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Maths Adventures

Dragon maths quest: money

A story-led junior maths adventure using hoards, scales and fiery puzzles to budget coins, tickets and shop items.

Quick answer

You can use maths to solve puzzles, make smart choices, and manage money when you're on a dragon quest!

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to add up different coins and notes to find the total cost of items, and work out how much change you should get when shopping. Success signs:
  • You can count up different coins to find the total amount
  • You can work out how much change you should get
  • You can compare prices to find the best value
  • You can use money to solve simple puzzles and problems

Why this matters

Money maths is super important because it helps you understand how much things cost, how to pay for them, and how to save your pocket money. When you're on a dragon quest, you'll need to know how to buy tickets, pay for food, and manage your treasure. In real life, you'll use these skills when shopping with your parents, saving up for a toy, or even helping at a shop.

How it works

Let's imagine you're on a dragon quest and need to buy some items from a magical shop. First, you need to know what each coin is worth. Then you add up the coins to find the total cost. Finally, you subtract that total from the amount you pay to find your change.

Examples you can see

Let's look at some real examples from your dragon quest: Example 1: Buying a ticket You want to buy a dragon flight ticket that costs 7 coins. You have 2 coins, 3 coins, and 1 coin in your pocket. How much money do you have altogether?
  • 2 coins + 3 coins + 1 coin = 6 coins
  • But the ticket costs 7 coins
  • You need 1 more coin to buy the ticket
Example 2: Shopping for food You have 10 coins and want to buy some dragon snacks. The snacks cost 3 coins, 2 coins, and 4 coins. How much do they cost altogether?
  • 3 coins + 2 coins + 4 coins = 9 coins
  • You have 10 coins
  • Your change = 10 coins - 9 coins = 1 coin
Example 3: Trading treasure You find 5 gold coins and 3 silver coins. Each gold coin is worth 5 coins, and each silver coin is worth 2 coins. How much treasure have you found?
  • 5 gold coins × 5 coins each = 25 coins
  • 3 silver coins × 2 coins each = 6 coins
  • Total treasure = 25 coins + 6 coins = 31 coins

Try it as a mini adventure

Dragon's Treasure Shop Challenge You're on a quest to collect treasure from the Dragon's Treasure Shop. You start with 20 coins. Here's what you can buy:
  • Dragon's Breath Potion - 4 coins
  • Golden Scale - 7 coins
  • Dragon Egg - 5 coins
  • Fireproof Boots - 6 coins
Your mission: Buy exactly 3 items that cost less than 20 coins. What combination could you buy? Step 1: Choose 3 items from the list above Step 2: Add up the cost of your 3 items Step 3: Check if the total is less than 20 coins Step 4: Calculate how much money you have left Try these combinations:
  • Potion (4) + Scale (7) + Egg (5) = 16 coins
  • Potion (4) + Scale (7) + Boots (6) = 17 coins
  • Egg (5) + Boots (6) + Scale (7) = 18 coins
You have 20 coins and spend 16 coins, so you get 4 coins back as change.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Forgetting to count the value of each coin correctly Why it happens: Looking at coins quickly without checking their value Fix: Write down or say the value of each coin as you count them
  • Mistake: Adding up the wrong numbers when calculating change Why it happens: Getting confused between adding and subtracting Fix: Use a number line or draw coins to help you count
  • Mistake: Thinking that 10p + 10p = 20p, but 10p + 10p = 20p is correct Why it happens: Not checking if the answer makes sense Fix: Always double-check your calculation

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help your child practice money maths in these ways:
  • Play a shopping game at home with real coins or play money
  • Let your child help you budget for a trip or shopping list
  • Ask your child to calculate how much change you should get from a shop
  • Use everyday situations like sharing snacks or saving pocket money
  • Encourage your child to count money when they see it in shops or at home
Five-minute practice tips:
  1. Count 10 different coins together
  2. Play a game where you give your child 5 coins and ask them to count the total
  3. Set up a pretend shop with items and prices
  4. Ask "If you had 15 coins and spent 8 coins, how much do you have left?"
  5. Use a number line to show how to find change

Practice questions

  1. You have 3 coins of 2, 5, and 1. How much money do you have?
  2. You buy a snack that costs 4 coins. You pay with 10 coins. How much change do you get?
  3. You find 4 coins of 2 and 3 coins of 5. How much treasure did you find?
  4. You want to buy 3 items that cost 3, 5, and 2 coins. How much do they cost altogether?
  5. You have 12 coins. You buy something that costs 7 coins. How much money do you have left?
Answers:
  1. 3 + 5 + 1 = 9 coins
  2. 10 - 4 = 6 coins
  3. (4 × 2) + (3 × 5) = 8 + 15 = 23 coins
  4. 3 + 5 + 2 = 10 coins
  5. 12 - 7 = 5 coins

FAQ

What coins do I need to know for money maths?

You should know about 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, and £2 coins, plus £5, £10, and £20 notes.

How do I know if I have enough money to buy something?

Add up the prices of all the items you want to buy, then compare that total with the money you have.

Why do I need to know how to calculate change?

Calculating change helps you make sure you're not overpaying and helps you understand how much you're spending.

Can I use multiplication to work with money?

Yes! If you buy 3 apples that cost 2 coins each, you multiply 3 × 2 = 6 coins total.

How can I practice money maths at home?

You can play pretend shops, count your pocket money, calculate how much you'll save, or help plan a family shopping trip.