Lesson Plan

50 State Quarter Game

Main Subject Area: Mathematics

Duration of Lesson:  45 minutes

Keywords:

• Counting
• Math Games
• Number Sense
• Place Value

Brief Description:

Using their knowledge of place value and number sense, students can play this counting game in small groups, or as a whole class, to see who will be the first person to reach 50 cents.

National Standard(s):

• Number and Operations
• Representation

Additional Subject Area Standard(s):

Objectives:

Students will practice counting money.

Students will practice exchanging money (e.g. 5 pennies for 1 nickel).

Materials (online):

Materials (offline):

For each group of students (3-4) you will need:

one die or spinner

50 pennies

20 nickels

15 dimes

10 state quarters

Coins Used in Lesson:

Currently circulating U.S. Coins: Pennies, nickels, dimes and state quarters

Grade Level(s):   K-2  

Procedures (online):

Procedures (offline):

This game can be use as a learning station to practice place value and number sense or you can do this as a whole group lesson if you have enough coins.

1. Start by holding up two of the state quarters. Describe for the kids which states are depicted on the quarters.

2. Pull down a map of the United States. See if the students can guess what the two quarters and the United States map have in common. (The two coins are worth 50 cents and we have 50 states!)

3. Explain to your students the goal of the game that they are going to play.

The goal of the game is to get to 50 states (two quarters) first. Each student takes a turn rolling the die or using the spinner. They get a penny for each number they roll or spin. When it is their turn to roll or spin, they can also exchange their money for larger denomination (e.g. 5 pennies for 1 nickel) The first person to get exactly 50 cents (two quarters) wins.

Designate one student to be the banker for the game. Their role would be to pass out the money, make sure the students are making the correct exchanges when they trade in their coins, and make sure that all money is accounted for at the end of the game.

4. Demonstrate the game with a student volunteer as your partner, using an overhead projector so that the whole class can see.

5. Distribute the supplies to your students.

6. Allow your students to play the game in small groups for 20-25 minutes.

7. Regroup your class and discuss how the game went. Ask if they found any strategies for being the first person to 50 cents.

Assessment / Evaluation:

Students can write sentences about what they learned from playing they game. Students can write out winning strategies for the 50 State Quarter Game. Students can draw pictures to show the different money exchanges they can make during the game.

Differentiated Learning Options:

Students can use a chart to keep track of when they trade in coins. Students can play to 25 cents or one dollar.