given - cost Fix: Use a calculator or count backwards to check
- Mistake: Sharing items unevenly Why it happens: Not knowing how to divide equally Fix: Use objects like counters or draw pictures to share fairly
Parent and carer guide
Parents and carers can support learning by:- Practising with real coins and notes at home
- Shopping together and letting children add up prices
- Using everyday situations like sharing snacks or splitting bills
- Encouraging children to explain their thinking
- Being patient and praising effort, not just correct answers
Practice questions
- You have 20p. You buy a biscuit for 8p. How much change do you get? Answer: 12p
- You buy 3 cupcakes for 15p each. How much do you spend? Answer: 45p
- You have 100p and spend 70p. How much do you have left? Answer: 30p
- You and 3 friends share 16 cookies. How many cookies does each person get? Answer: 4 cookies
- You buy 2 sandwiches for 25p each. How much do you spend? Answer: 50p
FAQ
How can I practice money maths at home?
You can use play money, go shopping with your child, or set up a pretend shop where they can buy and sell items.
Why is sharing important in money maths?
Sharing helps children understand fractions and division, which are important for understanding money and how to split bills or treats fairly.
What if I don’t have real coins to practice with?
You can draw coins, use counters, or make your own play money with paper and crayons.
How can I help my child if they struggle with money?
Start with simple amounts, use real-life examples, and be patient. Practice regularly and celebrate small wins.
What are some fun ways to learn about money?
Play games like "store" or "bank", use apps that teach money skills, or cook together and count ingredients!