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Real World Maths Adventures

The ice-cream van money question prompts

Adult prompts and extension questions for use prices, change, multipacks and choices.

Quick answer

The ice-cream van money question prompts help children practice real-life maths skills like counting money, calculating change, working with multipacks, and making choices based on prices.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to solve money problems involving prices, change, and choices – just like you might do when buying ice cream from a van. Success signs:
  • You can count up how much money you need for different ice-cream choices
  • You can work out how much change you should get
  • You can compare prices to find the best deal
  • You can solve problems about buying more than one ice cream

Why this matters

Money maths is everywhere! When you go to the ice-cream van, you need to know how much your favourite ice cream costs, how much change you’ll get, and if you can afford to buy two scoops. These skills help you make smart choices, count your money, and feel confident when shopping. Whether it's at the van, the shop, or online, understanding money problems helps you become a smart shopper and saver.

How it works

Here's how to solve ice-cream van money questions:
  1. Look at the prices – Find out how much each ice cream costs
  2. Decide what you want – Choose your ice cream or combination
  3. Count the total – Add up the cost of your choices
  4. Work out change – Subtract how much you paid from how much you owe
  5. Check your answer – Make sure it makes sense

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you are at the ice-cream van with your friends. Here are some real-life examples: Example 1: How much does one ice cream cost? The van sells chocolate ice creams for 60p each. If you buy 3 chocolate ice creams, how much do you pay?
  • Each ice cream costs 60p
  • So, 3 × 60p = 180p = £1.80
Example 2: How much change do you get? You have £2 and buy a strawberry ice cream for 75p. How much change should you get?
  • You pay £2 = 200p
  • The ice cream costs 75p
  • Change = 200p – 75p = 125p = £1.25
Example 3: Buying more than one You want to buy 2 vanilla ice creams and 1 chocolate ice cream. Vanilla is 50p, chocolate is 60p. How much do they cost altogether?
  • 2 × 50p = 100p
  • 1 × 60p = 60p
  • Total = 100p + 60p = 160p = £1.60

Try it as a mini adventure

The Ice-Cream Van Challenge You are going to the ice-cream van with £3. You want to buy as many ice creams as possible. Here’s your list:
  • Vanilla ice cream = 50p
  • Chocolate ice cream = 60p
  • Strawberry ice cream = 75p
Your mission: Decide what to buy to get the most ice creams for your £3.
  1. First time: What ice cream costs the least? Vanilla
  2. Second time: How many vanilla ice creams can you buy with £3? 6 ice creams (6 × 50p = £3)
  3. Third time: What if you buy 2 chocolate ice creams and 1 strawberry? 2 × 60p = 120p, 1 × 75p = 75p, Total = 195p = £1.95
  4. Fourth time: How much money do you have left? £3 – £1.95 = £1.05
  5. Fifth time: What else can you buy with £1.05? 2 more vanilla ice creams (2 × 50p = £1)
You could buy: 2 chocolate + 1 strawberry + 2 vanilla = 5 ice creams for £2.95, leaving you with 5p.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Adding prices wrong when buying more than one ice cream.
    Why it happens: Children might forget to multiply the price by the number of items.
    Fix: Use repeated addition or arrays to show how many times the price is added.
  • Mistake: Confusing £ and p when working out change.
    Why it happens: Mixing up pounds and pence without thinking carefully.
    Fix: Always write money in the same way (either all in pence or all in pounds) and double-check your subtraction.
  • Mistake: Not checking if the answer makes sense.
    Why it happens: Rushing through the problem without thinking.
    Fix: Ask yourself, "Does this answer seem right?" For example, if you paid £5 for something that costs 50p, you should get £4.50 back – not £45!

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can support children by:
  • Playing a pretend ice-cream van game at home with real coins or play money
  • Letting children choose items from a menu and calculate the total
  • Using real-life shopping trips to talk about prices and change
  • Encouraging children to think of their own ice-cream van problems
  • Practising counting in 10s and 25s to help with pence
How to help in 5–10 minutes: 1. Show a price list of ice creams. 2. Ask your child to pick 3 items and add them up. 3. Ask how much change they’d get if they paid with £5. 4. Encourage them to explain how they solved it. 5. Celebrate their thinking and correct any errors gently. What not to worry about: - It’s normal for children to make mistakes – they’re learning! - Some children may need more time to understand, and that’s okay. - Don’t rush them; let them explore and think.

Practice questions

  1. You buy 4 strawberry ice creams. Each costs 75p. How much do you pay?
  2. You pay with £2 for a chocolate ice cream that costs 60p. How much change do you get?
  3. You want to buy 2 vanilla ice creams and 1 chocolate ice cream. Vanilla is 50p, chocolate is 60p. What is the total cost?
  4. You have £3. You buy 3 vanilla ice creams. How much change do you get?
  5. You buy 2 strawberry ice creams and 1 vanilla ice cream. Strawberry = 75p, vanilla = 50p. What is the total?
Answers:
  1. 4 × 75p = 300p = £3
  2. £2 – 60p = £1.40
  3. 2 × 50p = 100p, 1 × 60p = 60p, Total = 160p = £1.60
  4. 3 × 50p = 150p = £1.50, £3 – £1.50 = £1.50
  5. 2 × 75p = 150p, 1 × 50p = 50p, Total = 200p = £2

FAQ

How can I make learning about ice-cream van money fun?

You can play a game where you pretend to be the ice-cream van owner or customer. Use real coins or play money, and let your child set prices, sell items, and give change. This makes it feel like a real adventure!

What if my child finds money problems confusing?

Start with simple addition and subtraction using real coins. Use visual aids like drawings or counters to help them see how money works. Practice counting in 10s and 25s to build confidence with pence.

How can I help my child with change calculations?

Use a number line to show how to count up from the price to the amount paid. For example, if something costs 75p and you pay £2, count up from 75p to 100p (25p), then to £2 (100p). Total change = 125p = £1.25.

Can I use this with children of different ages?

Yes! Younger children (ages 4–6) can practice simple addition and counting. Older children (ages 10–12) can work with larger numbers, decimals, and more complex combinations.

Why is learning about money important?

Money skills help children understand value, make decisions, and become confident in everyday life. They learn to budget, save, and think critically about spending – all important life skills.