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Maths Adventures

Zoo maths quest: money

A story-led junior maths adventure using animal counts, feeding plans and habitat maps to budget coins, tickets and shop items.

Quick answer

You can use maths to plan how much money you need for a fun day at the zoo, including tickets, food, and gifts!

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to add up different amounts of money to find totals and work out how much change you should get when buying zoo items. Success signs:
  • You can count coins and notes to find the total value
  • You can subtract to find change from a given amount
  • You can solve simple money problems using real zoo examples
  • You can plan your zoo budget with a shopping list

Why this matters

Money maths helps you understand how to spend your pocket money, plan a trip, and make smart choices. Whether you're buying a toy, planning a zoo visit, or saving up for something special, knowing how to add and subtract money is super useful. It's also great practice for real life!

How it works

First, we'll look at how to count money. Then, we'll learn how to add up different coins and notes. Finally, we'll practice finding change when you buy something. Let's go on a zoo adventure to learn all about money!

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you're planning a trip to the zoo. Here's how you might use money maths: Example 1: Buying tickets You and your family are going to the zoo. Each ticket costs £3. If there are 4 people in your family, how much will you spend on tickets?
  • 1 ticket = £3
  • 4 tickets = £3 + £3 + £3 + £3 = £12
Example 2: Buying snacks At the zoo, you want to buy a banana for £1 and a drink for £2. How much will that cost?
  • £1 + £2 = £3
Example 3: Finding change You have £5 and you buy a zoo map for £2. How much change will you get?
  • £5 - £2 = £3

Try it as a mini adventure

Zoo Maths Quest: The Budget Adventure You're planning a trip to the zoo with your family. You have £20 to spend on tickets, food, and gifts. Here's your mission: Step 1: You need to buy 4 tickets. Each ticket costs £3.
  • How much will the tickets cost?
Step 2: You want to buy a snack for £2 and a drink for £1.50.
  • How much will the snack and drink cost?
Step 3: You want to buy a zoo souvenir that costs £4.50.
  • How much will that cost?
Step 4: You have £20. How much money will you have left after buying everything?
  • How much change will you get?
Step 5: You decide to save £5 for a future trip.
  • How much money will you have left after saving?

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Adding £2.50 and £3.75 and getting £5.125
    Why it happens: Confusing decimal points and not lining up numbers correctly
    Fix: Write the numbers in columns, making sure decimal points line up
  • Mistake: Thinking you need to pay £10 for 3 items that cost £3 each
    Why it happens: Not understanding that £3 × 3 = £9, not £10
    Fix: Use repeated addition or skip counting to check your multiplication
  • Mistake: Forgetting to count the pence when calculating change
    Why it happens: Rushing through problems or not writing down the calculation
    Fix: Write down the calculation step by step

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help by:
  • Practicing money maths at home with real coins and notes
  • Letting your child plan a shopping list with a budget
  • Playing games where you pretend to shop and calculate prices
  • Using everyday situations like buying groceries or paying for parking to practice
  • Encouraging your child to explain their thinking when solving money problems
What to say: "Let's add up how much we need for our zoo trip." "That's a good way to check your answer." "You did a great job working out the change." What not to worry about: Don't worry if your child makes mistakes – they're part of learning! Don't rush the process – take time to understand the problem. Don't compare your child's progress to others – everyone learns at their own pace.

Practice questions

  1. You buy 3 ice creams at £1.50 each. How much do you spend?
  2. You have £10 and buy a drink for £2.25. How much change do you get?
  3. You want to buy 2 zoo maps at £2.75 each. How much do you spend?
  4. You have £5 and buy a snack for £1.80. How much change do you get?
  5. You buy 4 tickets at £3.25 each. How much do you spend?
Answers:
  1. £1.50 × 3 = £4.50
  2. £10 - £2.25 = £7.75
  3. £2.75 × 2 = £5.50
  4. £5 - £1.80 = £3.20
  5. £3.25 × 4 = £13.00

FAQ

What coins and notes do I need to know for zoo maths?

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

How can I practice money maths at home?

Use real coins to count and add up amounts. Plan a pretend shopping trip with a budget. Play store games with family members.

Why is it important to learn about money?

Knowing about money helps you understand how to spend, save, and budget your pocket money or earnings. It's a life skill that helps you make good choices.

What if I don't have enough money for something?

You can save up more money, look for cheaper alternatives, or decide what's most important to buy first.

How do I add up different amounts of money?

Line up the numbers by their decimal points, add each column from right to left, and remember to carry over if needed.