Coin sorting mat

This free printable is wonderful for young children who are learning coins!

It’s week 4 in the K-2 Math Activities series! Each week I’m teaming up with Playdough to Plato and This Reading Mama to bring you a total of three math activities for kids in K-2.

This week our theme is Measurement.  When we think about things kids need to measure, length is probably the first thing that comes to mind.  But kids can also measure time, volume, weight, and even value.

Of course, before kids can learn the value of coins, they need to be able to identify them and distinguish between them.  I always find that I jump ahead on this skill, assuming my kids already know the difference between coins.

Use this printable sorting mat before teaching the value of coins.  My kindergartner loved it!

After adding a few pennies to the mat (the easiest coins to identify!), my Five told me we didn’t have any dimes.

“Oh, there are a lot of dimes.  See?  They’re the smallest silver-colored coins.”

“Look,” he told me. “This is a dime.  I know because it says ONE DIME on the back.”

He placed a nickel on top of the printed quarter and was sure he’d found a match.  But I showed them that quarters are bigger than nickels and the largest coin (or at least the largest coin we use regularly).

Now he was getting it!

You might come back to this activity another day and help your child name the value of each coin.  Here’s a little song you can teach him.  Sing it to the tune of “Are You Sleeping?”

Penny, nickel, dime,

Penny, nickel, dime,

Quarter, half-dollar.

Quarter, half-dollar.

1, 5, 10,

1, 5, 10

25, 50.

25, 50.

Sorting coins is fun for kids. Be sure to do this activity before teaching them to determine coins’ value.  They might also enjoy these other coin activities.  When they’re ready, you can play these free coin counting games.

Enjoy!

Get your free coin sorting mat!

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