
Learn the names of Canadian bills and coins
THIS WEEK’S FEATURED POST
Week of Dec. 15/25
Teach your beginner ESL students about preparing for a traditional Canadian Christmas and encourage them to share their own cultural traditions.
The lesson includes interactive vocabulary activities, a short video, and reflection questions to…
Keep readingLesson plan overview
| Task | To learn the names of Canadian coins and bills. |
| CLB level | CLB Stage I (CLB 1-3) |
| Delivery method | Online |
| Class size | 10-15 students (vary the number of activities according to your class size) |
| Estimated time | 1.5 hours (depending on class size) |
| CLB Skills and Competencies | Speaking: Interacting with others Getting things done Sharing information Listening: Interacting with others Comprehending information Reading: Comprehending information |
| Language focus | Learn the vocabulary needed to understand this topic. Use the appropriate grammar structures and vocabulary to respond personally to the reflection questions. (Encourage students to respond in full sentences.) |
| Cultural focus | Students understand the symbols used on Canadian bills and coins. Students discuss differences between attitudes to money in Canada and in their home countries. |
| Specific task learning objectives | Students will learn the names and amounts of Canadian coins and bills. Students will understand the symbols on Canadian coins. Students will combine coins to make certain amounts (and be able to articulate these amounts in English). |
| ESL Directions original video (🎥) and audio (🔊) activities? | This lesson includes video (🎥) and audio (🔊) activities. |
| Resource attribution | ESL Directions original resources are marked below with an asterisk (*). Feel free to use these, but please give credit to ESL Directions. |
Lesson plan
Warm-up: Introducing the topic and defining our terms
- Today, we’re going to learn the names of Canadian money (bills and coins).
- What is money?
- What does “cash” mean?
- What are some names of Canadian bills and coins?
- What is the difference between bills and coins?
Skill-building activities
FEATURED CONTENT
- Match-up (Match bills and coins to values.) 🔊
- Vocabulary quiz (Match the bill with the correct amount.) 🔊
- Understanding Canadian money* 🎥
Skill-using tasks
- Learn about the symbols on Canadian coins*
- Making change:
- Money Master: Giving change (Click on “Canada” to start.)
- Money Master: Add coins together to make a dollar (Click on “Canada” to start.)
Assessment/review tasks
- Deal the vocabulary cards* (Ask students to identify each coin or bill and to tell how much each one is worth.)
- Match coin and symbol*
- Additional external resource: Learning Chocolate: Canadian Money (Coins and Bills without penny) (Match coins and bills to audio and names.)
Reflection questions
- What are some names for Canadian money (bills and coins)?
- What are some symbols used on Canadian coins?
- People don’t usually talk about money in Canada. Is that the same in your home country?
- How many different kinds of coins are there in your country? What are they? What symbols are on the coins in your country?
- How do people in your home country usually pay for things?
- How do you pay for things at a store? Cash, debit card, credit card, Apple pay?
- If you won money in a lottery, what would you do with it?
RELATED PAGES
Using an ATM
This lesson plan teaches your beginner ESL students the basic vocabulary required to use ATMs. Students will also understand some of…
Keep readingOpening a bank account
This lesson plan focuses on the vocabulary related to opening a bank account. The lesson includes warm-up activities, skill-building and skill-using…
Keep readingALL ABOUT NUMBERS YOUTUBE PLAYLIST
Click on the small right arrow at the top right of this video to see the Numbers playlist on YouTube or visit the “All about numbers” playlist.

FINANCE AND BANKING WORDWALL ACTIVITIES
Wordwall is a very useful interactive lesson-creation site. If you sign up for a free Wordwall account, you will be able to see our “Finance” folder, which includes ESL Directions activities you can add to your lessons.
SHARE THIS PAGE:

ABOUT ESL DIRECTIONS
ESL teacher, movie buff, constant reader, and former editor and communications pro. Now a graduate of the Teaching English as a Second Language program at the University of Manitoba and a TESL Canada certified ESL teacher in Edmonton, Alberta, I specialize in teaching online classes of beginner ESL students.
FOLLOW ESL DIRECTIONS ON
CONTACT US










