2nd Grade Money Worksheets for Counting Coins, Making Change & Word Problems

Looking for 2nd grade money worksheets? These printable and digital money worksheets help students practice counting coins, counting dollars and cents, adding and subtracting money, making change, and solving money word problems. Each worksheet gives students focused practice with an important 2nd grade math money skill.

What You’ll Find in This Post

They say time is money, and with everything we’ve included in this post, you’re going to save hours of planning! We’ve matched each money skill with a worksheet, read aloud, skills video, and extra practice activity. Now you can go spend your time on something fun!

In this post, you’ll find:

• 2nd grade money worksheets for counting coins
• Dollars and cents worksheets
• Coin addition and subtraction practice
• Making change worksheets
• Money word problem worksheets
• Read alouds, videos, and hands-on money activities for each skill

How Do You Teach Coin Counting in 2nd Grade?

Coin counting is one of the first money skills 2nd graders need to master. Students need repeated practice identifying coins, remembering coin values, and counting mixed coin amounts accurately.

Start with the Worksheet: Money Maker

In the Money Maker Worksheet, students visit a garage sale and figure out how much money each child made. They count the coins, write the total amount in the box, and compare totals to decide who earned the most money.

Turn This Worksheet Into a Full Lesson

Use this worksheet as the anchor for a simple, low-prep coin counting lesson:

1. Warm up with coin values.
   Review the name and value of each coin. Have students show each coin with real money, plastic coins, or a coin chart.
2. Model one problem together.
   Project the worksheet or show one example. Think aloud as you count the coins from greatest value to least value.
3. Practice with partners.
   Have students complete a few problems with a partner. Encourage them to say the coin values out loud as they count.
4. Finish independently.
   Students complete the rest of the worksheet on their own while you pull a small group or check in with students who need extra support.
5. Wrap up with comparison.
   Ask: “Who made the most money at the garage sale? How do you know?”

Add a Read Aloud

Pair the lesson with The Coin Counting Book by Rozanne Lanczak Williams to reinforce coin names, values, and counting money in a kid-friendly way.

Reinforce the Skill With a Quick Math Video

For a quick review of coin values, play this coin song before students begin the worksheet. It’s catchy and gives students a simple reminder of each coin’s value.

Beyond the Worksheet: Open a Classroom Store

For more coin counting practice, open a simple “store” in your classroom. Choose a few classroom items, label each one with a coin amount, and let students take turns being the shopper and the clerk.

Students can count out the correct coin amount to “buy” an item, check a partner’s total, or create their own price tags. You can also turn this into a whole-group activity by making a grocery ad and counting coin totals together.

Teacher Tip: Students often understand money concepts more quickly when they use real coins or coin manipulatives before moving to worksheets. Try having students build each amount with coins first, then write the total on the worksheet. This gives students hands-on practice and helps them catch counting mistakes.

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How Can Students Practice Counting Dollars and Cents?

Once students understand coin values, they are ready to count larger money amounts using both bills and coins. This skill helps 2nd graders build confidence with real-world money math.

Start with the Worksheet: Dollars and Cents

In the Dollars and Cents Worksheet, students count groups of bills and coins in each row. Then, they record the total amount on the answer sheet.

This worksheet is a great next step for students who have already practiced counting coins and are ready to combine dollars and cents.

Turn This Worksheet Into a Full Lesson

Use this worksheet as the anchor for a simple, low-prep counting money lesson:

1. Warm up with coin and bill values.
   Quickly review the value of each coin and bill students will see on the worksheet. Have students practice counting by 1s, 5s, 10s, 25s, and dollars.
2. Model how to count dollars first.
   Project one row from the worksheet and think aloud as you count the bills before the coins. For example: “I see 2 dollars first. Now I’ll add the quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies.”
3. Practice one row together.
   Count the money as a class and record the total. Remind students to include both the dollar amount and the cents.
4. Complete the worksheet with support.
   Have students work with a partner or independently. Encourage them to circle the bills, count the coins, and then combine the totals.
5. Review common mistakes.
   Bring the class back together and discuss any tricky rows. Ask students to explain how they counted the money and checked their total.

Add a Read Aloud

Pair the lesson with A Dollar, a Penny, How Much and How Many? by Brian P. Cleary This book helps reinforce the relationship between coins, bills, and money amounts in a fun, student-friendly way.

Reinforce the Skill With a Quick Math Video

Use the coin race video as a quick warm-up or review before students begin. In this 2nd grade money video, students race to the finish line by adding coin amounts correctly.

Beyond the Worksheet: Set Up a Coin Race

Turn the Dollars and Cents Worksheet into a classroom coin race. Print the worksheet and cut it into strips. Tape the strips around the room and have students move from problem to problem like “pit stops.”

At each stop, students count the money and record their answer on the worksheet. Students can race against the clock, work with a partner, or try to complete every stop accurately before checking their answers.

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How Can Students Practice Adding and Subtracting Money?

Once students can count coins, they are ready to use money in addition and subtraction problems. This skill helps 2nd graders apply coin values to real-world situations, like spending money, losing coins, or figuring out how much money they have left.

Start with the Worksheet: Money Word Problems

In the Money Word Problems Worksheet, students solve addition and subtraction problems using coins.

For example:

Rylie has 2 dimes and 3 pennies. She lost 1 penny. How much money does Rylie have now?

Students read each money word problem, solve for the total, and cut and glue the correct answer in the box. This gives students practice counting coins, choosing the correct operation, and checking their answers.

