Coin Recognition Game | Free Printable
Coin Recognition Game
This coin recognition game helps little ones to practice coin recognition and coin values as they race to be the first to get to 100. Includes a printable and is for kindergarten and first grade.
Coins certainly aren’t used as much as they were when we learned about them in school. Still, coin recognition is an essential math skill and life skill. Knowing coins and their value carries over into visualization and other executive function to help a student understand money.
My first grader has hit the money section in his math book! I’m excited about this unit as it is hands-on and so practical. And to celebrate, I created a special game for him and I can’t wait to share this fun money game with you.
Coin Recognition Games for Kindergarten
My child was not introduced to these skills until first grade. However, many kindergarteners could do this as well.
We began this coin recognition game by creating a chart with each of the coins in it. They glued in a picture of the coin and then we drew pictures of what was on each coin, and of course, we wrote down what each coin was worth.
Free Coin Recognition Game
This game is simple to get going.
- First, print off the 100’s chart on card stock paper (Below). Print off the cards with coins on them, or the page that has a die that you can print to create your own.
- Next, make the coin dice by cutting out each die template, as one piece, then folding the blue tabs and either gluing them or taping them to form a die.
- Finally, gather up game pieces and you are ready to go.
How to Teach Coin Recognition
The purpose of this fun money game is to get children to recognize coins and their value. As an added benefit they get to build number sense using the hundreds chart.
- Children take turns rolling the die.
- The child should say the name of the coin they rolled and its value.
- Then our little ones get to move up that many spaces on the hundreds chart.
- The first person that gets to the end of the chart wins!
How to Play this Fun Money Game
When we began playing this game my first grader had already spent a lot of time on the hundreds chart. So this game was just a way for him to make connections between money and the hundreds chart.
When he rolled a penny it was easy, because he knew he was moving up one space. When he rolled a dime, I watched as he tediously counted up 10 spaces.
I didn’t say anything but was thrilled when I rolled a dime. I began my thinking aloud.
I do this a lot with my children and I did it with my students when I taught in a public school setting. There is so much that we think about, or used to think about when we solve problems. Our students need to hear our thoughts and hear how we are processing each step as we work through a problem.
The clearer we are when we explain our thinking to students while playing this free coin game, the quicker they will understand what to do, and be able to explain their thinking. (Ok, soapbox over!)
Money Practice Game
Teaching Coin Recognition to my First Grader
“HMMMM, I know that 10 + 10 = 20. Wow look, 10 is right under 20 on the numbers chart. ….And when you moved 10 spaces you started at 27 and ends at 37. Look they both end in 7 and 37 is under 27. I wonder if 15 +10 = 25. What do you think?”
My first grader with his quest for all things numbers jumped in and began moving my game piece. He carefully counted to 10 again and in astonishment said, “Mom, you were right. That is an easy way to add 10!”
That was it. He never counted 10 spaces again. He just moved that game piece down.
Practice Counting Money Games
Please remember that all children are different. My first grader picks math up quickly. What only took one explanation for him, probably would have taken numerous explanations for my kindergartner.
And that is fine. All of our little ones grow, learn, and develop very differently.
Overall, we had a blast playing this coin recognition activity. When it came time for us to just pull the coins out and make a certain amount, the little boy surprised me once again with how quickly he had caught on.
In fact, he kept begging for them to be harder!
Coin Recognition Games Printable
Don’t miss my product on Teachers Pay Teachers: Counting Coins Money Game, Sort, and Worksheets
If you are looking for more money practice games, we also played a game by The Measured Mom as it reinforced coin recognition.
