Learning aim
By the end of the 6-week unit, pupils will have built core KS1 money-education competencies through a coherent, scaffolded sequence covering the six topics below.
Unit overview
This is a complete 6-week unit covering core KS1 money education objectives. Each lesson is self-contained with its own resources, differentiation, and assessment — but designed to build cumulatively over the half-term.
National Curriculum links
- PSHE Association KS1: sequence of objectives on financial literacy, money management, and economic citizenship
- Maths KS1: percentage calculations, ratios, financial arithmetic
- Citizenship KS1: economic role of citizens, the welfare state, tax and public services
6-week breakdown
LESSON
Recognising UK coins
Objective: Identify all UK coins by sight; describe shape and colour.
Activity: Coin matching card game; tactile coin sorting.
Assessment: Match 6 coins to their values on a worksheet (5 of 6 correct = secure).
LESSON
Counting money
Objective: Count amounts up to £1 using coin combinations.
Activity: Counting pennies and 2p coins into small piles; "how many ways?" challenge.
Assessment: Build given totals (37p, 56p, 84p) with coins.
LESSON
Saving vs spending
Objective: Distinguish saving (keep for later) from spending (use now); choose appropriate action.
Activity: Sorting story scenarios into "save" or "spend" categories.
Assessment: Sort 8 scenarios correctly.
LESSON
Wants vs needs
Objective: Identify items as wants or needs; explain why.
Activity: Picture card sorting; class discussion of borderline cases.
Assessment: Sort 10 picture cards into wants and needs.
LESSON
Pocket money basics
Objective: Explain three things you might do with pocket money (save, spend, give); make a plan for a 50p pocket money allowance.
Activity: Build "three pots" (save / spend / give) plan with coins.
Assessment: Verbally explain pocket-money plan to a partner.
LESSON
Shopping basket challenge
Objective: Apply counting and choice skills to a £2 shopping budget.
Activity: Mock shopping with priced classroom items; choose items within £2 budget.
Assessment: Complete a £2 shopping basket within budget; explain choices.
End-of-unit assessment
Each lesson includes its own assessment criteria — typically a short task or worksheet at the end of class. We recommend a cumulative end-of-unit assessment quiz: see the matching KS1 unit quiz (where available).
Marking guidance and exemplar answers are provided on each individual lesson page.
Preparation
- Print all 6 lesson plans for the unit before week 1
- Pre-assemble homework packs for each week
- Bookmark UK Tax Drag's relevant content pages for teacher reference
- For KS1 levels: review the assessment criteria with your faculty to align with school-wide marking standards
Free to use, share, and adapt
This unit is free for all UK teachers to use, share, and adapt for non-commercial educational use. Print, distribute, and modify as needed. We ask only that any reproduction credits UK Tax Drag Kids and links back to kids.uktaxdrag.co.uk.
Homework pack
Four activities to consolidate UK income tax mechanics. ~30 minutes.
Band calculation
What pupils do: For each gross salary, calculate the UK income tax (England/Wales/NI 2026/27 rates): (a) £15,000, (b) £30,000, (c) £55,000, (d) £85,000. Show the band split for each.
Expected output: 4 calculations with band-by-band working.
Marking guidance: 2 marks per accurate total (8 marks). Bonus 4 marks for correct band splits.
Personal Allowance research
What pupils do: What is the Personal Allowance? Why does it exist? Who loses it (the taper rule)?
Expected output: A 3-question short-answer response.
Marking guidance: 2 marks per accurate answer. 6 marks total.
Public spending
What pupils do: Find 5 different things UK income tax pays for. Order them by approximate share of government spending (biggest first).
Expected output: A ranked list of 5 spending categories.
Marking guidance: 1 mark per category, 1 mark per correct relative ranking. 8 marks total (e.g. NHS, pensions, education, defence, welfare).
Extension (optional)
What pupils do: Compare England, Scotland, and Wales income tax for someone earning £50,000. Which nation pays the most? Why?
Expected output: A 3-nation comparison table plus 2-sentence explanation.
Marking guidance: Up to 6 marks for accurate research and conclusion (Scotland pays more above ~£28k).
Family discussion prompt (safeguarding-aware)
Ask a working adult: "Name three things you think our tax money pays for." Compare their answers to what you learned in class.
Classroom safeguarding
Related lesson plans
- Understanding your first payslip (KS3 · Year 7 / Year 8)
- National Insurance — what it is, who pays it (KS3 · Year 8)
- Tax codes and emergency tax — decoding the letters and numbers (KS3 · Year 8 / Year 9)
- All lesson plans (KS1 · KS2 · KS3 · KS4) →