As a parent or teacher of a second grader, you know that this is a critical time for children to start learning about money. At this young age, kids are developmentally ready to grasp basic financial concepts that will serve as the foundation for more complex money skills down the road. Using fun and engaging money worksheets is one of the easiest and most effective ways to start teaching 2nd graders these essential money skills.
Money worksheets tailored specifically for second grade provide a wealth of benefits. They present money concepts in a simple, hands-on format that matches the learning abilities of 7 and 8 year olds. Kids will enjoy the playful images and activities as they gain experience with counting coins, making change, adding up money values, earning and saving money, budgeting, and more. These early money lessons will boost their math comprehension, critical thinking, and financial literacy simultaneously.
With money worksheets as part of your curriculum, you can ensure your 2nd grader becomes fluent with the following fundamental money skills:
- Identifying and understanding the values of different coins and bills
- Counting collections of coins and bills
- Making change from a given amount
- Adding and subtracting money values
- Recognizing that money can be earned, saved, spent, donated, and traded
- Basic budgeting and money management
In this article, we will explore some of the best money worksheets available online for second grade students. You’ll find engaging printable PDFs that help make money concepts fun and easy to grasp.
Coin Recognition and Values Worksheets
The cornerstone money skill for second graders is becoming familiar with coins and their values. Kids need ample practice with penny, nickel, dime, and quarter identification and counting before they can perform more complex money math.
Some useful worksheets for coin recognition practice include:
Coin Matching
Students draw lines matching each coin image with its correct name. This helps reinforce coin names and appearance.
Coin Identification
This worksheet displays rows of coin images. Students write the coin’s name under each image, requiring them to recall names.
Coin Counting
For each image, students write the correct numerical value of the coin. Connects visual coin recognition with assigned monetary values.
Coin Value Ordering
Students cut out coin images provided, then paste or order them from lowest to highest value. Practices comparing relative worths.
As kids gain familiarity with coins through worksheets like these, they build the visual identification and value knowledge crucial for second grade money skills.
Sample Coin Recognition and Values Worksheets:
- Coin Matching: Provide a worksheet with various coin images (penny, nickel, dime, quarter) on one side and their names on the other side. Students draw lines to match each coin image with its correct name.
- Coin Identification: Display rows of coin images (mixed order). Students write the name of each coin under its image to reinforce their coin recognition skills.
- Coin Counting: Show images of individual coins with blank spaces for values. Students write the correct numerical value of each coin in the provided space.
- Coin Value Ordering: Create a worksheet with cut-out coin images of different values. Students arrange the images from lowest to highest value, either by pasting or numbering.
Counting Coins Worksheets
Once second graders have a handle on individual coin names and values, money worksheets can shift the focus to counting collections of coins. This builds the skill of determining the total value of groups of coins.
Useful counting coins practice worksheets include:
Counting Collections
Displays stacks of coins of varying quantities. Students count the number of each type of coin shown, then write in the total value.
Piggy Bank Counting
Shows different piggy banks filled with assorted coins. Students count the coins and write the total amount in each piggy bank.
Coin Combination Values
Lists combinations of coins that equal specific values, like 2 nickels + 1 penny = 15 cents. Students fill in the blank coin values to make each equation true.
Totaling Random Coins
Shows piles of random coins that students add up to determine the overall monetary value, writing the total on the line.
Worksheets that provide repeated practice counting up combinations of coins in varying quantities help reinforce students’ ability to determine totals.
Sample Counting Coins Worksheets:
- Counting Collections: Display stacks of coins (mixed types and quantities). Students count the number of each type of coin and write the total value for each stack.
- Piggy Bank Counting: Provide images of piggy banks containing mixed coins. Students count the coins in each piggy bank and write the total amount.
- Coin Combination Values: List coin combinations that equal specific values (e.g., 3 dimes + 2 nickels = ?). Students fill in the blank with the correct coin values to complete the equations.
- Totaling Random Coins: Show piles of random coins. Students add up the values of the coins in each pile and write the total amount.
Making Change Worksheets
Making change is the next step in 2nd graders’ money worksheet lessons. This real world skill requires breaking down a starting monetary amount into smaller coins.
Engaging worksheets for making change practice include:
Change from a Dollar
Displays items with prices less than a dollar. Students determine the amount of change back from a dollar for each item.
Change from 5 and 10 Dollars
Features items priced under $5 or $10. Kids calculate the coins needed for the change due back from $5 or $10.
Shopping Change
Shows pretend shopping purchases. Given the items’ costs and amount paid, students write in the change owed.
Make Exact Change
Lists purchase totals. Students draw or write the coins needed to make up the exact change due.
Giving second graders consistent practice making change with these worksheets develops their ability to perform this practical life skill.
Sample Making Change Worksheets:
- Change from a Dollar: Present items with prices under a dollar. Students calculate the amount of change back from a dollar for each item.
- Change from 5 and 10 Dollars: Feature items priced under $5 or $10. Students determine the coins needed for the change due back from $5 or $10.
