Lesson Plan
Change Champions Lesson Plan
Students will calculate correct change by subtracting item costs from payment amounts, demonstrating essential mental math and financial literacy skills.
Developing the ability to give accurate change builds financial confidence, sharpens mental subtraction skills, and prepares students for real-world money handling.
Audience
6th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive modeling, guided practice, and real-world scenarios.
Materials
Change Champions Worksheet, Change Champions Flashcards, Mini Whiteboards and Markers, Dry-Erase Markers and Erasers, and Answer Key: Change Champions Worksheet
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
- Print copies of Change Champions Worksheet and Change Champions Flashcards
- Review the Answer Key: Change Champions Worksheet
- Gather mini whiteboards, dry-erase markers, and erasers
Step 1
Warm-Up
5 minutes
- Ask students to share a recent purchase and how they received or paid change
- Display a $10 play bill and pose: "If you buy something for $7.25, how much change do you get?"
- Elicit strategies and mental math approaches
Step 2
Introduction & Modeling
7 minutes
- Use Change Champions Flashcards to present sample transactions
- Model subtraction: Payment amount minus item cost to find change
- Demonstrate with $10 – $5.50 = $4.50, verbalizing each step
Step 3
Guided Practice
8 minutes
- Distribute Change Champions Worksheet
- Complete the first three problems together, calling on volunteers to explain their thinking
- Provide immediate feedback and correct any errors
Step 4
Independent Practice
7 minutes
- Students work individually on the remaining worksheet problems
- Circulate to monitor progress and assist learners as needed
- Encourage use of mental math and scratch paper for calculations
Step 5
Cool-Down & Reflection
3 minutes
- Invite students to share one subtraction strategy they used
- Discuss how calculating change applies to real-life shopping experiences
- Remind students to practice these skills whenever they handle money
use Lenny to create lessons.
Slide Deck
Change Champions: Calculating Correct Change
6th Grade Financial Literacy
30-Minute Tier 1 Lesson
Welcome students and introduce the slide deck. Say: “Today we become Change Champions! We’ll learn how to calculate correct change quickly and accurately.”
Lesson Objectives
• Calculate correct change by subtracting cost from payment
• Practice mental subtraction strategies
• Apply skills to real-world shopping scenarios
Read each objective aloud. Emphasize mental math and real-world application.
Why Calculate Change?
• Real-life shopping and transactions
• Builds financial confidence
• Strengthens mental subtraction skills
Discuss why this skill matters: paying for items, budgeting, confidence with money.
Steps to Calculate Change
- Identify the payment amount (e.g., $10.00)
- Identify the item cost (e.g., $7.25)
- Subtract cost from payment to find change
[Image: coins and bills]
Walk through each step, pointing to the icons. Remind students: always start with payment amount.
Worked Example
You pay $10.00 for an item that costs $7.25.
$10.00 – $7.25 = $2.75
You receive $2.75 in change.
Model this example slowly. Use a mini whiteboard to write each number and subtraction operation.
Guided Practice
Problem A: Pay $20.00 for a $13.45 item.
Problem B: Pay $5.00 for a $2.10 snack.
• Solve together on your mini whiteboards
Use flashcards to present Problem A and B. Invite volunteers to solve on the board.
Independent Practice
• Complete the remaining problems on Change Champions Worksheet
• Work quietly and raise your hand if you need help
Direct students to their worksheets. Remind them to use mental math or scratch paper.
Cool-Down & Reflection
• Share one subtraction strategy you used
• How will you use this skill in real-life shopping?
Call on a few students to share. Reinforce connections to shopping experiences.
Worksheet
Change Champions Worksheet
Name: _________________________ Date: _______________
Part A: Quick Change Calculations
Subtract the item cost from the payment amount to find the correct change. Show your answer in dollars and cents.
- You pay $15.00 for an item that costs $8.75. What is your change?
_______________ - You pay $25.00 for an item that costs $19.30. What is your change?
_______________ - You pay $10.00 for an item that costs $4.65. What is your change?
_______________ - You pay $7.50 for a snack that costs $2.85. What is your change?
_______________ - You pay $50.00 for a gadget that costs $33.99. What is your change?
_______________ - You pay $100.00 for supplies that cost $47.58. What is your change?
_______________
Part B: Word Problems
Read each scenario carefully. Calculate the change and show your subtraction steps on your scratch paper.
