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KS1 · Year 1 · Lesson plan

Recognising UK coins and notes

A classroom-ready 45 minutes lesson plan with starter, main, plenary, differentiation, SEND adaptations, EAL support and assessment criteria. Free to use, no login.

Key Stage
KS1
Year group
Year 1
Age range
5–6
Duration
45 minutes
Subject
Maths / PSHE
Cost
Free

Learning aim

Pupils can identify the eight UK coins (1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, £2) and the two main notes (£5, £10), and explain what each is worth.

CURRICULUM National Curriculum links

RESOURCES What you'll need

LESSON Lesson structure (45 minutes)

0–5 min
HOOK
Hold up a 50p coin and a £1 coin. Ask: "Which one is worth more — and how can you tell?" Take 2–3 hands. Don't give the answer yet — write the question on the board.
5–15 min
TEACH
Lay all 8 coins on a visualiser. Name each in turn, holding it up. Pupils repeat the name. Build the language: "this is a fifty-pence piece, fifty-p, 50p". Show the £5 and £10 notes the same way. Build a class wordbank on the whiteboard with each value written next to its image.
15–30 min
GUIDED
Pairs work with a coin set and sorting mat. The mat has 8 labelled boxes (1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, £2). Pupils sort their coins into the matching boxes. Walk the room — check pupils name each coin as they place it. Stretch question for fast pairs: "Can you put your coins in order from smallest value to biggest value?"
30–40 min
CHALLENGE
Display three coins side by side (e.g. 2p, 50p, £1). Ask: "Which is worth the most? Why?" Then mix in a £5 note. Ask: "Where does this fit?" Use the phrase "value" repeatedly. The aim is for pupils to internalise that physical size doesn't equal value (a £1 coin is small but worth more than a big 2p coin).
40–45 min
PLENARY
Show four mystery coins one at a time, covered, and reveal each. Pupils whisper-tell their partner the name and value before the answer is shown. Final question: "If I had a 50p and a 20p in my pocket, what coins do I have?" Pupils share answers around the room.

DIFFERENTIATION Adapting for all learners

Support (working below ARE)

Pupils working below age-related expectations focus on the four most common coins (1p, 5p, 10p, £1) only. Use larger coin images on cards rather than real coins. Pair with a confident partner.

Stretch (working above ARE)

Pupils working above age-related expectations are given a "coin combination challenge": find three ways to make 50p using different coin combinations. Recording in their book in pictures or words.

SEND SEND adaptations

For visually impaired pupils: use raised-surface coin replicas (available from RNIB resources). For pupils with dyscalculia: focus on tactile sorting with verbal naming rather than written values. For pupils with ADHD: use a movement-based "coin hunt" around the classroom instead of seated sorting.

EAL EAL support

Pre-teach key vocabulary: "coin", "note", "value", "worth", "pence", "pound". Display each word with the corresponding coin image. Provide a sentence frame: "This is a ___. It is worth ___."

ASSESSMENT Assessment criteria

By the end of the lesson, pupils can: (1) name 5 of the 8 coins correctly; (2) identify which of two coins is worth more; (3) name a £5 and £10 note when shown. Quick check via mini-whiteboards: hold up a coin, pupils write the value.

HOME Homework pack

Three coin-recognition activities. Total time: 10-15 minutes.

Coin rubbings

What pupils do: With parent supervision, place a 1p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p and £1 coin under a sheet of paper and gently rub a pencil over each to make a rubbing.

Expected output: A page of 6 coin rubbings, each labelled with its value.

Marking guidance: 1 mark per correctly identified rubbing. 6 marks total.

Coin describer

What pupils do: Choose 3 coins. For each one, write or draw 3 things: the value, the colour, and one picture/shape on the coin.

Expected output: A short table or three picture-cards with the three details per coin.

Marking guidance: 1 mark per detail. 9 marks total.

Find the picture

What pupils do: Look at a real £1 coin (12-sided shape) and find the design on the back. Draw or describe what you see.

Expected output: A drawing of the back of a £1 coin with one sentence about what it shows.

Marking guidance: 2 marks for accurate drawing, 1 mark for clear description.

Extension (optional)

What pupils do: Find out: which coin is the smallest in size? Which coin is the biggest in size? Which coin is worth the most? Are they the same coin?

Expected output: A 3-sentence answer.

Marking guidance: 1 mark per correct answer. 3 marks total.

Family discussion prompt (safeguarding-aware)

Ask a grown-up to show you a coin from a different country. Compare it to a UK coin: which is bigger, which feels heavier, and which has more numbers on it?

SAFEGUARDING Classroom safeguarding

Note for teachers: Do not ask pupils to bring money to school. The lesson uses classroom coins only. If a pupil mentions they don't have money at home, redirect the conversation gently and avoid follow-up.

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