Maths Adventures
Museum maths quest: money
A story-led junior maths adventure using artefacts, clues and history puzzles to budget coins, tickets and shop items.
Quick answer
You can use maths to solve puzzles, plan trips, and figure out how much things cost when visiting a museum – all while learning about money and budgeting.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 museum items, and use your money skills to plan a budget for a fun museum visit. Success signs:- You can count different combinations of coins to make a total
- You can compare prices and decide what you can afford
- You can work out how much change you should get
- You can plan a museum trip using a budget
Why this matters
When you go to a museum, you often need to pay for tickets, souvenirs, and food. Learning about money helps you understand how much things cost, how to save up, and how to make smart choices. It’s like being a detective with numbers, solving puzzles about what you can buy with your pocket money or allowance. Whether you're planning a trip to a museum or simply shopping with your parents, maths helps you make smart choices with money. It’s a skill you’ll use every day – from saving up for a toy to planning a family outing.How it works
Think of money like a puzzle. Each coin or note has a value – like 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, and £2. When you want to buy something, you need to add up all the values to see if you have enough money. To solve museum money puzzles, follow these steps:- Look at the prices of items you want to buy
- Add up the prices using coins and notes
- Check if you have enough money
- If you don’t, work out how much more you need
- If you do, calculate how much change you should get
Examples you can see
Let’s imagine you’re visiting the Museum of Ancient Egypt and want to buy some souvenirs. Here are some real-life examples of how you might use money: Example 1: Buying a toy You want to buy a small pyramid-shaped toy that costs 75p. You have:- 1 x 50p coin
- 1 x 20p coin
- 1 x 5p coin
Try it as a mini adventure
Museum Maths Quest: The Lost Treasure You are on a mission to find a lost treasure in a museum. But to get there, you must solve money puzzles along the way. Each puzzle gives you clues about how much money you need to pay for a ticket, a map, or a clue. Step 1: You find a ticket that costs 80p. You have 50p, 20p, and 10p coins. Can you make the right amount? Step 2: You find a map that costs £1.20. You have 50p, 20p, 10p, and £1. Can you pay exactly? Step 3: You buy a snack for 75p and get 25p change. How much money did you start with? Step 4: You have £3 and want to buy a book for £1.50, a pen for 45p, and a postcard for 20p. Do you have enough money? Step 5: You find a treasure chest with a note that says: “If you had 30p more, you could buy a ticket for 80p.” How much money did you have? Answers:- 50p + 20p + 10p = 80p
- £1 + 50p + 20p = £1.70 (but you need exactly £1.20, so you need to give 50p + 20p + 10p = £1.20)
- 75p + 25p = £1
- £1.50 + 45p + 20p = £2.15. You have £3, so yes, you can afford it.
- 80p – 30p = 50p
Common mistakes
- Mistake: Adding 10p + 20p and getting 30p instead of 30p.
Why it happens: Confusing the values of coins.
Fix: Use real coins to practice counting and make sure you know each coin’s value. - Mistake: Thinking £1 = 100p and £2 = 200p.
Why it happens: Not understanding how pounds and pence connect.
Fix: Practice counting up to 100p and linking it to £1. - Mistake: Not checking if you have enough money before buying.
Why it happens: Rushing through a problem.
Fix: Always double-check your total before spending. - Mistake: Forgetting to subtract when calculating change.
Why it happens: Mixing up addition and subtraction.
Fix: Remember: change = money given – cost of item.
Parent and carer guide
As a parent or carer, you can help your child practice money skills by:- Playing a shopping game at home where you pretend to buy items and count out the right amount
- Using real coins to teach how much each is worth
- Letting your child help plan a trip or budget for a museum visit
- Encouraging your child to check their change when buying things
- Asking questions like: “How much more do we need?” or “Can we afford this?”
- “Let’s add up the prices together.”
- “How much change should we get?”
- “Can you find a way to make 50p using different coins?”
- Your child might make mistakes – that’s how they learn!
- Don’t rush – take time to talk through each step
- It’s okay if they need help counting or adding
Practice questions
- How much is 2 x 20p?
- You have 50p, 20p, and 5p. What is the total?
- You buy a book for £1.30 and pay with £2. How much change do you get?
- You have £3. You want to buy a snack for 75p and a drink for 50p. Do you have enough? How much is left?
- How much is 10 x 10p?
- 40p
- 75p
- 70p
- Yes, £3 – 75p – 50p = £1.75 left
- 100p = £1
FAQ
How do I know which coins to use?
Start with the largest coins first. For example, if you need 65p, use a 50p coin, then 10p, and finally 5p.
Can I use a £1 coin to pay for something that costs 75p?
Yes! You’ll get 25p in change. £1 – 75p = 25p.
What if I don’t have enough money?
Then you can’t buy it. You can try to save more or choose a cheaper item.
Why is it important to learn about money?
Knowing how to handle money helps you make smart choices, save up for things you want, and understand how prices work in the real world.
How can I practice at home?
You can play a game where you pretend to shop, use coins to count out amounts, or plan a trip and budget for it.