Lesson Plan

Coin Trading Cards

Main Subject Area: Social Studies

Additional Subjects: Art, Language Arts

Duration of Lesson:  60 minutes

Keywords:

• American History
• Coins
• Commemorative Coins
• Historical Figures
• History

Brief Description:

Students will research U.S. coins and historical figures, and will write informational text to create trading cards based on their research.

National Standard(s):

• Culture
• People, Places, and Environment
• Science, Technology, and Society

Additional Subject Area Standard(s):

• Gather and use information for research purposes
• Use grammatical and mechanical conventions in written compositions

Objectives:

Students will explore historical figures in U.S. History.

Students will learn about the people depicted on different U.S. coins.

Students will research U.S. coins and historical figures.

Students will write informational text based on their research.

Materials (online):

U.S. Mint H.I.P. Pocket Change Web site, Coins of the Month: http://www.usmint.gov/kids/coinNews/coinOfTheMonth/pastIssues.cfm

Materials (offline):

The Official Guide to U.S. Commemorative Coins by David L. Ganz, David Ganx (Paperback - September 1999)

Precut tag board for each student’s trading card

Art supplies: pencils, markers, colored pencils or crayons, scissors, white paper, glue

Coins Used in Lesson:

Any U.S. coins, including commemorative coins

Grade Level(s):   3-5  

Procedures (online):

Have your students research coins using the H.I.P. Pocket Change link mentioned under Materials/Resources.

Procedures (offline):

1. Brainstorm with students the different types of trading cards they are familiar with.

2. Make a list with the class of the common elements on all trading cards such as pictures, facts, statistics, etc.

3. Explain to the class that they will be making trading cards based on U.S. coins. You can make some overheads of coins including commemorative coins to give your students some ideas.

4. Each student will need to pick one coin and create a trading card based on that coin. The coin must have a person or event depicted on one of the sides. Students can work in teams to do research on coins. They can use the U.S. Mint H.I.P. Pocket Change™ Web site, other coin websites and books about coins.

5. Distribute the pre-cut tag board. Students can create the drawings on paper and write the information on the computer and then glue this onto the tag board trading card.

6. Each card should include the following: Picture of the obverse and reverse of the coin, Description of all the elements on both sides of the coin, Mint dates and mint location(s), Face value of the coin, Description and history of the person or event depicted on the coin, Interesting facts about the coin

Assessment / Evaluation:

Create a grading rubric based on the elements listed in the section on Procedures (offline).

Differentiated Learning Options:

Students could determine different “values” for the trading cards. Students can make additional coin trading cards. Students can trade and make up games for using their trading cards.