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Maths Adventures

Wizard school maths quest: money

A story-led junior maths adventure using potions, spells and pattern magic to budget coins, tickets and shop items.

Quick answer

You can use maths to figure out how much money you need, how to share it fairly, and how to save up for things you want.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to use money to solve problems about buying things, sharing it with friends, and saving up for special items. Success signs:
  • You can count different coins and notes to find the total amount
  • You can work out how much change you should get when you buy something
  • You can share money fairly between friends
  • You can plan how to save up for something you want

Why this matters

Money is all around us, and knowing how to use it helps you in school, at home, and in your daily life. When you go shopping, you need to know if you have enough money. When you play games with friends, you might need to share your coins or points. When you save up for a new toy, you need to plan how much you need to save each week. Learning about money helps you become more confident and independent.

How it works

To understand money, we need to know:
  1. What different coins and notes look like
  2. How to count them up to find the total
  3. How to work out how much change you should get
  4. How to share money fairly
  5. How to save up for something special

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you're at a wizard shop where everything costs in coins. Here are some examples: Example 1: Counting coins You have 3 one-pound coins, 2 fifty-pence coins, and 4 ten-pence coins.
  • 3 × £1 = £3
  • 2 × 50p = 100p = £1
  • 4 × 10p = 40p
  • Total = £3 + £1 + 40p = £4.40
Example 2: Working out change You buy a spell book for £2.50 and pay with a five-pound note.
  • 5.00 - 2.50 = 2.50
  • You get £2.50 in change
Example 3: Sharing money You and your friend have 12 coins to share equally.
  • 12 ÷ 2 = 6
  • Each person gets 6 coins
Example 4: Saving up You want to buy a magic wand that costs £10. You save £2 each week.
  • 10 ÷ 2 = 5
  • You need 5 weeks to save enough

Try it as a mini adventure

The Wizard School Money Quest You are a student at Wizard School and you have been given a mission to buy ingredients for your potion-making class. You have £5 to spend. Here's what you need to do: Step 1: You want to buy 2 vials of unicorn tears at 50p each.
  • 2 × 50p = 100p = £1
Step 2: You also want to buy 3 dragon scales at 20p each.
  • 3 × 20p = 60p
Step 3: You have £5. How much money do you have left after your purchases?
  • £1 + 60p = £1.60
  • £5.00 - £1.60 = £3.40
Step 4: You decide to buy some magic crystals that cost 10p each. How many can you buy with your remaining £3.40?
  • 340p ÷ 10p = 34
  • You can buy 34 magic crystals
Step 5: You also want to save some money for a new spell book that costs £4. How much more money do you need to save?
  • £5.00 - £4.00 = £1.00
  • You need to save £1 more

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking 50p + 50p = £1.00, but forgetting that 50p + 50p = £1.00
    • Why it happens: Confusing pence and pounds
    • Fix: Remember that 100p = £1.00
  • Mistake: When sharing 7 coins between 3 people, giving 2 to each person and leaving 1
    • Why it happens: Not understanding remainders
    • Fix: Use division: 7 ÷ 3 = 2 remainder 1
  • Mistake: Thinking that £2.50 + £3.50 = £5.00
    • Why it happens: Not lining up decimal points
    • Fix: Add carefully: £2.50 + £3.50 = £6.00

Parent and carer guide

You can help your child by:
  • Playing a shopping game at home where you pretend to buy items and count money
  • Using real coins to practice counting and making totals
  • Setting up a small savings challenge where your child saves a small amount each week
  • Letting your child help plan a family budget for a special event
  • Encouraging your child to ask questions about money when they see it in real life
What to say:
  • "Let's count these coins together"
  • "How much change would you get if you paid with a £10 note?"
  • "Can you share these sweets equally between you and your friend?"
  • "How long do you think it will take to save up for that toy?"
What not to worry about:
  • Your child might make mistakes – that's how they learn
  • Don't worry if they don't get it right the first time
  • Focus on the process, not just the answer

Practice questions

  1. How much is 4 × 20p?
  2. You buy a potion for £1.20 and pay with a £2 note. How much change do you get?
  3. You have 15 coins and want to share them equally between 3 friends. How many coins does each friend get?
  4. You save £3 each week. How many weeks will it take to save £15?
  5. You have 3 one-pound coins, 4 fifty-pence coins, and 5 ten-pence coins. What is the total amount?
Answers:
  1. 80p
  2. £0.80
  3. 5 coins
  4. 5 weeks
  5. £5.50

FAQ

What is the best way to teach children about money?

The best way is to use real coins and notes, play games with money, and connect it to real-life situations like shopping or saving for a toy.

How can I help my child practice money skills at home?

You can practice counting coins, play pretend shopping games, and let your child help with small family budgets or savings plans.

What age should children start learning about money?

Children can start learning about money from around age 4, with simple counting and sharing activities. By age 7, they can handle more complex concepts like calculating change.

Why is it important to teach children about money?

Teaching children about money helps them become independent, responsible, and confident in managing their own finances as they grow up.

What are some fun ways to learn about money?

Playing games like "shop," using apps designed for learning money, counting coins in a piggy bank, or planning a birthday party budget are all fun ways to learn about money.