A friend of mine teaches a 1st and 2nd grade split class. She asked me if I had any ideas for helping her students learn the values of each coin. After reading about Fair Lands activities to help teach place value and different bases (
http://www.moveitmaththesource.com/freee-booksandhu.html), I came up with a similar game for USA coins.
Objects needed to play game:
1. Game board for each player. (see attachment) I printed them on card stock and covered them with clear contact paper.
2. Coins-- at least 10 pennies, 4 nickles, 4 dimes, 8 quarters, and 1 dollar bill per player. If you don't want to use real coins, you can print some out here.
http://www.senteacher.org/Worksheet/11/PlayMoney.xhtml3. Receiving/spending card (above each game card) I cut these out and folded them in half so receiving was on one side and spending on the other. Then I "laminated" them with clear packing tape.
4. Dice
Rules:
1. If you can make an exchange, you must make the exchange.
2. You must exchange from right to left consecutive boxes when receiving money, and from left to right when spending money.
Playing the game: Receiving
(place receiving/spending card with receiving side up above the game board.)
1. First player throws the dice and collects that many pennies. If it is more than 5, he must make his game board safe by exchanging for nickles, dimes, etc. You must collect
pennies, and then exchange up.
2. The turn is over when no more exchanges can be made.
3. First person to exchange for a dollar wins.
Playing the game: Spending
(place receiving/spending card with spending side up above the game board.)
1. Start with a dollar bill on your board. Throw the dice and subtract that many cents. For example, if she rolls a 4, she would need to exchange her dollar for 4 quarters, and then one of the quarters for 2 dimes and a nickle, and then the nickle for 5 pennies. Then she could subtract 4 cents.
2. The turn is over when you have subtracted the amount shown on the dice.
3. First person to zero their board
without going into debt wins.
To add to the game you could have each child tell you the total amount on their card each time their turn ends.
The kids seem to enjoy this game and want to play it in their spare time in the class room.