Lesson Plan

Pot of Money

Main Subject Area: Mathematics

Duration of Lesson:  45 minutes

Keywords:

• Addition
• Coins
• Counting
• Dime
• Math Games
• Money
• Multiplication
• Nickel
• Number Sense
• Penny
• Quarter
• Value

Brief Description:

This math game invites students to use practice their addition and subtraction skills while building upon their knowledge of coin values. The activity can be modified for older children to allow them to practice their multiplication skills.

National Standard(s):

• Number and Operations

Additional Subject Area Standard(s):

Objectives:

Students will practice addition and subtraction.

Students will enhance their understanding of coin values.

Older students will use this activity to practice multiplication.

Materials (online):

Materials (offline):

Plastic pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters

Fake 1, 5, and 10-dollar bills, enough to ensure enough cash in the "pot". This really depends on how high the teacher wants to go and the number of students participating. Bills may be appropriate for the intermediate grades, while coins and possible $1 bills would be sufficient for the primary grades.

Coins Used in Lesson:

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

Grade Level(s):   K-2     3-5  

Procedures (online):

Procedures (offline):

Students can play this game in groups of 2 to 6 students at a time. Students sit around a table.

Each student begins with 10 pennies. In the middle of the table there is a "Pot" of nickels, dimes, quarters, and dollars (as high as the teacher feels comfortable).

Rules for the game:

1. The students will take turns rolling the dice.

2. During each turn, the student will add (or multiply) the number rolled to the amount of money that they started with.

3. The student then adds money from the pot to his pile to create a new total. The student should exchange several smaller coins for larger coins of equal value.

4. The teacher can decide how high to make the target and the first one that meets that target wins. The teacher could also predetermine how many rounds of play there will be, and the winner is the student with the greatest amount of money.

Assessment / Evaluation:

The teacher can determine whether each child comprehends the values of each coin/dollar, and whether the student comprehends how to add, subtract or multiply.

Differentiated Learning Options:

To make it the game a little harder the students should pick the least number of coins/dollars in the "pot" they can when "cashing in".

The game can also be played in reverse by starting with a dollar amount and subtracting with each roll of the dice.

Another variation is to work on a certain multiplier such as “7” and that number is added (or multiplied) to the number rolled, then that amount is taken from the pot and added to your holdings.