Online Lesson

Pennies Make Cents

Introduction:

To help you with today's lesson, you will need to know the meanings of these words:

• money
• currency
• barter
• wampum
• trade
• exchange

Task:

Discuss these questions:

• Long ago, before America was a settled land, how did people get food?
• How did they get new clothing, tools, or supplies that they needed?

Process:

Activity 1:

Open www.pub.org/wgbh/nova/moolah/history.html . It will show you a time line that will tell you about early trading.

Your teacher will divide you into two groups. Use role playing to show others how early trading might have looked and sounded.

Activity 2:

The next web site www.pennies.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=45 will tell you about the penny. Did you know it was the first currency of any kind to be made in America? 

• Have you ever looked really closely at a penny or examined one under a magnifying glass? Your teacher will give you some coins. Investigate the details of the penny. Be ready to tell your classmates what you have discovered.

In a small group, sort the pennies in a creative way. Try sorting by dates--which is recent? which is older? Sort by condition--which is newest?, which is worn? You think of others.

Activity 3:

The last web site has fun facts about pennies. See what new ideas you can gather by looking at: www.pennies.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=30

Activity 4:

Your teacher has a story to tell you called, "The Hundred Penny Box."

Could you share the event in school with classmates like Aunt Dew did with Michael?

Conclusion:

Pennies do make cents.

Extension Activity:

At home tonight try to find a penny that was minted during your life time.

• Can your family remember a special happening for you that occurred in the year the penny was made?