Money Smart: Counting Coins

Substitute Teacher Lesson Plan — Kindergarten (~45 minutes)

Objective

Students will identify, sort, and count coins (pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters) and begin to understand that money is used to buy things and services.

Materials

• "Money Smart: Counting Coins" resource (Mixed Coins slide, Play Money handout)
• Projector (to display the Mixed Coins slide, if available)
• One penny
• Chart paper and marker
• Small bags of real or play coins (play coins should be larger than 2 inches in diameter to reduce choking risk)
• Art supplies (crayons, color pencils, markers, scissors, glue, tape)
• Copies of the Play Money handout (one per student)

Warm-up (~5 min)

1. Gather students and ask: "What is money?" Let a few students share their ideas.
2. Explain that money is something we use to buy things (like food, books, and toys) or services (like haircuts or a doctor visit).
3. Show students the one penny. Ask what they think it, or a dollar, could buy.
4. On chart paper, write a short brainstorm list of things students say they would buy (ask for specific examples, like a toy or a snack).

Main Activity (~25 min)

Part 1: Meet the Coins (10 min)

1. Display the Mixed Coins slide (or describe/show a real coin if no projector is available).
2. As a class, identify and name the coins together: penny, nickel, dime, quarter.
3. Hand out small bags of coins (real or play). Say a coin's name (e.g., "Show me a penny") and have students hold up the matching coin from their bag.

Part 2: Sort and Count (10 min)

1. Have students sort their coins by size and color.
2. Ask students to count how many pennies they have in their bag.
3. Have each student share their penny count with a partner.

Part 3: Design Your Own Money (5 min)

1. Give each student a Play Money handout and art supplies.
2. Let students color/design their own bill.
3. If time is short, tell students they may finish cutting out their coins and bill later or take the handout home to complete.

Wrap-up / Exit Ticket (~10 min)

1. Bring the class back together for a Class Reflection. Ask: "What do you now know about money?"
2. Invite several students to share one thing they learned (e.g., naming a coin, what money is used for).
3. Exit Ticket: Ask each student to hold up and name one coin from their bag (a penny, nickel, dime, or quarter) as a quick check for understanding before they put materials away.

If Time Remains

Play the whole-group game "I Am Going on a Shopping Trip." Each student takes a turn completing the sentence: "I am going on a shopping trip and I am going to buy ___________." Record each student's answer on chart paper.