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Prodigy Maths

Where is money hiding in Prodigy wizard shops?

Use pretend prices and saving goals in a game world.

Quick answer

In Prodigy wizard shops, money is hidden in different places and amounts, and you need to count, add, and save up to buy your spells and potions. You can learn how to manage money and make smart choices about what to buy.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to count and add different amounts of money to buy things in a game world, just like in real life. Success signs:
  • You can count coins and notes to find out how much money you have.
  • You can add up the prices of different items to find the total cost.
  • You can decide which items you can afford with your money.
  • You can save up your money to buy something special.

Why this matters

Money is everywhere in our lives, and learning how to count it, add it up, and save it helps you make good choices. Whether you're shopping for toys, saving for a birthday party, or planning a trip, understanding how money works is super useful. In Prodigy, you can practice these skills while having fun in a magical world.

How it works

In Prodigy wizard shops, you will find different items with prices. To buy something, you need to:
  1. Look at the price of each item.
  2. Add up the prices to find the total cost.
  3. Check if you have enough money to buy all the items.
  4. If not, decide which items to buy or save more money.

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you are in a wizard shop in Prodigy. You have some coins and want to buy a spell book and a potion. Spell book: 5 gold coins
Potion: 3 gold coins To find out how much you need to spend:
  • Spell book costs 5 coins
  • Potion costs 3 coins
  • Total = 5 + 3 = 8 coins
If you have 10 coins, you can afford both items and still have 2 coins left over.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Wizard’s Treasure Hunt You are a young wizard on a quest to collect magical items for your spell book. You have 15 gold coins to spend. You find these items in the shop:
  • Dragon scale: 4 coins
  • Phoenix feather: 6 coins
  • Crystal ball: 3 coins
  • Spell scroll: 2 coins
Your challenge: Decide which items you can buy with your 15 coins and how much money you’ll have left. Step 1: List all items and their prices.
  • Dragon scale: 4 coins
  • Phoenix feather: 6 coins
  • Crystal ball: 3 coins
  • Spell scroll: 2 coins
Step 2: Choose two items to buy. Let’s say you choose the dragon scale and the phoenix feather.
  • Dragon scale: 4 coins
  • Phoenix feather: 6 coins
  • Total: 4 + 6 = 10 coins
Step 3: Check if you have enough money. You have 15 coins. 15 – 10 = 5 coins left over. Step 4: Try another combination. What if you buy the crystal ball and the spell scroll?
  • Crystal ball: 3 coins
  • Spell scroll: 2 coins
  • Total: 3 + 2 = 5 coins
You still have 15 – 5 = 10 coins left over. Can you find a combination that uses all 15 coins? What happens if you try to buy three items?

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Adding the prices wrong.
    Why it happens: When adding numbers, children can miscount or forget to carry numbers.
    Fix: Use your fingers or draw pictures to help count. Double-check your addition by adding again.
  • Mistake: Not checking if you have enough money.
    Why it happens: Children might want to buy everything and not think about how much they have.
    Fix: Always subtract the total from your money to see if you have enough or not.
  • Mistake: Thinking you can buy more than you have.
    Why it happens: It’s easy to get excited about buying things and forget the math.
    Fix: Count your coins first, then decide what you can afford.

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help your child by:
  • Playing pretend shopping games at home with coins or play money.
  • Encouraging them to add prices and check totals.
  • Letting them choose items and decide how to spend their money.
  • Discussing what they can and can’t afford, and why.
  • Practicing with real-life examples like buying snacks or planning a trip.
What to say:
  • “Let’s add up the prices to see how much that will cost.”
  • “How much money do you have? Can you buy that?”
  • “You saved some money. What could you buy with it?”
What not to worry about:
  • It’s okay if they make mistakes. They are learning!
  • Don’t rush them or tell them the answers. Let them think.
  • They don’t need to know exact real-world prices. Use fun numbers for the game.

Practice questions

  1. You have 12 coins. You want to buy a potion for 5 coins and a spell book for 4 coins. How much will it cost? How many coins will you have left?
  2. You find a magic wand for 8 coins and a crystal for 3 coins. Can you buy both if you have 10 coins? How much more do you need?
  3. You have 15 coins. You want to buy a potion for 6 coins and a scroll for 5 coins. How much money will you spend? How much will be left?
  4. You find 3 coins on the ground and then spend 7 coins on a spell. How many coins do you have now?
  5. You want to buy a dragon scale for 9 coins and a feather for 4 coins. You have 13 coins. How much money do you have left after buying both?
Answers:
  1. 5 + 4 = 9 coins. 12 – 9 = 3 coins left.
  2. 8 + 3 = 11 coins. 11 – 10 = 1 coin more needed.
  3. 6 + 5 = 11 coins. 15 – 11 = 4 coins left.
  4. 3 – 7 = -4 coins. You owe 4 coins.
  5. 9 + 4 = 13 coins. 13 – 13 = 0 coins left.

FAQ

How can I practice counting money at home?

You can use real coins or play money to practice counting and adding up prices. Try shopping with your child and letting them add up the total cost.

Why is it important to learn about money in games?

Learning about money in games helps children understand how it works in real life. It teaches them to plan, save, and make smart choices.

What if I don’t have enough money to buy something?

If you don’t have enough, you can save more money, choose cheaper items, or decide what’s most important to buy.

Can I use this math in real life?

Yes! You can use these skills when shopping, saving for a toy, or planning a trip. Math helps you make good decisions with your money.

What happens if I make a mistake with my money?

Mistakes are part of learning. If you make a mistake, you can check your work, ask for help, or try again. That’s how you get better at math!