TOPIC:

Identifying Canadian coin values

RESOURCES NEEDED:

Computer, printer and a pencil, a collection of Canadian coins

LEARNING OPPORTUNITY:

Children learn from their parents that money can be exchanged for toys, food, and other items in stores, but they often do not know the number of bills or coins needed or their value. Once they understand the values of coins, they can start to appreciate how much things cost. This knowledge will help them at school when money concepts are taught.

THE ACTIVITY:

• Print out a copy of the Tic Tac “DOUGH” sheet provided.
• Mount the sheet onto a heavy piece of paper or cardboard.
• Show your child the various kinds of coins used in Canada and explain what the value of each coin is. Point out the pictures on each one. (One cent has been included as they are in circulation, and children may be exposed to pennies in other countries’ currencies.)
• Explain the activity to your child while doing it yourself first. Holding a pencil in your hand, place the tip of the pencil in the middle of the Tic Tac Dough board. Close your eyes and say the following rhyme while moving the pencil around the board in circle: Tic Tac Dough, round I go, I won’t miss, I’ll stop on this!
• Now it’s the child’s turn.
• Whatever value they stop on, they must tell you what coin matches that money value. For example, if they stop on 25 cents, they must tell you that a quarter is worth 25 cents.

FOLLOW UP IDEAS:

• Place some coins on a table and ask your child to sort them from the smallest value to the largest value.
• Save a jar full of coins and ask your child to sort them into piles, e.g. all nickels, dimes, quarters, loonies, toonies.

WEBSITES:

• http://www.canadianfamily.ca/articles/earlier-better-teach-your-kids-about-money/
  Canadian Family website: Earlier is better to teach kids about money
• http://www.fcac-acfc.gc.ca/eng/consumers/lifeevents/teachchild/index-eng.asp
  Government of Canada site. Teaching children about money
• http://www.homeschoolmath.net/worksheets/canadian-money.php
  A site to make worksheets for counting Canadian coins.