Money in the Bank

Young bankers and storekeepers practice counting money and making change. They keep their money in this recycled-box bank.

• 1.

  In many countries, coins come in several different denominations. Each coin has a specific size and design that makes it distinct. Examine a U.S. penny, nickel, dime, quarter, and half-dollar closely (or similar coins in any currency). With Crayola® Colored Pencils, write and draw the pictures and words you see on each coin. Find out about the presidents or other images on the coins' faces.

• 2.

  Each coin represents a specific amount of money. Place a penny on the table. Next to the penny, place one Crayola Crayon. Place a nickel on the table, with five Crayola Crayons, and so on for each coin. Show that you know the relationship between one coin and another by trading five pennies (five crayons) for a nickel (five crayons) and making similar exchanges.

• 3.

  Trace your coins with Crayola Metallic FX Crayons, and write the correct denomination on the front and back of each coin (10 cents for a dime, 25 cents for a quarter). Make several coins of each denomination. Use Crayola Scissors to cut out each coin.

• 4.

  Decorate an envelope with Crayola Washable Markers to hold your coins. Use numerals, symbols, and pictures for money.

• 5.

  Find a recycled shoe box to make one or more class banks for your coin envelopes. Cover the box with construction paper. Cut paper decorations or draw symbols of money on the bank. Use a Crayola Glue Stick to attach the cover and its decorations. Label th

• 6.

  Set up a pretend business, such as a store, restaurant, bank, or outdoor market in your classroom. Use your coins to pay for your purchases and make change.

Benefits

• Children examine coins in their own (or any other) country's currency and recognize the names of each.
• Children learn the value of each coin by counting money and matching it with the equivalent number of small objects.
• Children recognize some of the uses of money and construct a bank for pretend play to practice making change.

Adaptations

• Give students ample opportunities to work with real coins as well as replicas. Some students, including those with special needs, may benefit from using real coins repeatedly before working with symbolic ones.
• With older students, make paper currency as well.
• Children use their coins to practice addition and subtraction.
• Examine real-life coins from several countries carefully, and discuss the images on the coins. What does a country's currency tell you about its history and culture?