Coin Collection

This elementary-grade lesson plan encourages a better understanding of coin value and collection of coins, exploring terms including "number," "operation," and "quantitative reasoning."

Materials needed:

• Silverstein, Shel. Where The Sidewalk Ends. 1974. Harper Collins Publishers. New York, NY.
• 15 baggies containing 4 quarters, 5 dimes, 5 nickels, and 5 pennies
• One dollar for the educator

Prior Knowledge: Have students begin with a solid understanding of the value of coins less than a dollar.

Inclusion: Whole Class Learning

• Read to students the poem, "SMART", from "Where the Sidewalk Ends." Students will be asked amounts of coins from every coin exchange.
• Students will be given a baggie containing coins.
• Students will be given an amount and asked to concretely come up with the asked amount using only the coins provided in the money baggie.

(Example: If the amount given is 50 cents; students could use 2 quarters, or 5 dimes, 3 dimes and 4 nickels, etc.)

Review: Students will be asked to give examples of what coins were used to come up with an amount given.

(Example: Other than two dimes, how many other coins can be used to make 20 cents?)