Oakland Terrace Math: Kindergarten Student Work

Students use a 20 chart to help them count coins. Students are expected to master one-to-one correspondence in Kindergarten. But the challenge with money is that now, one object (a nickel, for instance) represents 5. In this Kidspiration activity, students cover the 20 chart with the value of each coin. The penny covers one number, the nickel covers five numbers, and the dime covers ten numbers.

Students are taught to start with the coin of the greatest value. In this activity, they choose the coin that is the longest. They move the coin to cover up the 20 chart.

In this example, the student starts with the dime.

Counting dimes, nickels and pennies can be especially challenging. But if the students place the coins in order by length, it is much easier for them. It allows them to work with the concept of the value of coins that can be too abstract (one object = 5 or 10) on a more accessible level.

Students are then given a 30 chart and asked to find different ways to make 30 cents.
Here are two examples.

OT Teachers: This activity is shared as "dimesnickelspennies" in Handout-K-MATH and Handout-1-MATH and in T-share.

Indictors:

6.K.1.5 determine the value of
any set of coins through nineteen
cents.

6.1.1.5 name and determine the value of any
set of coins with a value through one dollar.