You will learn
- Find the discount amount.
- Find the sale price.
- Compare offers.
- Check by estimating.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- Discount is the reduction in price.
- Sale price = original price − discount.
- Find the discount as a percent of the original.
- Estimate to check.
Words to know
Reduction in price.
Price before.
Price after.
Discount rate.
1. Discover: 20% off
A shirt costs 50 and is 20% off. What do you pay?
2. Understand: discounts
- 20% of 50 = 10, so you save 10.
- Sale price = 50 − 10 = 40.
- 10% off 85: discount 8.50, price 76.50.
- 25% off 80: discount 20, price 60.
Idea 1: Discount
10% off 85: 10% of 85 = 8.50.
Idea 2: Sale price
25% off 80: discount 20, price 80 − 20 = 60. 15% off 200: discount 30, price 170.
Idea 3: Half
50% off 36: price 18. 20% off 50: discount 10, price 40.
Why subtract? The discount is taken off the original price.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Discount
10% off 85
- 85 ÷ 10.
Answer: 8.50
Example 2 (We do it together): Price
25% off 80
- Discount 20.
- 80 − 20.
Answer: 60
Example 3 (You try): Price
20% off 50
Show the steps and answer
- Discount 10.
- 50 − 10.
Answer: 40
Did you know?
Paying 80% of a price is the same as a 20% discount.
Why this matters
Knowing discounts helps you judge real savings.
4. Explore: discount
You need paper.
- Find the percent of the price.
- Subtract.
- Check size.
- Write units.
Think about it: what did you notice?
40.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- The discount is ___% of ___ = ___.
- The sale price is ___ − ___ = ___.
- I pay ___.
- The check is ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. 20% of 50?
10.
Question 2. Sale price?
40.
Question 3. 25% off 80?
60.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- 10% off 85: discount
- 25% off 80: price
- 15% off 200: price
- 50% off 36: price
- 20% off 50: price
Level 2: Grow
- 10% off 60: discount
- 20% off 90: price
- 50% off 48: price
Level 3: Stretch
- 30% off 200: price
- 20% off 100 then 10% off the new price
- Ben says a 20% discount on a 50 shirt means you pay 20. What is wrong?
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: everyday mathematics
A 50 shirt has 20% off. Sale price?
Show a sample answer
40.
Another one. Shop A: 20% off 150. Shop B: 25% off 180. Which gives the lower price?
Show a sample answer
Shop A (120 compared with 135)
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Subtract to get the sale price.
Fix: Subtract the discount from the original.
Fix: Take the percent of the original price.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can find the discount.
- I can find the sale price.
- I can compare offers.
- I can check by estimating.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- Find the discount.
- Subtract it.
- Estimate to check.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Introductory percentage increase and decrease. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- A 85 item has 10% off. Find the discount. [2 marks]
- A 80 item has 25% off. Find the sale price. [3 marks]
- A 200 item has 15% off. Find the sale price. [3 marks]
- A 36 item has 50% off. Find the sale price. [2 marks]
- Ali says a 20% discount on a 50 shirt means you pay 20. Is he right? Explain. [3 marks]
Total: 13 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- 85 ÷ 10 [1]; 8.50 [1]
- 25% of 80 = 20 [1]; 80 − 20 [1]; 60 [1]
- 10% = 20 and 5% = 10, so discount 30 [1]; 200 − 30 [1]; 170 [1]
- Half of 36 = 18 [1]; price 18 [1]
- No [1]. The discount is 20% of 50 = 10 [1]. You pay 50 − 10 = 40 [1].
Score guide: 12 to 13 = secure. 8 to 11 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 8 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- 10% off 85, discount
- 25% off 80, price
- 15% off 200, price
- 50% off 36, price
- 20% off 50, price
- 10% off 85: discount
- 25% off 80: price
- 15% off 200: price
- 50% off 36: price
- 20% off 50: price
Homework
Find the sale price of something at 30% off.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 10% off 85, discount | 8.50 | 2 |
| 25% off 80, price | 60 | 2 |
| 15% off 200, price | 170 | 2 |
| 50% off 36, price | 18 | 2 |
| 20% off 50, price | 40 | 2 |
| Total | 10 |
Practice answers: Worksheet: 1 8.50; 2 60; 3 170; 4 18; 5 40.
Quiz answers: 1 A, 2 B, 3 C, 4 A, 5 B, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 C, Challenge 2 C.
Extra worksheet answers (items 6 onward): 6 8.50; 7 60; 8 170; 9 18; 10 40.
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 8.50; 2 60; 3 170; 4 18; 5 40. Level 2: 1 6; 2 72; 3 24. Level 3: 1 140; 2 72; 3 Discount is 10; pay 50 − 10 = 40..
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Find the discount amount | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Find the sale price | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Compare offers | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Check by estimating | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: Stopping at the discount. Subtract to get the sale price.
- Explain another way: use real objects first, then pictures.
- Show a simpler example: Find 10%.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child finds discounts and sale prices. You do not need to be good at mathematics to help.
- Spot discount signs in shops.
- Ask: how much is taken off?
- Estimate with 10%.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: find the discount amount; find the sale price; compare offers; check by estimating.
Prerequisite knowledge. Lesson 3.
Materials. Counters (stones, seeds or bottle tops), paper, pencils, board or chalkboard. Low-resource options: use stones, seeds, sticks, bottle tops or drawings in the sand or on the board instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Gather the counters and draw the example pictures on the board before the lesson.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Start with the Discover situation and let learners suggest ideas before you teach.
Explanation (10 min). Teach the Understand section with real objects first, then pictures, then symbols and words.
Guided activity (10 min). You need paper. Learners follow the Explore steps in pairs.
Independent activity (10 min). Learners complete the independent practice and the worksheet.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. What is the discount? What do I pay?
Teacher explanation notes. Use the concrete, pictorial, abstract order: real objects first, then pictures, then symbols and words. Return to real objects whenever a learner needs support.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use real objects and work with a partner; say each step aloud together. Extension. Ask learners to make up their own example and explain it to a partner.
Formative assessment. Listen to learner explanations, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. Stopping at the discount. Subtract to get the sale price.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz and worksheet on this page. The 13-mark exam practice scheme, the 10-mark scheme and all answers are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer and the marking scheme before publication.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Find 10%. Enrichment. Invite learners to find or create three more examples at home or in the classroom and explain them. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which concepts learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points named in the Courseversity standard: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, Cambridge Primary and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Official standards for this topic area. Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (official site): Grade 6 » Ratios & Proportional Relationships; Grade 6 » The Number System. These pages list the standards that cover this topic area; read them alongside the lesson.
Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core 6.RP.A.3c; Cambridge Primary Mathematics Stage 6 (discounts). These sources informed the lesson.