Third Graders Explore Coins

In preparation for third grade's traditional pretzel sale, which requires third graders to count coins and make change, we have been exploring coins and money in math class. We've been reviewing the values of different types of coins and gaining practice in adding up collections of coins through a variety of games and activities. We have also been exploring the many ways to create amounts using different coins.

Recently, third grader's played a coin game called Heads or Tails to practice adding up collections of coins. In partners, students assigned one partner to be heads and one partner to be tails. They then tossed seven coins on their Heads or Tails mat. They divided up which coins landed on heads and which landed on tails, then added up the total value of heads and tails to find which was higher, and therefore which student "won" that round.