Directions

Gather 25 pennies, 5 nickels, 2 dimes, and 3 quarters per child.

Have children complete the steps below.

Have children practice until they perfectly master each task.

STEP 1 – WHAT IS A QUARTER?

Children identify the quarter.

• Direct the children to examine the front and back of a quarter. Ask the children to verbally describe what they see.
• Have children hold up a penny and recite, ‘1 penny is worth 1 cent.’
• Have children hold up a nickel and recite, ‘1 nickel is worth 5 cents.’
• Have children hold up a dime and recite, ‘1 dime is worth 10 cents.’
• Have children hold up a quarter and recite, ‘1 quarter is worth 25 cents.’

STEP 2 – COMBINE AND SEPARATE

Children combine and separate groups of pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters.

• Ask children to group 25 pennies together.
• Tell children to move 1 quarter next to the 25 pennies. Have them recite, ‘1 quarter is worth 25 pennies.’
• Tell children to remove the pennies and to move 5 nickels next to the quarter. Have them recite, ‘5 nickels are worth 1 quarter.’
• Tell children to remove the nickels and to move 2 dimes and 1 nickel next to the 1 quarter. Have them recite, ‘2 dimes and 1 nickel are worth 1 quarter.’

STEP 3 – PLAY STORE

Play store with children, where children show the amount of money required to buy pretend items.

• Give each child 1 quarter, 1 dime, 1 nickel, and 5 pennies. Say to children, ‘A pen costs 42 cents. Show me which coins you must give to the cashier.’
• Give each child 2 quarters, 1 dime, 1 nickel, and 5 pennies. Say to children, ‘A toy boat costs 63 cents. Show me which coins you must give to the cashier.’
• Give each child 3 quarters, 1 dime, 1 nickel, and 5 pennies. Say to children, ‘A bell pepper costs 84 cents. Show me which coins you must give to the cashier.’