Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to count past 20 and recognize the concept of money, including identifying coins and their values through engaging activities.

Materials and Prep

• Counting with fingers
• Imaginary play money (drawn on paper if needed)
• Household items for counting (toys, snacks, etc.)

Before the lesson, make sure to introduce the names of different coins (penny, nickel, dime, quarter) and their values in a fun way, perhaps by using gestures or songs.

Activities

• Counting Game:

  Use your fingers to count from 1 to 20. Then, see if you can count even higher! You can also count household items like toys or snacks. Make it a fun race to see how fast you can count!

• Money Match:

  Use imaginary play money to match coins with their values. For example, say, "This is a penny! How many pennies make a nickel?" Encourage your child to think about how many of each coin they need.

• Shopping Role Play:

  Set up a pretend store using toys or snacks. Let your child "buy" items with play money. Ask them to count out the correct amount for each item they "purchase." This will help them understand how money works!

Talking Points

• "Let’s count together! Can you show me how many fingers you have?"
• "This is a penny! It’s worth one cent. Can you find something that costs one penny?"
• "When we go shopping, we need to count our money! How many coins do you need to buy this toy?"