Money, Money, Money

Teaching first graders how to identify pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters and THEN count them in a set... it's a good thing I enjoy what I do so much.  We had a great two week money unit in room 505.  And guess what?  My kids really got it!  In our final days on money there was no hiding my excitement as they were counting all the coin combinations I challenged them to.  Here are some of the various teaching methods/tools I used during our unit.

*Does anyone else use this PERFECT coin poem?  The kids love memorizing it and it really helps them to remember the characteristics of each coin!  

*This year I had a new idea!  And it has proven to be something I will definitely do again!  Monday was "penny day", Tuesday was "nickel day", Wednesday was "dime day", and Thursday was "quarter day".  We really dove into studying each coin, talking about it, and memorizing it.  I let the kids carry the coin around with them all day.  They had to keep it in their pockets.  (I asked them to wear clothes with pockets ahead of time!)  It was also a great way to promote responsibility!  The kids worked hard to not lose their coin and knew that at the end of the day I was expecting it back!  On Friday, we did "mystery day".  I randomly distributed a coin to each child.  They had to find someone who had a different coin and then tell that friend all about their coin.  They absolutely loved mystery day!


*Each day we also added details to our coin flip book, depending on which coin we were learning about.

*After the children mastered identifying coins, we started working on counting coins.  I teach the children to use "touch points" when adding up coins.  If you don't know what that is, see the poster below.

Each touch point is worth 5, and first graders are really good at counting by fives! :)

*To implement using touch points we made a game.  First, we folded a large piece of construction paper in half.  Second, I had the kids cut out some sets of coins from math lessons I decided not to use.  (Because I like my idea better!)  Next, we put the appropriate amount of touch points on each coin.  Then, we labeled each set A-I (see below).  

Last, we put the answers on the backside under a taped paper. 

 (This way they can check their work and also not see the other answers before they get to them!)

*Another fun game!  Each child wears a necklace with a coin combination on it.  Next, they find a partner.  Each partner takes a turn and counts the set of coins on the other student's necklace.  

To check their answer, they simply open the coin necklace! Wala!

 

*Oh, and one more thing!  I was sure to leave out some coin flash cards!  Great idea for early finishers!