Lesson Plan

The Alphabet of Coins

Main Subject Area: Language Arts

Additional Subjects: Technology

Duration of Lesson:  45 minutes

Keywords:

• Coins
• Letters
• Patterns

Brief Description:

Students will use letter/sound relationships of initial consonants to complete sentences that follow a given repeating pattern. These sentences will be based on coin terms found on the U.S. Mint H.I.P. Pocket Change™ Web site.

National Standard(s):

• Gather and use information for research purposes
• Demonstrate competence in the general skills and strategies of the writing process

Additional Subject Area Standard(s):

• Technology research tools

Objectives:

Students will use letter/sound relationships of initial consonants.

Students will complete a sentence that follows a given repeating pattern.

Students will identify and write the initial consonant in a given word.

Students will learn about coins and the history of money.

Materials (online):

In the classroom access to a computer with Internet capabilities.

The U.S. Mint H.I.P. Pocket Change™ Web site: http://www.usmint.gov/kids/

Materials (offline):

Children’s books about coins and money

Language Arts journals

Grade level appropriate picture story paper

Coins Used in Lesson:

All coins on the U.S. Mint H.I.P. Pocket Change™ Web site

Grade Level(s):   K-2  

Procedures (online):

Teachers can guide their students through the resources available on the U.S. Mint H.I.P. Pocket Change™ Web site to find coin terms that begin with each letter of the alphabet.

Procedures (offline):

Primary students love looking for patterns. This lesson allows students to help create their own patter and learn about coins and the different resources on the U.S. Mint’s H.I.P. Pocket Change™ Web site.

1. Each student will be creating a page of an alphabet book. Their page will follow the pattern: Dana found a Dime. Dime begins with the letter D. A dime is worth ten cents. Eddie found an Eagle. Eagle begins with the letter E. An eagle is on some U.S. quarters. Frank found five cents. Five begins with the letter F. A nickel is worth five cents.

2. Begin by assigning each student a letter of the alphabet. As a class, look through the information available on the U.S. Mint H.I.P. Pocket Change™ Web site. As students look through the information, each student can be looking for words that begin with their letter. (You may wish to develop a list of age-appropriate words for your students to read, rather than exploring the extensive USMHPC coin glossary that may not meet their needs. You may also choose to bring in sets of circulating coins for your students to inspect to help in their selection of coin terms.)

3. Have each student find a fact about the word they found. Students can record their word and fact in their journal.

4. Create and post a sample to show the class the pattern they will need to follow.

5. Have your students write their sentences in their journals. Help your students proof read their writing (this will vary depending on your teaching style).

6. Once all sentences have been reviewed, have your students rewrite and illustrate their sentences on the picture story paper.

7. When students have completed their page, assemble the classroom book and place it in the classroom library.

Assessment / Evaluation:

Students can be evaluated on their individual pages they create.

Differentiated Learning Options:

Students can research and create their pages with an older student buddy.

Add the list of coin terms that your students generate to spelling lists or on your class’ “Word Wall”. This will reinforce the sound patterns that your students have learned, and will help them when using these terms in future writings.