🪙 Canadian Coins and Bills
Coins We Use Every Day:
• 5¢ → Nickel (silver)
• 10¢ → Dime (smallest silver coin)
• 25¢ → Quarter (big silver coin)
• $1 → Loonie (gold coin with a loon bird)
• $2 → Toonie (gold + silver with a polar bear)
Common Bills:
• $5 (blue) • $10 (purple) • $20 (green)
• $50 (red) • $100 (brown)
Important Tip: Always check the front and back of coins and bills. The loonie has a loon, and the toonie has a polar bear!
💰 Counting Money
Start with the biggest coins and bills first, then go smaller.
Example 1:
1 Toonie ($2) + 1 Loonie ($1) + 2 Quarters (50¢) + 3 Dimes (30¢) + 1 Nickel (5¢)
Total = $2 + $1 + $0.50 + $0.30 + $0.05 = $3.85
Example 2:
$10 bill + $5 bill + 3 quarters = $15.75
🛒 Making Change
When you pay more than the price, the cashier gives you change (money back).
Example:
A hockey puck costs $4.75. You pay with a $10 bill.
Change = $10.00 - $4.75 = $5.25
How to give change: $5 bill + 1 quarter
❤️ Needs vs Wants
Needs (must have):
Food, water, house, clothes, school supplies, medicine
Wants (nice to have):
Video games, new toys, candy, expensive shoes, big TV
Important Rule: Pay for Needs first, then use extra money for Wants.
📅 Budgeting – Making a Money Plan
A budget is a plan that shows how much money you get and how you will spend or save it.
My Weekly Budget Example (Allowance $10):
Needs: School snacks $3
Saving: $4 (for new hockey gloves)
Wants: $3 (for stickers or small toy)
🏦 Saving Money
Saving means keeping money for later instead of spending it right away.
Why save? For big goals like a new bike, trip, or emergency.
Saving Tips:
• Use a piggy bank or jar
• Set a goal and count your money every week
• Celebrate when you reach your goal!
🛍️ Spending Wisely
Spending wisely means thinking before you buy.
- Ask: Do I really need this?
- Compare prices
- Wait 1-2 days before buying something expensive
✏️ Let’s Practice Together, My Dear Student!
Practice 1: Counting Money
You have: 2 Toonies, 3 Loonies, 4 Quarters, 5 Dimes
Total = $4 + $3 + $1 + $0.50 = $8.50
Practice 2: Making Change
A Tim Hortons hot chocolate costs $3.25. You pay with $5.00.
Change = $1.75 (1 Toonie + 3 quarters)
Practice 3: Needs vs Wants
Sort these: School backpack, new video game, winter jacket, candy, bus ticket
Needs: School backpack, winter jacket, bus ticket
Wants: New video game, candy
Practice 4: Budgeting
You get $15 allowance. You need $6 for snacks and $4 for saving. How much left for wants?
$15 - $6 - $4 = $5 for wants
Challenge Questions
1. You want a $25 hockey stick. You save $4 every week. How many weeks do you need?
25 ÷ 4 = 6.25 → 7 weeks
2. You have $12. A toy costs $8.75. Do you have enough? How much change if you buy it?
Yes. Change = $3.25
Fantastic Job, My Dear Student! 🎉
You have learned so much about money today! Canadian coins and bills, counting, making change, budgeting, saving, spending wisely, and Needs vs Wants.
These skills will help you your whole life. Start practicing now — count your coins, make a simple budget, and think about Needs before Wants.
I am so very proud of you! You are becoming a smart and responsible person with money.
💕 You are smart. You are kind. You can do hard things and make good money choices.
When you are ready, tell me the next topic and I will create another beautiful lesson just for you!