Money

What is money? Money is what we use to buy things like food, toys and clothes. We give money to a shopkeeper and get the things we want. Money helps us trade instead of swapping items.

Types of money — there are two common types children see: coins and notes. Coins are small and round (for example 1, 2, 5 and 10 rupee coins). Notes are paper money (for example 10, 20, 50 rupee notes). Each coin or note has a value printed on it.

How we use money — (1) Recognize the coin or note and its value. (2) Count coins and notes to know how much money we have. (3) Pay the seller the right amount. If we give more, we get change back. This uses adding and subtracting.

Simple counting steps — put same coins together, count how many, then add their values. Use a number line or draw coins to help add. For example, two 2-rupee coins make 4 rupees; one 5-rupee coin and one 1-rupee coin together make 6 rupees.

Good money habits — recognise notes and coins, count carefully, save some money, and share kindly. Learning about money helps practice numbers, addition and subtraction.

What is currency? Currency is the money we use to buy things. In India we use notes (paper money) and coins (metal money). Each note and coin has a value written on it, for example 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 rupees etc.

Notes and coins for young learners

• Coins commonly seen: 1, 2, 5, 10 rupees (and sometimes 50 paise).
• Notes commonly seen: 5, 10, 20, 50 rupees (and higher values such as 100, 200, 500, 2000).

How to use notes and coins

• To find how much money you have, add the values of all the notes and coins.
• To buy something, check if the money you have is equal to or more than the price.
• If you give more than the price, the shopkeeper gives you change: Change = Money given - Price.

Counting tips for Class 1

• Group same coins/notes together and count their total value (for example, two 5-rupee notes = 5 + 5 = 10 rupees).
• Use pictures of coins and notes to add visually (show three 1-rupee coins as 1 + 1 + 1 = 3).
• Use number line or place coins on a table to compare amounts (which pile is more, which is less?).

What is Value? Value is the amount of money a coin or note represents. For example, a 1-rupee coin has value 1 rupee, a 5-rupee note has value 5 rupees. To find the value of several coins or notes, we add their amounts.

What is Comparison? Comparison tells us which amount is more, which is less, or if two amounts are equal. We use symbols: > (greater than), < (less than), = (equal to).

How to compare amounts (easy steps):

• Count the value of each group of coins or notes.
• Make sure you use the same unit (rupees and paise). Remember 100 paise = 1 rupee.
• Use the symbols >, <, = to show which amount is bigger, smaller, or the same.

Tips for young learners: group coins of the same value, use real coins or pictures to count, and place amounts on a number line to see which is bigger.

What it means
Counting and making amounts means recognising coins and notes, adding their values, and using them to make a required amount (for example, making Rs 10 using different coins). Children learn to count same coins, put different coins together, and find totals or change.

Key ideas

• Recognise common coins and notes (for example: 1p/1paise, 5p/5paise, 10p/10paise, Rs 1, Rs 2, Rs 5, Rs 10). Use local currency coins/notes children see at home.
• Count coins of the same value by repeated addition (e.g., three Rs 2 coins = Rs 2 + Rs 2 + Rs 2 = Rs 6).
• Make an amount by choosing coins/notes that add up to that value (for example, Rs 7 can be made as Rs 5 + Rs 2, or Rs 2 + Rs 2 + Rs 2 + Rs 1).
• Use simple subtraction to give change: Change = Amount paid − Cost.
• Understand a basic conversion: 1 rupee = 100 paise (introduce paise gently; focus mostly on whole rupees in Class 1).

How to teach and practice

1. Start with real coins and notes so children can touch and match pictures to value.
2. Group same coins and count by twos, fives, or tens as appropriate (counting shortcuts).
3. Show different ways to make the same amount (many small coins or fewer larger coins).
4. Play shop: give a price, have children pay using coins/notes and find the change.

What is buying and selling? Buying means taking something from a shop by giving money. Selling means giving something to a buyer and taking money in return. The amount of money asked for an item is called its price.

Who is who? The person who gives money is the buyer. The person who takes money and gives the item is the seller.

