Financial Literacy Lesson

Heather Antunez
EDUC 128/228
Spring 2014
Lesson Title: Whats that Coin?
Grade Level: Kindergarten
Overview
This lesson prompts students to pay close attention to the details of the quarter,
dime, nickel and penny as they are introduced to and learn the names and
values of the coins. Students listen to a book read aloud about money, examine
real coins with magnifying glasses, listen to a song and poem about the names
and values of money and play a coin sorting activity with real coins.
Content Standards
National Council for Social Studies Standards
VII Production, Distribution, & Consumption
Explain and demonstrate the role of money in everyday life
Iowa Common Core 21st Century Skills
Financial Literacy; Kindergarten-Grade 2
Understand Financial Instruments
Distinguish different types of money (bills, coins).
Identify the values of each type
Materials Needed
Book: I Can Name Bills and Coins by Rebecca Wingard-Nelson
Real or play coins: quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies
Magnifying Glasses
Mr. Rs Coin Value Song
Laptop or Computer to play Mr. Rs Coin Value Song
Coin Flash Cards
Coin Tray Sorting Activity
Coin Poem
Prerequisite Skills
Be familiar with the concept of money.
Understand that there are different U.S coins.
The front and backs of coins are sometimes called heads and tails.
ABCD Objective
Given a set of coins students will sort and identify the four U.S. coins: quarters,
dimes, nickels, pennies in 4 out of five trials.

Interaction with Students

1. Learning Objectives
On completion of this lesson students will be able to:
o Recognize and identify a quarter, dime, nickel and penny
o Sort coins into four groups
o Name the value of each coin
2. Procedures
Lesson Introduction
Today we are going to learn about money and the different types of coins that we use
everyday to buy things such as food, clothes, school supplies, or toys. Without money we
cannot buy the things that we want or need at the store. Next, Im going to read a book that
shows us and tells us about money that we use in our everyday life.
Read aloud the book: I Can Name Bills and Coins by Rebecca Wingard- Nelson.
Review the names and values of four different coins from the book.
In pairs or small groups allow students to examine a set of the four U.S. coins: quarters, dimes,
nickel and penny with magnifying glasses. Instruct them to look for differences on the front and
back the four different coins. Remind students from other lessons the front of the coin is called
heads and the back of the coin is called tails.
Distribute the flash cards with the coin names, values of the coins and review the name value
and details on the coins.
Have students match their coins to coins on the Coin Flash Cards.
Modeling and Instruction
Play Mr. Rs Coin song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb-w3rqRoJ8 and have students
watch the short video clip about coins.
Group Game/Activity
1. Begin by dividing students into small groups of 2-4 students.
2. Give each group a Coin Sorting Tray with a pile of coins in the center of the tray.
3. Have students work cooperatively to sort and group by coins into the four
different coins in Coin Sorting Tray.
4. Students should complete the task with coins grouped into quarters, dimes,
nickels and pennies in each of the four sections of the sorting tray.
This Coin Tray Sorting Activity can be continued in independent workstations or in pairs or
small groups in learning centers.
Check for Understanding
The teacher will observe students as they complete the attempt to match coins and
complete the Coin Sorting Activity during class activities.

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The students can check the picture labels of the coins to see if they match as they play
the sorting game.

Closure
Wrap up the lesson by reviewing and showing the four coins to students with the following
poem:
Penny, penny, Easily spent Copper brown and worth one cent.
Nickel, nickel, Thick and fat, Youre worth five cents. I know that.
Dime, dime, Little and thin, I remember, Youre worth ten.
Quarter, quarter Big and bold, Youre worth twenty-five I am told!
Repeat having students independently match real coins to coins on their Coin Flash Cards.
Differentiation
a. Adaption for students who need extra help, time or attention
Pictures and labels will be used for students who have difficulty with reading.
Students will be paired in mixed ability groups.
The teacher or associate will assist individual students as needed during the lesson.
b. Extension for students of high ability
Students of higher ability can do higher-level sorting activities and/or graph the
number of each type of coin.
Students can research where money is made and comes from and share their report
with the class.
Technology Extension Activities:
Smart Board Activity-Identifying Coins
http://voices.yahoo.com/smart-board-activity-lesson-plan-identifying-coins11023560.html?cat=4
U.S Mint News and Interactive Games for Kids
http://www.usmint.gov/kids/coinsMedals/
Learning Coins and Practice Counting Money
http://www.abcya.com/learning_coins.htm
References
Kindergarten Identify Coins
http://internet4classrooms.com/grade_level_help/coins_math_kindergarten_k.htm
Mr. Rs Coin Value Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb-w3rqRoJ8
http://mathstory.com/youtubevids/pennyNDQ.aspx#.Uzdorty47lE

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Coin Sorting Activity

http://www.growinginprek.com/mathcenter.htm
Coin Poem
http://www.teachers.net/lessons/posts/138.html
Coin Flash Cards
http://teach123-school.blogspot.com/2012/01/money-rap.html
Images Front and Back of Money
http://www.teacherfiles.com/clip_art_us_money.htm

Photos of Coin Sorting Activity