- Maria buys a backpack for $29.45. She hands the cashier a $50 bill. How much change does she receive?
_______________ - At the school store, Jamal purchases a water bottle for $4.25 and a notebook for $2.80. He pays with a $10 bill. How much change should he get back?
_______________ - A toy costs $18.60. You pay with two $10 bills. How much change will you receive?
_______________ - Lily buys snacks totaling $6.95 and drinks totaling $3.50. She gives the cashier a $20 bill. What is her change?
_______________
Great work, Change Champion! Remember to double-check your subtraction and think about dollars and cents as you calculate change. For extra practice, see Change Champions Flashcards.
Answer Key
Answer Key: Change Champions Worksheet
Below are the detailed subtraction steps and final answers for each problem on the Change Champions Worksheet.
Part A: Quick Change Calculations
-
You pay $15.00 for an item that costs $8.75.
• Step 1: $15.00 – $8.00 = $7.00
• Step 2: $7.00 – $0.75 = $6.25
Answer: $6.25 -
You pay $25.00 for an item that costs $19.30.
• Step 1: $25.00 – $19.00 = $6.00
• Step 2: $6.00 – $0.30 = $5.70
Answer: $5.70 -
You pay $10.00 for an item that costs $4.65.
• Step 1: $10.00 – $4.00 = $6.00
• Step 2: $6.00 – $0.65 = $5.35
Answer: $5.35 -
You pay $7.50 for a snack that costs $2.85.
• Step 1: $7.50 – $2.50 = $5.00
• Step 2: $5.00 – $0.35 = $4.65
Answer: $4.65 -
You pay $50.00 for a gadget that costs $33.99.
• Step 1: $50.00 – $33.00 = $17.00
• Step 2: $17.00 – $0.99 = $16.01
Answer: $16.01 -
You pay $100.00 for supplies that cost $47.58.
• Step 1: $100.00 – $47.00 = $53.00
• Step 2: $53.00 – $0.58 = $52.42
Answer: $52.42
Part B: Word Problems
-
Maria buys a backpack for $29.45 and pays with a $50 bill.
• Step 1: $50.00 – $29.00 = $21.00
• Step 2: $21.00 – $0.45 = $20.55
Answer: $20.55 -
Jamal purchases a water bottle ($4.25) and a notebook ($2.80), paying with a $10 bill.
• Step 1 (add costs): $4.25 + $2.80 = $7.05
• Step 2: $10.00 – $7.05 = $2.95
Answer: $2.95 -
A toy costs $18.60. You pay with two $10 bills ($20.00).
• Step 1: $20.00 – $18.00 = $2.00
• Step 2: $2.00 – $0.60 = $1.40
Answer: $1.40 -
Lily buys snacks totaling $6.95 and drinks totaling $3.50, and gives a $20 bill.
• Step 1 (add totals): $6.95 + $3.50 = $10.45
• Step 2: $20.00 – $10.45 = $9.55
Answer: $9.55
Use these worked steps to guide grading and to reinforce subtraction strategies when reviewing student work.
Activity
Change Champions Flashcards
Use these flashcards for quick modeling and practice. Show the front (payment and cost) and ask students to calculate the change. Then reveal the back (answer).
Card 1
Front: Pay $10.00, Cost $7.25
Back: Change $2.75
Card 2
Front: Pay $15.00, Cost $8.75
Back: Change $6.25
Card 3
Front: Pay $25.00, Cost $19.30
Back: Change $5.70
Card 4
Front: Pay $10.00, Cost $4.65
Back: Change $5.35
Card 5
Front: Pay $7.50, Cost $2.85
Back: Change $4.65
Card 6
Front: Pay $50.00, Cost $33.99
Back: Change $16.01
Card 7
Front: Pay $100.00, Cost $47.58
Back: Change $52.42
Card 8
Front: Pay $50.00, Cost $29.45
Back: Change $20.55
Card 9
Front: Pay $10.00, Cost $7.05 (water bottle + notebook)
Back: Change $2.95
Card 10
Front: Pay $20.00, Cost $10.45 (snacks $6.95 + drinks $3.50)
Back: Change $9.55