Math Centers: Money Counting Cards

As part of my math instruction I like to have Math Stations to reinforce our daily instruction.   

My students finish their class work at different times and begin Math Stations.  I try to introduce at least one or two new stations a week.  I generally have five to six stations going at one time.  

  

When they complete the lesson, I do a quick check of their work and then the students go to the Math Station they were working on until it is complete.  When they complete that station then they can move to the next one.   With Money Counting Cards, it is really important to me that each student completes each color level correctly before he/she continues to the next level because each level get a little bit harder.  

When all the students complete a station then I introduced a new station. 

Once in a while I have a few students who take forever to complete a station.  I generally pack up that station and they take it home for homework so the class can move on.  Or if I know they are the type that will not return it,  I have them do it during recess. 

Generally I have the stations set up around the room so my students are busy working in different corners.   I like to use these tabletop pocket charts because they are easy to set up and fold during the Math lessons.  

If you want to see more details about the Math Station activity please go to my TPT store and check it out.  

Money Cards

I found these old picture cards I used when I taught first grade.  I decided to use them again in kindergarten during my May Math Stations.

First of all I made these cards with pictures of flashcards I found in the back of my file cabinet.  You could use clipart or magazine pictures if you wanted.

Then I wrote the names of the objects on the cards and prices.  This will save my sanity so my little ones will not ask me 100 times how to spell.

I created a simple worksheet with MS word.

My little ones stamp the correct coins, using these stamps I found at Lakeshore Learning.  I want my little ones to practice recognizing the coins. 

Graphing Coins

Graphing Coins

I am working a bit slow this month.  It is taking me forever to get my math stations together.  
I have recreated an activity I had for my children in past years.  
In the past the children sorted the coins and counted them.  They will continue to do that however I add another dimension to it.  


To introduce the children to this station I read the book:

I shared with them how many of these coin purses once belonged to my daughter Sandy, who they know because she comes to my classroom on breaks from college. I tell them some of the stories about the coin purses.  How Sandy loved dogs and the dalmatian coin purse is her first wallet.  The  purple striped wallet she got at daisy scouts. 

I think what the children like the most about this station is that it has real money in it. 

Directions:

1.      The children will sort the coins.
(I created some sorting mats to aide students at different levels.)

Click Here for a copy

Click Here for a copy

2.    Next the children will graph the results.

This is my copy, however I made a blank copy at the end of the document if you want to add your own pictures.  Let me know if you have problems.
Click Here for your copy.

3.    Finally the children will add up the total for each coin.

4.    I have a couple of students who need a challenge, they can add up the total for the entire coin purse.  


I try to check each day to make sure that they are on the right track.