Counting Money Games for 2nd Graders

Throughout the formative years, a child explores and learns from his or her immediate surroundings. They compare and identify different quantities, objects , shapes, numbers , directions etc. The early childhood mathematical education lays a strong base for developing future mathematical aptitude. Everyday maths learning setting is entirely based on a child’s everyday experiences and research based curriculum and teaching practices.  Science and mathematics education helps the child to make sense of the world around them.

A preschooler or a kindergarten child is introduced to the number world. After preschool, a child can identify and count numbers easily. In grade 2 maths we will extend the skill of counting numbers to counting money.

Money is an indispensable part of our everyday lives. We need to pay money for all the things that we buy.  A child must realise that when we go out to shop in the departmental store or eat out in a restaurant we need money to pay for all the things that we bought or we have eaten. The child needs to be introduced to the world of currency and money at this age. This gives the child confidence and excitement to be part of the real world. This also inculcates responsible values in the child and they learn the importance of money.

We have specially designed puzzles, math worksheets  and online math games for Grade 2 children to learn to identify different pennies, coins and dollar bills. These funbrain games helps the children to master the skill of counting money without compromising on their playtime.

Apart from identifying different currency values, lesson on addition and subtraction of money is also imparted as the child already know about the basic addition and subtraction of numbers.

Maths Games for Kids on Counting Money

In the formative years a child develops effective skills through play and games. We live in an age where a child spends a major chunk of their time online and on computers. Online maths games and puzzles are a great way to develop a foundation for math skills playfully and are in alignment with the core curriculum.

These math learning games and activities for kids instruct them to identify different coins and money notes, count the basic currency and add up simple money values. Such money counting games are in sync with the real world situation and will help the child to calculate simple money for shopping in a department store in a joyful manner. These games enable children to be a part of the real world and hence boost their confidence with these newly acquired skills.

Teaching Counting Money through Manipulatives

1. Identification of Coins and Notes

In US, we use dollars and cents as currency values. We pay in notes and coins to buy things. The manipulative used for identifying currency values is to bring to the classroom fake/ playful notes and coins. Teacher can engage the children in games here she distributes the fake currency notes and coins in groups and creates an environment of a departmental or stationary store. In this role play some of the students enact the shopkeepers and some of them get to play the customers.

Apart from this, teacher can instruct the children to play some online math games based on the topic in the computer room.

Match the correct money value.

In the above game the child learns to identify different coins and their values. A similar activity can be formed with different dollar bills.

2. Arranging the Coins in the Increasing Order of Their Value

 In this math game, the child will explore the math skill of sorting the numbers in their ascending value. This activity will further concretise their understanding about different money denominations.  

3. Adding Cents

Once the identification of money is learnt by the child, the next step is to help them add currency values. The child will put in use the acquired skills along with the math skills of addition.

Start with the least value coin i.e. 1 cent.

Similar maths activity can be designed to add up dollar 1 banknotes. Child also develops an understanding that 5 cent coin has more value than a single a 1 cent coin.

Similarly, SplashLearn provides appropriately designed maths worksheet for adding up 5 cents to form 10 cents and 25 cents, 10 cents and 25 cents to form a dollar. An access to the worksheets is provided in the Math Lab.

4. Applying the Concept to Real Situation

Math Activity layout : Rachel wants to buy food for to fed her dog. She goes to a store to buy dog food. The store person tells her that one packet of dog food will cost her 7 cents.

Now the activity focuses on testing two acquired math skills, first the identification of different money coins and notes in Rachel’s pocket and second adding up the money to form 7 cent value.

She can form different combination of the total value: -

1. Arrange seven 1 cent coins on the table for the store person to take.

2. Arrange one 5 cent coin and two 1 cent coins for the store person to pay for the food packet.

The game introduces the child to both the possible combinations.

5. Counting Money by Skip Counting Method

Ronald has a bag full of money. He lays down all the coins and notes on a table. Help Ronald count all the money in his bag.

Also one can sort the money values in different groups. Count the number of dollar 1 bills , number of 5 cents coins or 25 cent coins. Here the child learns to sort different banknotes and coins according to their denomination.

6. Exchanging Money

Nina has a few banknotes in her purse. She wants to exchange these notes for cents. Help her do that by taking out coins of appropriate denomination from the bag and placing the exact value in the box provided.

7. Money for Shopping

In this math worksheet, the child will learn to count money required to pay for the things that we buy.

Jacob has gone to a fun fair with his mother. He buys certain things from the fair. Circle the money or tick the correct box that is required to make the payment for the things bought by him.