Free U.S. Money Counting Activity,
My children don’t want to sit in a chair and get lectured by mom then color a picture afterward. They hate baby activities like coloring pennies, connecting the images to the values and matching. I can’t blame them, its boring! That’s the busy work I hated when I was in school. If the activities and lesson plans are not challenging or entertaining kids are not going to respond.
What’s more fun that an afternoon of playing deli owner? I set up the counter with the kids favorite snacks, a couple of drinks and created a menu on a dry erase board with the prices.
I gave each kid money along with a worksheet with the values of the bills and coins. See the example below.
Use the worksheet to help count the different ways to make $0.25, $0.50, $0.75, and $1.00. The sheet serves as a tool when kids are starting out with values of money. They can compare their change to the worksheet and determine how many dimes nickels etc. they need to make a dollar.
Once they have the hang of counting the change and adding up the coins you can make it fun by playing deli owner, grocery store clerk, etc.
For example: I had banana’s on my menu for $0.25, apples for $0.25, and a sandwich for $5.75. My son wanted apple slices and a sandwich so he had to add the total cost to pay me.
U.S Money Value Chart
It was really cute to watch the light bulb come on when he realized $5.75 + $0.25 = $6. My son quickly switched his four quarters for a dollar and recounted his money before paying me. They enjoyed it so much they asked if we could play it again for dinner.
Dollar Tree sells a play money set that has mini realistic looking bills. The coins however are paper and all the same size. I pulled out the change jar so it wouldn’t be so confusing. Money is basically obsolete, but it’s still a valuable lesson. It helps with quick counting and fractions down the road.
