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Find resources and tips for your kindergarten money lesson plans. Introduce money with books, shows, and hands-on activities that will engage your child and enrich your math instruction!
I’ve been introducing a variety of money activities to my kindergartner a little at a time over the past few months. It’s been a natural progression. Money is something we use all the time, and there are many opportunities for learning about money real life. The interest is there.
I mean, who’s not interested in money?
In order to (a) satisfy his curiosity and (b) introduce the concept of money in an understandable and gentle way, I have been adding one resource at a time to our lesson plans each week.
In this post you will find all the resources you need to put together easy and engaging kindergarten money lesson plans. Read on for money activities, books, games, and field trips that will help make learning about money fun.
Children’s Books About Money to
Support Your Kindergarten Money Lesson Plans
I been adding one children’s book about money to our math basket at the beginning of each week. Some of these are such a hit we read them everyday for a week!
I love incorporating math literature into our lessons. It’s an easy way to introduce bigger concepts, and these entertaining books will act as a hook to grab your child’s attention.
Our very favorite money books…
Lemonade in Winter – If you have a little entrepreneur in your family, you’ll love Lemonade in Winter. This engaging read aloud will introduce your little one to counting coins as brother and sister team, Paulene and John-John, attempt to set up their lemonade stand in the middle of winter. Will the kids be successful? You’ll have to read to find out!
One Cent, Two Cents, Old Cents, New Cents – Does your little one love the Cat in the Hat? Follow the rascally rhymer as he travels through time to share the history of money from bartering to shells to coins and cash. The Cat makes learning about money as fascinating as it is fun!
Pigs will be Pigs – The Pig family needs your help! They are hungry – I mean really hungry. Help them search their house for buried coins and cash. Count it up and see what they can order from their favorite restaurant. Then look for coins hidden around your house, too! Can you find enough to buy a meal like the Pigs?
The Penny Pot – We just love Stuart J. Murphy’s math books! They are easy for kids to understand with simple, clear language and engaging illustrations. The Penny Pot will have your child giggling all the while learning about the value of coins.
The Berenstain Bears’ Trouble with Money -Brother and Sister Bear think money grows on trees! Not so, says Mama and Papa! Join the little bears as they start their own businesses. They can do anything from walking your pets to serving the best lemonade in town! Along their adventure the Bear children learn a very important lesson about the value of money.
Eyewitness Book: Money – It’s funny, this book keeps disappearing! I keep finding it under my son’s bed. He has just been pouring over the photographs of ancient coins and currencies. Give your kiddo an up-close look at ancient coins and paper money from all over the world. Plus real photography of how money is minted today.
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Learning Money with Shows
YouTube Kindergarten Money Playlist Watch out, the songs are catchy!
Reading Rainbow Classics: Lemonade for Sale, Season 1 Episode 21
LeVar explores way that young people can earn money before they’re old enough for official jobs in this show. Andrea McArdle reads the feature story of a group of kids who decide to run a lemonade drink stand to raise money to make repairs to their clubhouse, and how a new neighbor helps them drum up business.
Biz Kid$ Series: 3 Seasons on Prime
From the producers of Bill Nye The Science Guy comes Biz Kid$, the fun, fast-paced series where kids teach kids about personal finance and business.
Episodes include: What is Money? How Do You Get Money? What Can You Do with Money?
Popular Mechanics for Kids: Money, Season 1 Episode 20
Money Co-hosts Elisha and Jay show us what makes the world go round – money. Elisha acts as a stockbroker for a day; Jay works the floor of the Stock Exchange (where he wears platform shoes to ensure that he will be seen). Later he visits the mint where he pours a million dollars worth of gold bars and he is given the chance to keep a bar worth $150,000 – if he can pick it up!
For the younger set:
Sesame Street, A New Helper At Hoopers Store, Season 38 Episode 1
Gordon and Susan’s nephew, Chris Robinson, just moved to Sesame Street. He is looking for a job in the Help Wanted section of the newspaper because he needs money to buy books for school.
Activities and Games to Enrich
Your Kindergarten Money Lesson Plans
Make Your Own Money
My oldest became interested in the presidents on our currency after working on our Election Unit. This week he designed his own bills and set up a farmer’s market stand. His specialty item is a $300 bunch of bananas. That’s a pricey picnic!
- Fold green construction paper into eight rectangles
- Cut along the folds
- Use shipping labels to attach amounts and presidential portraits to your bills
His commentary about the looks of Washington, Lincoln, and Hamilton was hilarious. He did have to correct me more than once – Benjamin Franklin was NOT a president. Hamilton either! Geez Mom.
You can also find some more realistic looking money manipulatives in our shop! These are great for hands-on play or creating a full display!
Play Store
Playing store is the easiest way to introduce the concept of money. A toy cash register is just the thing to inspire imaginary play. Kindergartners will enjoy a more “grown up” version of their favorite coin counting toy.
My son was inspired to set up a farmer’s market outside. His store was called “Food Shop.” We practiced skip counting with bills, sorted bills into large and small amounts, made change, and practiced mental addition with the various bill values.
Learning About Coins
This was a suggestion a friend of mine’s Occupational Therapist. We can always use more fine motor practice. Rubbing the coins can help develop a delicate touch on the fragile paper and practice applying more or less pressure with the crayon.
To make it interesting, we tried it on a few types of paper like green printer paper and wax paper. Surprise! Crayon wax doesn’t stick to parchment. Who knew?
More Money Activities
Learn about money at the…
Bank
This age of digital banking seldom leads us inside the walls of an actual bank. Go ahead and show them where your money is kept. Ask for a tour of the bank. Most banks will accommodate, especially if you’re interested in setting up an account for your child.
- Check out some of the pamphlets up front
- Fill out a withdrawal or deposit form together
- Meet a teller and practice your socialization
Dollar Store
The first place we went to learn about money was the Dollar Tree. I know, I know – you don’t want more dollar store junk coming into your home. I get it. Neither do I!
However, it’s the best place to learn the value of a dollar. One dollar.
When we visited the dollar store my son was in charge of his $1.06. He held it tight in his hot, little fist the whole time. It was a loooooong time. Up and down the aisles. What will he choose? A puzzle? A toy? Hand soap with a new smell? A bag of blue rocks?
After an excruciating length of time, he finally chose a toy monster truck. He learned that one dollar doesn’t go very far. Especially when the wheels fell off the very next day. I wouldn’t say he was crushed, but he hasn’t asked to go back to the dollar store.
Other Stores
My kids don’t have regular income yet (I wish), but from time to time they do have money coming in. Birthdays, holidays, and random gifts from generous grandparents. I snake the big amounts for their savings, but they choose how to spend the rest.
My hope is that this helps them understand the value of money. What they can buy with what they have, and what it feels like when it’s gone.
- Thrift store
- Clothing store
- Grocery store
- Drug store
- App store
- Online shopping
Book Store
Within some boundaries, I let the oldest choose what he wants when he receives a gift. He recently was gifted $30. Big money for a little kid! He knew exactly where he wanted to take it.
We went straight to the bookstore to the Magic Tree House books. I pointed out the prices on the back of the books, and he really enjoyed comparison shopping. Extensively comparison shopping. He was thrilled with this purchase. A much better buying experience than the dollar store junky truck!
Where to go next:
Ashley helps parents who want to homeschool find the resources they need to successfully teach their children. Ashley is a former teacher, current homeschooler, published author, and designer behind Circle Time with Miss Fox printables as well as the creator of this website, The Homeschool Resource Room.
I can’t wait share this with not only my nieces and nephew but also my son who is $10 and needs more practice on money.
That’s awesome!