Engaging Australian Money Activities for Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 Students
Teaching money doesn’t have to be dull! When we bring Australian money activities into the classroom, it should be exciting, authentic, and, most importantly, relevant to our little learners.
If you are currently planning your maths units, you know that finding Australian money activities for Year 1 and Foundation that actually stick can be a challenge. We want our students to do more than just identify a gold coin; we want them to understand its value in the real world.
These three hands-on ideas are designed to bring financial literacy to life, fostering a deep understanding of Australian coins and notes while naturally enhancing addition strategies.
Looking for FREE Australian Money Posters, scroll to the end of this blog post!
1. Writing a Real-Life Lunch Order
One surefire way to teach Australian money is to ask students to write their own lunch orders. This is a brilliant Foundation money activity because it connects directly to a school experience they see every day.
How to do it:
- They then calculate the total cost using whole dollar amounts or cents.
- Use your actual school tuck-shop menu or a play menu (you can find one in my TPT store!).
- Students select their items and write them down.
Why this works for Financial Literacy
Using lunch orders helps students practice:
- Coin Recognition: Identifying which coins are needed for specific totals.
- Addition: Adding two or more items together.
- Budgeting: Giving students a “limit” (e.g., $10) to spend.
2. Catalogue Hunting with Australian Coins and Notes
If you’re looking for Australian money activities for Year 1 maths, look no further than the weekly grocery catalogue! This is a low-prep, high-engagement way to practice matching currency to price tags.
The Activity
Grab a stack of catalogues from Aldi, Coles, or Woolworths. Have students cut out items they want to “buy” and paste them into their workbooks. Their task is to cut and paste pictures of Australian coins and notes to match the item’s price.
Teacher Pro-Tip
During the festive season, I love doing this with toy catalogues! Students can create a “Christmas Wishlist,” which adds a huge layer of motivation. To make this even easier for your planning, I have a ready-to-go Shopping List activity on TPT where students can cut and paste the correct money to match their choices.
Why this works for Financial Literacy:
This activity bridges the gap between abstract numbers and real-world value. Students learn to navigate pricing structures and practice the physical act of “paying” for goods, which reinforces their understanding of how different denominations work together.
3. The Scholastic Book Club Wishlist
Is there anything more exciting than the Scholastic Book Club arrival? Capitalise on that buzz by turning it into one of your core Australian money activities for Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 students.
Similar to catalogue hunting, students browse the Book Club flyer to choose their favourite titles. They then tally the total cost and represent it with cute and pasted money pictures. It’s a beautiful way to combine a love for literature with practical maths skills.
Find the template complete with the cut and paste coins and notes in my Teachers Pay Teachers store!
Why this works for Financial Literacy:
Using the Book Club flyer teaches students to prioritise spending. When they have to choose between two books to stay within their “play budget,” they are practising decision-making and consumer awareness—key components of the primary maths curriculum.
Boost Your Maths Lessons with FREE Australian Money Posters!
I’ve found that having a clear visual reference makes a world of difference when students are first learning to differentiate between silver and gold coins. To help your little learners master recognising Australian coins and notes, I’ve created a set of vibrant posters that I use as an anchor chart in my own classroom. They are bright enough to catch their eye but clear enough to act as a genuine reference point while they work through their money activities for Year 1 maths. You can grab them for free below!
I hope you and your little learners enjoy these hands-on, real-life Australian money activities! All the printables mentioned today are available in my shop to save you prep time.
Happy teaching, and remember to teach big and change the world!
