Counting money is a practical Grade 3 skill because it combines skip counting, place value, addition, and real-world reasoning. Students need to recognize coins, count by 25s, 10s, 5s, and 1s, write money using dollar-and-cent notation, and solve simple buying or change problems.
This worksheet is designed for home practice, small groups, tutoring, or a quick classroom review. It starts with coin totals, then moves into word problems. Answers are included so students can check their work and teachers can see which coin values need reteaching.
Before You Start
- Penny = 1 cent
- Nickel = 5 cents
- Dime = 10 cents
- Quarter = 25 cents
- 100 cents = 1 dollar
A good counting strategy is to start with the largest coin value, then count down: quarters first, then dimes, then nickels, then pennies. This reduces errors because students handle the biggest jumps before the smaller ones.
Worksheet A: Count the Coins
Find the total value for each set of coins.
- 2 quarters, 1 dime, 3 pennies
- 1 quarter, 4 dimes, 2 nickels
- 3 quarters, 2 nickels, 4 pennies
- 5 dimes, 3 nickels, 2 pennies
- 4 quarters, 1 dime, 1 nickel
- 2 quarters, 3 dimes, 1 nickel, 6 pennies
- 1 quarter, 1 dime, 1 nickel, 1 penny
- 6 nickels and 7 pennies
- 3 quarters and 5 dimes
- 2 quarters, 2 dimes, 2 nickels, 2 pennies
Worksheet B: Write the Amount
Write each amount using dollar-and-cent notation.
- 143 cents
- 75 cents
- 208 cents
- 99 cents
- 125 cents
Worksheet C: Word Problems
- A notebook costs $1.25. A pencil costs $0.35. How much do they cost together?
- Jaden has 3 quarters, 2 dimes, and 4 pennies. Does he have enough to buy a snack that costs $1.00?
- Emma pays $2.00 for a bookmark that costs $1.35. How much change should she get?
- A toy costs $3.40. A sticker costs $0.85. How much more does the toy cost than the sticker?
- Sam has $1.50. He earns 2 quarters and 3 dimes. How much money does he have now?
- A class collects coins for a fundraiser: 8 quarters, 6 dimes, and 12 pennies. What is the total amount?
- A juice costs $1.10 and a granola bar costs $0.90. If you pay with $3.00, how much change do you receive?
- Which is more money: 4 quarters or 9 dimes? How much more?
Answer Key
Worksheet A
- 63 cents, or $0.63
- 75 cents, or $0.75
- 89 cents, or $0.89
- 67 cents, or $0.67
- $1.15
- $0.91
- $0.41
- $0.37
- $1.25
- $0.82
Worksheet B
- $1.43
- $0.75
- $2.08
- $0.99
- $1.25
Worksheet C
- $1.60
- No. He has $0.99, so he is short by $0.01.
- $0.65
- $2.55 more
- $2.30
- $2.72
- $1.00 change
- 4 quarters is $1.00 and 9 dimes is $0.90, so 4 quarters is $0.10 more.
Common Mistakes
- Counting coins in random order: Students may jump from 25 to 35 to 40 to 65 and lose track. Sort coins by value first.
- Writing cents as dollars incorrectly: 75 cents is $0.75, not $75 or $0.075.
- Forgetting to compare with the price: In “Do I have enough?” problems, students must find the total and compare it to the cost.
- Subtracting change incorrectly: Check by adding price plus change to see whether it equals the amount paid.
Reteaching Routine
If a student misses more than three coin-total problems, return to physical coins. Place quarters in one row, dimes in another, nickels in another, and pennies last. Have the student count aloud: 25, 50, 75, then 85, 95, then 100, 105, and so on. After the student can count physical coins, move back to written problems.
Extension Questions
For students who finish quickly, add comparison and making-change tasks. These push students beyond counting into reasoning.
- You have 6 quarters. Can you trade them for one dollar bill and still have money left? How much?
- A snack costs $1.35. Show two different coin combinations that equal exactly $1.35.
- You have $2.00. You buy an item for $0.78. How much change do you get?
- Which is more: 12 nickels or 5 dimes? Explain.
Extension Answers
- Yes. Six quarters is $1.50, so after trading for one dollar, $0.50 remains.
- Answers vary. One example: 5 quarters and 1 dime. Another: 4 quarters, 3 dimes, and 1 nickel.
- $1.22.
- 12 nickels is $0.60 and 5 dimes is $0.50, so 12 nickels is $0.10 more.
How to Grade This Worksheet
Do not count every wrong answer the same way. A student who writes $0.63 as 63 dollars has a notation issue. A student who counts 2 quarters as 40 cents has a coin-value issue. A student who solves the total correctly but misses a change problem has a subtraction or comparison issue. Sorting errors this way makes the next lesson clear.
Quick Exit Ticket
End the lesson with one fast check: “Show 87 cents using at least one quarter, one dime, one nickel, and one penny.” This forces students to combine coin values instead of memorizing one pattern. A correct answer is 2 quarters, 3 dimes, 1 nickel, and 2 pennies. If the student can explain the count aloud, the skill is ready for mixed word problems.
ViewMath Grade 3 resources include money practice along with multiplication, division, fractions, area, perimeter, time, data, and geometry. Use this worksheet as a focused skill check, then move into mixed review so students learn when money math appears inside larger word problems.
