Lesson Plan

Making Cents

Main Subject Area: Mathematics

Duration of Lesson:  30 minutes

Keywords:

• Coins
• Comprehension
• Logical Reasoning
• Math Games
• Number Sense
• Patterns
• Problem Solving

Brief Description:

Students will play a game in which they create monetary amounts using different coin combinations.

National Standard(s):

• Number and Operations
• Problem Solving
• Connections

Additional Subject Area Standard(s):

Objectives:

Students will work cooperatively in small groups.

Students will add coins to equal a specified amount.

Students will understand that a certain value can be reached through the use of different sets of coins.

Materials (online):

Materials (offline):

Enough coins for each group of three students (plus the teacher) to have their own piles of coins. Each pile should have the same number of coins, for example, 10 pennies, six nickels, six dimes, four quarters ($2 total).

Coins Used in Lesson:

Currently circulating U.S. cents, nickels, dimes, and quarters

Grade Level(s):   K-2  

Procedures (online):

Procedures (offline):

1. Divide your class into groups of 3 students.

2. Explain the game instructions to your students.

Game instructions:

The teacher will write a coin amount for all the students to see. (S)he will then select coins out of the “teacher’s pile” that equal the amount written on the board. These coins will be held secretly in the teacher’s fist or pocket.

Each group member will either be the counter, the checker, or the announcer for his or her group. These roles will rotate at the start of each new round of the game.

Each group will be given one minute to find a way to represent the coin amount using only the coins in their pile. After their minute is over, the announcer from each group will report back to the class about the coin combination they used to reach the listed amount.

Each group will be given one point for being accurate with their coin combination. The teacher will then reveal the combination (s)he used to make the stated amount. An additional point is given to those groups whose choice of coins matches the teacher's selection of coins.

3. Distribute a pile of coins to each group of students. Each student should have the same number of pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters. The teacher will also have the same number of coins in the "teacher's pile".

4. Play the game for as long or as short as you like!

Assessment / Evaluation:

In the process of play, students will see that there are many possible solutions to putting coins together to equal a specified amount. Equaling the teacher's choice was guesswork (random choice within a possible set), but accuracy counts for a point as well. The teacher will be observing to see who seemed to have difficulty in adding up coins and who accomplished the task with ease.

Differentiated Learning Options:

To extend this game for more advanced learners; invite the students to create multiple coin combinations for the same amount. For each additional coin combination a student develops, they will receive an extra point.