- Shopping Change: Show pretend shopping scenarios. Given the item’s cost and amount paid, students calculate and write the change owed.
- Make Exact Change: List purchase totals. Students draw or write the coins needed to make up the exact change due.
Remember, you can use these descriptions as a starting point to create your own worksheets that align with the concepts and skills you want to teach. You can include visuals, instructions, and example problems to make the worksheets engaging and effective for your students.
Money Addition and Subtraction Worksheets
Once kids have become pros at coin values and making change, second grade money worksheets shift to building money math. Addition and subtraction using monetary values strengthen essential foundational math skills.
Some useful money addition and subtraction worksheets include:
Money Math Symbols
Displays equations that add and subtract money values using the cent symbol (¢) and dollar sign ($). Students solve for the totals.
Money Word Problems
Features story word problems involving transactions with money. Kids add or subtract values to determine solutions.
Money Value Combinations
Lists addition and subtraction equations combining money amounts. Students compute the totals for each combination.
Money Number Lines
Number lines marked with money values. Students answer questions that involve counting up or down by jumping along the number line.
Money Value Patterns
Shows repeating patterns of money values that increase or decrease by the same amount each step. Students extend the patterns by writing in the next terms.
Worksheets that provide money-based addition and subtraction practice in contextual situations promote stronger mental math, comprehension, and real world money skills.
Earning, Saving, and Budgeting Worksheets
While the value recognition, counting coins, making change, and money math skills covered above are essential, practical financial literacy requires more. Second graders also need to understand core concepts like earning, saving, spending wisely, and budgeting.
Engaging worksheets that build these skills include:
Jobs and Earning Money
Illustrates people with different jobs. Students match each job description to the correct career, grasp how jobs provide income.
Wants vs. Needs
Pictures show a variety of expenditures. Students categorize purchases as essential needs or discretionary wants.
Creating a Budget
Kids are given a fixed weekly income and must create a budget listing expenses. This teaches balancing wants/needs and living within means.
Saving Money
Students read stories where a character saves money for a specific goal. Kids answer questions about savings over time, delayed gratification.
Sale Price Shopping
Features illustrated grocery store ads. Students circle the best bargains, compare regular and discounted prices.
Through fun financial literacy exercises like these, second graders gain important real world money experience and perspectives on earning, saving, prioritizing needs, and budgeting.
Interactive Online Money Games
Beyond printable worksheets, a wealth of interactive online games provides another engaging way for second graders to learn money skills. These games deliver money practice in an especially fun digital format kids love.
Some excellent online money games for 2nd graders include:
Coin Critters
Students feed coin values to cute animals to reach target money amounts. This game provides repeated coin counting practice.
Change Maker
Kids work at a lemonade stand, “collecting” money from pictured customers, and determining the correct change due. Applies making change skills.
Spend and Save
Players budget set incomes to purchase essentials and extras each month, while saving up for long-term goals. Teaches smart money management.
Coin Memory Match
A digital memory match game with coin images. Kids match pairs of pennies, nickels, dimes or quarters, reinforcing coin identification.
Money Bags
Players add up the money in various imaged piggy banks and bank bags displayed. Strengthens counting collections of coins.
Online money games engage kids in active rather than passive learning. The games provide repeated, interactive practice that imprints essential money skills.
The Benefits of Using Money Worksheets
Money worksheets tailored for second graders provide a number of unique benefits that make them a wise teaching tool:
- They present money concepts in developmentally appropriate ways that match the learning abilities of 7 and 8 year olds.
- The fun images and activities help keep kids engaged as they gain money experience.
- They provide the repetition kids need to truly master money skills.
- Worksheets conveniently allow individual or whole classroom money practice.
- Parents can easily do extra money worksheet practice at home for added reinforcement.
- They help build math, comprehension, critical thinking, and real world skills simultaneously.
- Digital money games appeal to tech-savvy kids and provide interactive practice.
Using a mix of printed worksheets and online money games will provide your 2nd grader with the varied, repeated practice that leads to fluency with foundational money skills.
The Importance of Learning Money Skills in 2nd Grade
Financial literacy is an essential life skill, but too often students don’t receive money lessons until later grades when poor habits may already be ingrained. This is why starting money education in 2nd grade is so beneficial.
When kids are first introduced to financial concepts like saving and budgeting at 7 or 8 years old, they are developmentally primed to understand and establish responsible money habits. Early money lessons also reinforce the math and critical thinking skills being built in 2nd grade.
Learning money skills like coin values or making change may seem simple on the surface. But these provide the core foundation students need to take on more complex financial concepts and real world applications down the road.
Giving your 2nd grader engaging money worksheets, games, and lessons now pays dividends by equipping them with skills and smart money perspectives that will serve them for life.
So be sure to add fun money practice into your teaching or home curriculum this year! The financial fluency kids can gain from using 2nd grade money worksheets and games will help set them up for future math comprehension and real world success.
