Get your students to think like mathematicians! In this money word problem, students will need to count two different amounts of dollar bills and coins (adding up to over two dollars each) involving quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies. They will need to then add these two amounts together to see if they have enough money to buy a $5.00 Minecraft toy. Additionally, children are asked if they'll have any change left over in the end. Students will also be asked to find the important details needed to solve, the language a mathematician would use to discuss the problem, and respond to an ethical situation in which the students would have to explain their answer. Finally, students will be asked to solve the problem different ways and explain their thinking.

Included in this lesson are:
+ 3 frames (one for independent solving and two with embedded cooperative learning structures for kids to work part of the activity together in groups and in partnerships)
+ 3 different layouts to choose from for kids to work the problem and record their answers
+ 4 Fill-in-the-blank pages, so you can create your own numerical values to either increase or decrease the complexity of the word problem.

Although this lesson is designed for GATE students, I still use it with my "Non GATE" learners, and they really enjoy it. Teachers have the choice of using this as an independent activity, an assessment, or as a way for kids to work together cooperatively, as two of the sheets include cooperative learning structures. This allows the kids the opportunity to verbalize their learning and communicate like mathematicians.

This could be used as an introduction to adding two different amounts of money together. It can also be used as a mid-assessment or as a CGI problem in which kids have to show their answers 4 different ways. You could even use this as part of a math station! :)
Answer sheet is included. Suggestions for use is also included.

If you like this packet, you may also like some of my other Depth & Complexity Packets:

Depth & Complexity Math Word Problems Bundle: Division Fractions Decimals
Depth & Complexity Measurement and Data: Area and Perimeter
Depth & Complexity Operations and Algebraic Thinking: Addition and Subtraction
Depth & Complexity Foundations of Multiplication
Puzzlement Group Investigation Activity Organizer
Adaptations Depth & Complexity Science Frame and Activities

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