Understanding Currency

Activity 2: One Fine Day (Bartering)

In this lesson, students hear a story about a fox who must make a series of trades to get something he wants. The students complete a worksheet tracing the various trades the fox makes. They then are asked to complete a puzzle activity with a group but are not given all the necessary components. They must barter with other groups to obtain the pieces and supplies needed. Finally, the students complete an assessment using a text-to-text, text-to-self, and text-to-world format to compare the story One Fine Day with a new story about trading. Students should have basic knowledge of the following economic concepts prior to this lesson: trade, goods, services, and money. (from Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis)

Activity 3: What is Money?

This lesson helps children identify the names of coins and grasptheir relative values in terms of purchasing power. (from practicalmoneyskills.com)

Activity 4: Counting Coins

Guide students in building the basics of understanding currency while having fun with coins. Through the exploration of children’s literature, story problems, and hands-on activities, including identifying, sorting, and counting coins, students begin to develop connections between the literal product of coins and bills and the abstract concepts of using money to make purchases. Extend the exploration of currency throughout the year with a variety of cross-curricular independent and small group activities. (from FDIC Money Smart program)