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Maths Adventures

Theme park maths quest: money

A story-led junior maths adventure using queues, tickets and ride timings to budget coins, tickets and shop items.

Quick answer

By the end of this adventure, you'll be able to plan a fun day at a theme park using money to buy tickets, pay for rides, and shop for treats – all while keeping track of your budget!

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to:
  • Use money to buy theme park tickets and plan a budget
  • Count and add up different coins to pay for rides and snacks
  • Work out how much money you have left after spending
  • Compare prices of different items and decide what to buy

Why this matters

When you go to a theme park, you need to plan how to spend your money wisely. You might want to buy a ticket, ride some attractions, and get a snack – all while making sure you don’t run out of coins or notes. Learning how to budget and add up money helps you enjoy your day without stress, and it’s a useful skill for life! Whether you’re planning a birthday party, shopping for school supplies, or saving up for a toy, understanding money helps you make smart choices.

How it works

Think of your theme park day like a puzzle. You have a certain amount of money, and you need to decide how to spend it. Here’s how to solve it:
  1. First, you need to know how much money you have to start with
  2. Next, you choose what you want to do – maybe a ticket, a ride, or a snack
  3. Then, you add up the costs of everything you want
  4. Finally, you check if you have enough money and how much is left over

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you have £5 to spend at a theme park. You want to buy a ticket, go on one ride, and buy a drink. Here’s how you can work it out:
  • Theme park ticket costs £3
  • One ride costs £1
  • A drink costs 50p
To find out how much you spend, you add up the prices:
  • £3 + £1 + 50p = £4.50
So, you spend £4.50 out of your £5, which means you have 50p left over. That’s a great way to keep track of your money!

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Theme Park Budget Challenge You are going to a theme park with £10. You have a list of things you want to do:
  1. Buy a ticket – £4
  2. Go on a ride – £2
  3. Get a hot dog – £2.50
  4. Buy a drink – 75p
  5. Buy a souvenir – £1.25
Your challenge is to work out if you have enough money for everything. If not, decide which item you can leave out.
  1. Start with your £10
  2. Add up the prices of everything you want to buy
  3. Subtract that total from £10
  4. See if you have enough money or if you need to choose less
Can you work out how much money you'll have left after your day at the park?

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Adding up prices but forgetting to include pence (like 50p) in the total. Why it happens: It’s easy to forget that 50p is half of a pound and counts as part of the total. Fix: Always remember that 100p = £1. So 50p + 50p = £1.
  • Mistake: Thinking that £2.50 is the same as 250p. Why it happens: Confusion between pounds and pence. Fix: £2.50 = 250p, but it’s easier to think of it as 2 pounds and 50 pence.
  • Mistake: Not checking if you have enough money before buying things. Why it happens: Excitement about the fun things to do. Fix: Always add up the total cost first, then see if it’s within your budget.

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help your child by:
  • Playing a pretend theme park game at home using coins or play money
  • Letting your child plan a budget for a shopping trip or birthday party
  • Encouraging them to write down prices and add them up
  • Helping them check if they have enough money for their purchases
  • Asking questions like: “How much more do you need to buy that snack?” or “Which item can you leave out to save money?”
Remember, this is a fun way to learn about money. Don’t worry if your child makes a mistake – it’s part of the learning process. Keep it light and encouraging!

Practice questions

  1. You have £3. You want to buy a ticket for £2 and a drink for 50p. How much money do you have left?
  2. You have £7. You buy a ticket for £3, a ride for £1.50, and a snack for £1.25. How much money do you have left?
  3. You have £5. You want to buy a ticket for £2.50, a drink for 75p, and a candy bar for £1. What do you need to do?
  4. You have £10. You buy a ticket for £4, a ride for £2, and a snack for £1.50. How much money do you have left?
  5. You have £6. You want to buy a ticket for £3, a drink for 50p, and a souvenir for £1.75. How much money do you have left?
Answers:
  1. 30p
  2. £1.75
  3. You don’t have enough money – you need 50p more
  4. £2.50
  5. £1.25

FAQ

How do I know how much money I have?

You can count your coins and notes. For example, if you have 3 coins of 50p, that’s £1.50. You can also write down the value of each coin and add them up.

Can I use a calculator to add up my money?

Yes! A calculator is a helpful tool, but it’s also good to practice adding up money by hand first so you understand how it works.

What if I don’t have enough money for everything?

That’s okay! You can decide which things you want most and leave out the ones that cost more. It’s like making a choice and planning your day.

Why do I need to know about money?

Money helps you buy things you need and want. Learning how to manage it helps you make smart choices, plan ahead, and avoid problems later in life.

How can I practice this at home?

You can play shop with your toys or use play money to practice buying items. You can also make a list of things you want to buy and add up the prices together.