To most fifth graders the concept of money involves mommy and daddy’s pockets. This blog will introduce the reader to incorporating consumer math to fifth graders.
Books:
1. A Kid’s Guide to Earning Money. Written by Tamra Orr. This book is intended to teach students the value of earning money. It does not tell the student what job they should get, instead it guides them on how to go about earning money.
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2. The Everything Kids’ Money Book. Written by Diane Mayr. A book that not only teaches kids about money it also teaches kids where money came from.
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3. Money Sense for Kids. Written by Hollis Page Harman. This book informs students on how money travels from the mint to their pockets. Also, very informative on how to save their allowances.
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4. The Kids’ Allowance Book. Written by Amy Nathan, with help from Debbie Palen. A comprehensive book containing over a 150 responses from actual kids on the pros and cons of allowances.
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5. The New Totally Awesome Money Book for Kids, Revised and Updated Edition. Written by Author Bochner and his kid sister, Rose Bochner. Author teams up with his kid sister to give a child’s perspective of everything from saving to credit cards.
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Websites:
- Count Coins
This website starts by giving the student the chance to pick their own difficulty level and character to play with. After that, they are asked to find a certain amount of change and can drag and drop them onto the table to see if they chose the correct amount. Good introduction to the lesson. - Lemonade Stand
An interactive game that allows the student to pick and choose how much money should be spent on things such as advertising and lemons. - Counting money
Same idea as the first website listed here, but the amounts of money are quite a bit larger. Gives students opportunity to play with larger bills such as 20’s, 50’s and 100’s. - Making Change
This website allows the student to choose between currencies. The student can choose from US money to Mexican money to Australian money. Once type of currency is chosen, student must make change using that particular countries currency. - Add it up
The student must count the money shown and correctly type that amount in the box provided. Students can check their work.
Additional resources:
- Board Games
This is an excellent website to purchase board games involving play money. The board games are at a discounted price and their are plenty to choose from. - Money Worksheets
This free website allows the teacher to pick and choose what the worksheet should contain. Student count each side of coins up and compare on which one has more. Very user-friendly. - Online Money Activities
If computers are easily accessible than this is a great website. Offers a few different lessons that kids can learn sitting at the computer.
**Updated on 1-31-12**
Thanks to Jessie at the Amorita Charter School in Amorita, Oklahoma for finding and recommending this site.
Interbank fx – All About Money
This site has links to games, activities, lessons and additional resources for identifying and counting money, using and spending money, earning and saving money, and much more!