💰 Our First Class boys have been busy becoming Money Masters over the past few weeks as we explored the topic of money using Active Maths — and what a fantastic learning journey it has been! 💪🎨
Through hands-on, practical activities, the boys developed a wide range of important maths skills while having lots of fun along the way.
💵 Learning with Real & Replica Money
We used a mixture of real coins and replica money materials, giving the children the opportunity to explore money in a meaningful and safe way. Handling real coins helped them to:
Recognise different coins and their values
Identify numbers, symbols, and markings
Understand the concept of value
Develop fine motor skills through hands-on exploration
Using replica money allowed them to experiment freely — sorting, grouping, and counting without worry. The boys loved comparing the look, size, colour, and weight of the different coins.
🤝 Working Independently & in Pairs
The boys worked both individually and with partners, building not only their maths skills but also their teamwork and communication skills.
They explored:
Different ways to make the same amount of money
How coins can be combined in multiple ways
Counting on and counting in groups
Checking and explaining their thinking
For example, they discovered that the same total could be made using different combinations of coins — a fantastic way to develop flexible thinking and problem-solving skills.
Working in pairs encouraged discussion, turn-taking, listening skills, and confidence in explaining their mathematical reasoning.
🎨 Exploring Money Through Art
We even brought creativity into our maths lessons!
The boys created money rubbings, placing different coins under an A4 sheet of white paper. Using crayons, they carefully rubbed over the paper to reveal the detailed markings and designs on each coin.
This activity helped them:
Observe and compare the unique features of each coin
Notice shapes, numbers, symbols, and patterns
Strengthen fine motor control
Make cross-curricular links between Maths and Art
The excitement on their faces as the coin designs appeared through the crayon was priceless!
🌟 Skills We Gained
Throughout this topic, the boys developed:
Number recognition
Counting skills
Understanding of value
Problem-solving abilities
Flexible thinking
Communication skills
Teamwork
Fine motor development
Observation skills
Creativity
Most importantly, they learned that maths can be active, hands-on, creative, and fun!
We are so proud of how engaged, enthusiastic, and thoughtful our First Class boys have been during this topic. They truly are Money Masters in the making! 💰✨