Simple steps in a transaction:

• Look at the price of the item.
• Give the money to the seller.
• If you give the exact price, the transaction finishes.
• If you give more money, the seller gives you back the extra money called change.

Using more than one item: When you buy two or more items, add their prices to find the total cost. Then give money for the total. If you give more, you get change.

Short note for Class 1: Use real coins and notes to practice. Counting coins, adding small prices, and receiving change helps understand money better.

What it means
Writing and reading amounts means telling how much money there is and writing that amount correctly. Money in India has two parts: rupees and paise. We use the rupee symbol (₹) or 'Rs.' to show rupees and write paise as 'paise' or 'p'.

How to read an amount

• Read the rupee part first, then the paise part. Example: ₹12.30 is read as "twelve rupees thirty paise."
• If there are no paise, say only rupees: ₹5 → "five rupees."
• If rupees are zero and only paise remain, say only paise: 50 paise → "fifty paise."
• When paise has one digit (like 5 paise), read it normally: ₹3.05 → "three rupees five paise."

How to write an amount

• Write the number for rupees, then a dot or space and the paise (if any). Examples: ₹8, Rs. 8, or 8 rupees; ₹2.50 or Rs. 2 50 paise.
• Always keep paise less than 100. If paise reaches 100 or more, convert 100 paise = 1 rupee.

Things to remember

• 1 rupee = 100 paise.
• Say rupees first, then paise when reading aloud.
• Use pictures of coins and notes to help read and write small amounts.

Simple word problems on Money help Class 1 children use counting, addition and subtraction with real coins and notes in everyday situations. The goal is to read a short story, understand what is asked, represent the money (by drawing coins or using counters), do a small calculation and give the answer.

Steps to solve a word problem:

• Read the problem slowly and circle the numbers (how much money each person has or how much something costs).
• Decide whether you must add (to find the total) or subtract (to find what is left or the change).
• Draw coins or use counters to show the amounts (for example, draw three 1-rupee coins as 1, 1, 1).
• Write a simple number sentence (for example, 2 + 3 = 5 or 5 - 2 = 3) and solve it.
• Check your answer by counting again or using a number line.

Teaching tips and classroom activities:

• Use real or play coins and notes for hands-on practice.
• Make a pretend shop where children buy and sell small items to practise making totals and finding change.
• Encourage drawing coin pictures and using a number line to show adding or taking away.

What this topic is about

Practical Activities and Games help Class 1 children learn about money by touching, seeing and using real or play coins and notes. Through role play, sorting and simple games they learn to recognise coins and notes, count small amounts, make simple additions and understand the idea of paying and getting change.

Learning goals

• Recognise common coins and notes (look, size, colour, value).
• Count small sums using coins (1s, 2s, 5s, 10s as appropriate).
• Make a given amount using different coins.
• Understand basic buying: cost, payment and change.
• Develop number sense, addition and subtraction in real life contexts.

Simple activities and how to do them

• Shopkeeper role play: Children use play money and price tags. One child is the shopkeeper and others are customers. Objective: identify coins, add small amounts and practise paying. Tip: Start with prices under 10 (e.g., 3, 5).
• Coin sorting: Give mixed coins and ask children to sort by value or size. Objective: recognise and name coins.
• Make the amount game: Give a target amount (for example, 7). Children pick coins that add to the target. Objective: practise addition and combinations.
• Treasure hunt: Hide picture coins around the room and ask children to collect exactly 10 rupees using different coins. Objective: counting and selection strategies.
• Coin match memory: Make pairs of cards (picture of coin and value). Turn over two cards to find matches. Objective: reinforce recognition.
• Piggy bank savings chart: Each child drops coins into a piggy bank for a week and records totals. Objective: repeated addition and introduction to saving.

Classroom management and materials

Use real coins (if safe), play coins, printed pictures or laminated cards. Keep amounts small and games short (5–10 minutes). Use clear price labels and provide helpers for counting.

How these activities connect to math skills

• Counting and addition: adding coin values to find totals.
• Subtraction (introductory): finding change = paid amount − cost.
• Sorting and classification: grouping coins by value or size.
• Representation: showing amounts with pictures or bar/picture graphs.