Description

Stop the heist and secure the vault with these engaging Money Worksheets 1st Grade activities! ‘The Case of the Sticky Bank Burglary’ is a high-engagement math mystery designed to practice identifying, counting, and calculating with US Currency.

It’s the perfect no-prep math activity! This resource is loaded with options, including an optional video hook and a NEW ending video (with voiceovers!) to wrap up the case!

Easy Prep for Print or Digital

This resource is designed to be low-prep for you and high-engagement for your students.

• Printable PDF Version: Just print the worksheets, staple, and go.
• Google Slides Digital Version: 100% paperless! Simply assign in Google Classroom. (Students must be in ‘edit mode’ to type).
• Easel by TPT: Complete the worksheets digitally for seamless online learning.

Money Worksheets 1st Grade Activity (US Currency)

To identify the burglar, students must unlock five clues by correctly solving these financial literacy challenges:

• Clue 1: Identification (Identifying Values of Coins and Notes)
• Clue 2: Counting (Counting Money – focusing on Pennies, Nickels, and Dimes)
• Clue 3: Equivalency (Matching Equivalent Coins – e.g., 2 nickels = 1 dime)
• Clue 4: Operations (Adding and Subtracting Money amounts less than $1)
• Clue 5: Enrichment (Making Change from $1.00)

Flexible for Any 1st Grade Classroom

Use this versatile money math alternative for:

• Reviewing Standard 2.MD.C.8 (Introductory skills)
• Math centers or stations
• Homework or enrichment
• Your “early finisher” tub
• A lifesaver for your sub-tub!

Pacing & Timing

This is a comprehensive review that can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2+ hours, depending on your students’ skill level. We recommend pacing it by one clue at a time.

Common Questions for this 1st Grade Math Review

Q: Is this specifically US Currency?
A: Yes! All coins (pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, half-dollars) and notes are US Currency images. (We have separate editions for Australian, Canadian, and NZ money!).

Q: Is “Making Change” too hard for 1st Grade?
A: Clue 5 introduces Making Change from $1. This acts as a great challenge or enrichment task for 1st graders, or can be done as a whole-class guided activity to model the concept.

Q: How does differentiation work with these?
A: That’s our secret weapon! Many of our stories are available for other grades, so you can “clue swap” with the 2-4 grade packs. We even have a blog post explaining how: learn how to differentiate here.

• Looking for more 1st Grade adventures?

  • 🕵️‍♂️ Check out more 1st Grade Math Mysteries here!

  • 📚 You may also like to check out our Junior Reading Mysteries too!

A complete answer key and printable awards are included!