Objective

By the end of this lesson, Everett will understand the different types of coins and cash, how to identify their values, and how to use them in a fun game that reinforces his money management skills.

Materials and Prep

• Play money or homemade paper cut-outs of coins and bills (pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and various denominations of cash).
• Whiteboard or paper for keeping score during the game.
• Timer (optional, can use a phone or clock).
• Space to play the game comfortably.

Activities

• Coin Identification Challenge: Start the lesson by showing Everett different coins and asking him to identify them. He can then sort them by type and value. This will help him learn the names and values of each coin.

• Money Match Game: Create pairs of cards with pictures of coins and their corresponding values. Everett will flip two cards at a time to find matches. This will help him memorize the values of the coins.

• Shopping Spree Game: Set up a mini-store using the play money. Everett can "buy" items with different prices. This will teach him how to use money in real-life situations and give him practice in making change.

• Money Bingo: Create bingo cards with different coin values. Call out the values, and Everett can cover them on his card. This will reinforce his recognition of coin values while having fun!

Talking Points

• "Did you know that a penny is worth one cent? It's the smallest coin we have!"
• "A nickel is worth five cents. If you have five pennies, you could trade them for a nickel!"
• "Dimes are worth ten cents. They are smaller than nickels but worth more!"
• "Quarters are worth twenty-five cents. Four quarters make one dollar!"
• "What do you think is more valuable, a dollar bill or a quarter? Let’s count them!"
• "When you go shopping, you need to know how much things cost. That way, you can buy what you want!"
• "Making change is important. If you buy something for a dollar and give a quarter, how much change should you get back?"
• "Money helps us trade for things we need or want. It’s like a special ticket!"
• "Can you think of ways we use money every day? Like buying snacks or toys?"
• "Playing games with money is a fun way to learn! The more you practice, the better you’ll get!"