Money Match

Money Match


This game helps children count change. Lots of repetition
will make it even more effective.





What you'll need


A die to roll
10 of each coin (penny, nickel, dime)
6 quarters



What to do


1. For young players (5- and 6-year-olds), use only 2
different coins (pennies and nickels or nickels and
dimes). Older children can use all coins.

2. Explain that the object of the game is to be the first
player to earn a set amount (10 or 20 cents is a good
amount).

3. The first player rolls the die and gets the number of
pennies shown on the die.

4. Players take turns rolling the die to collect additional
coins.

5. As each player accumulates 5 pennies or more, the 5
pennies are traded for a nickel.

6. The first player to reach the set amount wins.

7. Add the quarter to the game when the children are ready.





Counting money, which involves counting by 1s, 5s, 10s,
and 25s, is a challenging skill and usually does not come
easily to children until about the third grade.


Money's Worth


When children use coins to play games, it may help them
use coins in real life situations.



What you'll need


Coins
Coupons



What to do


1. Coin clues. Ask your child to gather some change in his or
her hand without showing what it is. Start with amounts of
25 cents or less. Ask your child to tell you how much
money and how many coins there are. Guess which coins are
being held. For example, "I have 17 cents and 5 coins.
What coins do I have?" (3 nickels and 2 pennies.)

2. Clip and save. Cut out coupons and tell how much money is
saved with coins. For example, if you save 20 cents on
detergent, say 2 dimes. Ask your child what could be
purchased using the savings from the coupon. A pack of
gum? A pencil? How much money could be saved with 3, 4, or
5 coupons? How could that money be counted out in coins
and bills? What could be purchased with that savings? A
pack of school paper? A magazine? How much money could be
saved with coupons for a week's worth of groceries? How
would that money be counted out? What could be purchased
with that savings? A book? A movie ticket?

Counting money involves thinking in patterns or groups of
amounts: 1s, 5s, 10s, 25s. Start these activities by having
your child first separate the coins or coupons by types: all
the pennies together, all the nickels, all the dimes, all the
quarters; the coupons for cereal, the coupons for cake and
brownie mixes, the coupons for soap.





In the News


Young children love to look at the newspaper. It is fun
for them to realize that there are things for them to see and
do with the paper.



What you'll need


Newspaper
Glue
Paper
Scissors
Pencil or crayon



What to do


1. Newspaper numbers. Help your child look for the numbers
1-100 in the paper. Cut the numbers out and glue them in
order onto a large piece of paper. For children who cannot
count to 100 or recognize numerals that large, only
collect up to the number they do know. Have your child say
the numbers to you and practice counting. Collect only
numbers within a certain range, like the numbers between
20 and 30. Arrange the numbers on a chart, grouping all
the numbers with 2s in them, all the numbers with 5s, and
so on.

2. Counting book. Cut out pictures from the newspaper and use
them to make a counting book. Page one will have one thing
on it, page 2 will have 2 things that are alike, page 3
will have 3 things that are alike, and so on. All the
things on the pages have to be the same. At the bottom of
each page, write the number of items on the page and the
word for the item. Have your child dictate a story to you
about what is on the page.

Being able to read and understand the newspaper involves
more than just the ability to read the words and understand
what they say. It also involves the ability to read and
understand numbers.



Look It Up


These activities help children understand how items can be
organized and grouped in logical ways.



What you'll need


Newspaper
Paper
Scissors
Glue


What to do


1. Section selection. Show your child that the paper is
divided into different sections and explain that each
section serves a purpose. Show him that each section is
lettered and how the pages are numbered.

2. Ad adventure. Provide your child with grocery store ads
from the newspaper. Help him see how many items are listed
and the prices. Compare the prices at different stores.
Ask which store has the best bargain and why. Talk about
the difference in prices between items bought at regular
price, items on sale, and items bought with coupons. What
happens when an item is bought on sale and bought with a
coupon?

3. Solid search. Look at the store ads or coupons for
pictures of all the cylinders, boxes, or cubes you can
find. What are their different uses? Paste the pictures on
paper and make a "book of geometric solids." Have one page
for each solid.





Understanding that there is a logical order to the way
things are arranged in the newspaper, and in the book of
solids, helps show that math skills can be used in organizing
written material. Comparing information, such as the sale
prices at stores, also helps children see logical relationships
that can be applied to writing.