TOPIC:

Teaching the Value of Money — Nickels, Dimes, Quarters

RESOURCES NEEDED:

Dice, 10 of each coin (nickel, dime and quarter)

LEARNING OPPORTUNITY:

It is important for children to learn coin values. By playing this game, your child will understand what each coin is worth and that having fewer coins doesn’t necessarily mean you have less money. They will also be learning how to count and add various coins together to get a total amount of money.

THE ACTIVITY:

• The object of the game is to be the first player with $2.00 saved.
• Take turns rolling one die. Each player gets the amount of coins shown on the die, but they have to take a least one of every coin value. (e.g. they can’t take all nickels, all dimes or all quarters)
• As a player accumulates 5 nickels, or more, they must trade them for 2 dimes or 1 quarter. Likewise, as a player accumulates 5 dimes, they must be traded for two quarters, as so on.

(You may want to let the child keep the money he or she wins to add to their piggy bank savings.)

TIPS:

Click on the “Practice” tab at the top of the website, to see many more money games.

FOLLOW UP WEBSITES ACTIVITIES:

• Open this link to listen to an Elmo song about Counting Coins. http://howtoteachkids.info/2010/10/teaching-money-the-elmo-counting-coins-song/
• Open this link to a math game activity and help your child complete the math problems counting coins. (Although the penny is being phased out, it is still important for children to be able to count money values.) http://ca.ixl.com/math/kindergarten/count-money-pennies-nickels-dimes