Ages 7+ · Money · Earning and jobs
Earning money
🍋selling lemonade: earned🎂birthday coins: given
Earned or given?The big ideaMoney you earn comes from work. A gift is given, not earned.
How it works
To earn means to get coins for work. Money you get for your work is earned.
A gift is different. Birthday coins are given, not earned.
Leo earned the coins for his ball by selling lemonade for four days.
Some days earn more than others. A hot day brings more customers than a cloudy one.
Example 1: Adding up the days
- Leo earned 2, 3, 5 and 4 coins.
- 2 + 3 = 5
- 5 + 5 = 10
- 10 + 4 = 14
- Leo earned 14 coins in all.
Example 2: Enough for the ball?
- The ball costs 12 coins.
- Leo has 14 coins.
- 14 − 12 = 2
- He has enough, with 2 coins to spare.
Example 3: Earned or given?
- Walking a neighbor's dog is work, so the coins are earned.
- Birthday coins from Gran are a gift, so they are given.
- A coin from Grandpa for saying hello is a gift too.
Example 4: Comparing two days
- Wednesday earned 5 coins and Tuesday earned 3 coins.
- 5 − 3 = 2
- Wednesday earned 2 more coins.
Words to know
- earn
- To get coins for work.
- gift
- Something that is given to you, not earned.
- customer
- A person who buys something.
Watch out
- A gift is given, not earned, even when it comes in a card.
- Earning takes work, and some days are slow.
- A coin for a hello is a gift. It is not pay for work.
Try it
- Leo earned 2 coins on Monday and 3 on Tuesday. How many in all?
- Is walking a neighbor's dog earned or given?
- Are birthday coins earned or given?
- Leo has 14 coins and the ball costs 12. How many are left?
Answers: 1. 5 · 2. Earned · 3. Given · 4. 2
Try at homeAsk a grown-up about the work they do to earn money, and what they spend it on.
For grown-upsTell your child about the work you do to earn money, and think of a small job they could do. Pretend coins are fine for practice.