Turn This Worksheet Into a Full Lesson

Use this worksheet as the anchor for a simple, low-prep money addition and subtraction lesson:

1. Warm up with coin values.
   Review pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. Have students practice counting small coin combinations before solving word problems.
2. Model how to read the problem.
   Project one problem from the worksheet and underline the important information. Ask students: “What coins do we have? Are we adding money or taking money away?”
3. Solve one problem together.
   Use real coins, coin manipulatives, or drawings to model the problem. Show students how to count the starting amount, then add or subtract coins to find the answer.
4. Practice with partners.
   Have students solve a few problems with a partner. Encourage them to explain how they know whether to add or subtract.
5. Complete and check.
   Students finish the worksheet independently, then cut and glue the correct answers. Review a few problems together and have students share their strategies.

Add a Read Aloud

Pair the lesson with Rock, Brock, And the Savings Shock by Sheila Blair. This read aloud connects money math to saving, spending, and making choices with money.

Reinforce the Skill With a Quick Math Video

Use this money addition and subtraction video to show students how money is used in a store setting. Students follow along as two friends add to find the total cost of their purchase and subtract to figure out the amount of change they will receive.

Beyond the Worksheet: Play Money Battle

After students complete the Money Word Problems Worksheet, have them cut the worksheet apart so each problem becomes a card.

Students can play Money Battle in pairs or groups of three:

• Play continues until one student collects all the cards.
• Each student stacks their problem cards face down.
• Everyone flips over one card at the same time.
• Students solve the problem on their card.

The student with the highest money amount keeps all the cards from that round.

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How Can 2nd Graders Practice Making Change?

Making change can be a tricky money skill for 2nd graders because it requires students to count money, compare amounts, and think about what is left over. Starting with $1 gives students a manageable amount to work with while they build confidence.

Start with the Worksheet: Correct Change / Not Correct

In the Correct Change / Not Correct Worksheet, students pretend they have $1 to spend on a shopping trip. They look at the price tag for each item and decide whether they have the correct amount of change.

Then, students cut, sort, and glue each item into the correct or not correct column.

Turn This Worksheet Into a Full Lesson

Use this worksheet as the anchor for a simple, low-prep making change lesson:

1. Warm up with $1.
   Review that $1 is the same as 100 cents. Have students build $1 using different coin combinations.
2. Introduce the problem.
   Show students one item from the worksheet. Ask: “If I have $1 and I buy this item, how much change should I get back?”
3. Model two strategies.
   Show students how to make change by counting up from the price to $1 and by subtracting the price from 100 cents.
4. Sort one example together.
   Choose one item and model how to decide whether the change shown is correct or not correct. Think aloud as you check the amount.
5. Practice with partners.
   Have students work in pairs to solve, sort, cut, and glue the remaining examples. Encourage them to explain how they checked each amount.
6. Review and discuss.
   Bring students back together and ask: “Which strategy felt easier — counting up or subtracting?”

Add a Read Aloud

Pair the lesson with Lemonade in Winter: A Book About Two Kids Counting Money by Emily Jenkins. This story gives students a real-world example of spending, earning, and counting money.

Reinforce the Skill With a Quick Math Video

Use this making change video to introduce or review two strategies: counting up and subtracting. Have students try both methods and compare their answers.

This video can be used for whole class instruction, small group lessons, or independent review.

Beyond the Worksheet: Make Change in a Classroom Store

Use your classroom store setup for extra making change practice. Print and cut apart the Correct Change / Not Correct Worksheet so students can use each item as a shopping card.

Have students work in pairs. One student can be the shopper and the other can be the cashier. Using play money, real coins, or counters, students practice paying for an item and making change from $1.

Then, students can switch roles and check each other’s change.

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How Can Students Solve 2nd Grade Money Word Problems?

Money word problems help 2nd graders apply coin counting, addition, subtraction, and problem-solving skills in real-world situations. Students practice reading carefully, identifying important information, and deciding how to solve.

Start with the Worksheet: Money Word Problems

In the Money Word Problems Worksheets, students read money problems like:

Anna’s mom gave her 2 quarters, 4 nickels, and 1 penny. How much money does Anna have?

Students identify the important information, solve each problem, and write the total in the box. They can also use the extra space to draw coins or model the problem with real money or counters.

Turn This Worksheet Into a Full Lesson

Use these worksheets as the anchor for a simple, low-prep money word problem lesson:

1. Warm up with coin values.
   Review the value of each coin and practice counting a few coin combinations together.
2. Read the problem carefully.
   Project one word problem from the worksheet. Read it aloud and ask students: “What information do we need to solve this problem?”
3. Circle or underline key details.
   Model how to mark the important numbers, coin names, and question being asked.
4. Choose a strategy.
   Show students how to solve by drawing coins, using real coins or counters, skip counting, or writing an equation.
5. Solve and label the answer.
   Remind students to write the total amount with the correct cent sign or dollar sign.
6. Practice independently or with partners.
   Students complete the remaining word problems while you check in with students who need extra support.

Add a Read Aloud

Pair the lesson with You Can’t Buy a Dinosaur With a Dime: Problem-solving in Dollars and Cents by Harriet Ziefert. This read aloud connects money skills with problem-solving and helps students see how money math shows up in everyday situations.

Reinforce the Skill With a Quick Math Video

Use this money word problems video for whole class review, small group instruction, or independent math centers. The video reviews coin values and walks students through step-by-step money math word problems.

Beyond the Worksheet: Play Money Scoot

Turn the Money Word Problems Worksheets into a movement-based Scoot game.

Print and cut apart the word problems, then place one problem on each desk or around the room. Students move from problem to problem, solve each one, and record their answers on a response sheet.

This gives students repeated practice with money word problems while adding movement and engagement.

For tips on how to play Scoot in the classroom, click here.

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Frequently Asked Questions About 2nd Grade Money Worksheets

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