Grade 3Mathmedium
Counting Coins and Making Change - Grade 3
Practice counting coins, making change, and solving money word problems with pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and dollars
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What Your Child Will Learn
- Identify and calculate the value of coin combinations including pennies (1¢), nickels (5¢), dimes (10¢), and quarters (25¢)
- Solve word problems involving purchasing items and determining correct change amounts up to $5.00
- Apply skip counting strategies to count mixed groups of coins efficiently and accurately
- Compare different coin combinations to determine which represents greater or lesser monetary values
- Calculate change by subtracting purchase amounts from given payment amounts using mental math strategies
How to Use This Worksheet
- Step 1: Review coin values together by having your child identify each coin type and state its value before beginning the worksheet
- Step 2: For counting problems, guide your child to sort coins by type first, then use skip counting (25, 50, 75 for quarters; 10, 20, 30 for dimes) to find totals
- Step 3: For word problems, have your child underline the important numbers (item cost, amount paid) and identify whether they need to count coins or make change
- Step 4: When making change, encourage your child to use the counting-up method or draw pictures of coins to visualize the problem
- Step 5: Check answers together by recounting coins or using a different method to verify solutions, reinforcing accurate money-counting skills
Tips for Parents & Teachers
Start with the largest coin values first when counting mixed coins - have students identify quarters (25¢), then dimes (10¢), nickels (5¢), and pennies (1¢) last to avoid counting errors and build confidence with larger numbers
Use real coins or coin manipulatives alongside the worksheet so students can physically group and move coins while solving problems, as many 3rd graders still benefit from hands-on learning when working with money values
Watch for the common mistake of confusing coin sizes with values - remind students that dimes are worth more than nickels and pennies even though they're smaller, and practice identifying coins by their unique features rather than size alone
For change-making problems, teach the 'counting up' method where students start from the purchase price and count up to the amount paid, as this is often easier for 3rd graders than subtraction
Frequently Asked Questions
My child keeps mixing up nickels and quarters because they're both silver. How can I help them tell the difference?
Focus on the size difference and unique features - quarters are much larger and have ridged edges you can feel, while nickels are smooth. Practice having your child close their eyes and feel the coins, or look for Washington's profile on quarters versus Jefferson's profile on nickels.
What's the best way to teach my 3rd grader to count mixed coins without getting confused?
Teach the 'biggest first' strategy - always start with quarters and count by 25s, then add dimes by 10s, nickels by 5s, and finally add pennies by 1s. Have them physically separate the coins into groups before counting to avoid mixing up the values.
My child struggles with making change. Are there easier methods than subtraction for 3rd grade?
Yes! Teach the 'counting up' method. If something costs 67¢ and they pay $1.00, start at 67¢ and count up: 68¢, 69¢, 70¢ (3 pennies), then 80¢, 90¢, $1.00 (3 dimes). The change is 3 pennies + 3 dimes = 33¢. This method feels more like counting than subtraction.
Should my child memorize coin values or is it okay to reference a chart while doing this worksheet?
At the 3rd grade level, students should be working toward memorizing basic coin values (penny=1¢, nickel=5¢, dime=10¢, quarter=25¢), but a reference chart is fine while they're learning. Gradually encourage independence by covering the chart for easier problems and using it only when needed.
How can I make sure my child understands money word problems and doesn't just focus on the numbers?
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