Make money maths interactive and engaging with our What’s in the Purse? Matching Cards. This versatile resource helps students practise counting coins and notes, creating collections, and calculating totals. With two card sets included, learners can both add existing collections and build new ones to match written totals, providing varied and meaningful practice.

Set 1 cards show collections of coins and notes for students to count and add together, while Set 2 challenges learners to create the total shown on the purse card using real or play money. This two part structure builds accuracy, problem solving, and fluency with financial maths, allowing for both recognition and application of money concepts.

With 78 cards in total, this resource offers ample opportunities for repeated use in small groups, independent practice, or maths rotations. Print on card or laminate for durability, and store in labelled envelopes or tubs for easy organisation. These cards are a valuable addition to any classroom unit on money, encouraging hands on exploration and confidence with Australian currency.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Recognise Australian coins and notes
• ✅ Count collections of money accurately
• ✅ Add values to calculate totals
• ✅ Create coin and note combinations for set amounts
• ✅ Strengthen fluency and problem solving with financial maths

What’s Included:

• Set 1 - 39 cards with collections of coins/notes to count
• Set 2 - 39 cards with purse totals for students to make
• 78 cards in total for flexible practice
• Clear purse design for easy recognition
• Instructions for preparation and play

Materials Needed:

• Printed matching cards (preferably on card or laminated)
• Plastic or paper coins and notes for hands on practise
• Scissors for cutting cards
• Storage box, tub, or envelopes for organisation
• Whiteboard markers if using laminated cards

How to Use:

1. Print, cut, and laminate the card sets for reuse.
2. Introduce Set 1 cards, asking students to count and total the money shown.
3. Use Set 2 cards to challenge learners to create the total amount using play coins/notes.
4. Encourage students to record answers on mini whiteboards or recording sheets.
5. Rotate through both sets to provide recognition and application practice.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Add to maths rotations for independent or partner tasks.
• 💡 Use in small groups to practise explaining strategies for counting totals.
• 💡 Send home a few laminated cards for family practise.
• 💡 Play a quick-fire quiz where students race to count or make amounts.
• 💡 Combine with other money resources to create a class financial maths station.

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Differentiate by assigning Set 1 to beginners and Set 2 to more advanced learners.
• 💛 Encourage students to count aloud to reinforce coin and note values.
• 💛 Mix cards together for a varied challenge station.
• 💛 Use answer keys for quick student self checking.
• 💛 Store laminated sets in labelled envelopes for long term use.

What’s in the Purse? Matching Cards are a flexible, hands on resource that supports counting, adding, and creating collections of money - perfect for building student confidence and fluency in financial maths.