Making "Cents": Teaching Coins to Young Learners

Introducing money concepts to preschoolers is an exciting first step toward financial understanding! The four basic coins—penny, nickel, dime, and quarter—offer wonderful opportunities for hands-on learning, sorting, counting, and comparing.

Student made coins mini books

Meet the Coins

Start by introducing each coin one at a time. The goal is for students to distinguish between the 4 and recognize the ideniftying factors of each coin!

• Penny

  • Worth 1 cent

  • Copper brown - the only brown coin

  • Abraham Lincoln and the Lincoln Memorial building

• Nickel

  • Worth 5 cents

  • Larger than the dime and smaller than a quarter - the middle-sized silver coin

  • Silver with smooth edges

  • Thickest coin

  • Thomas Jefferson and Monticello

• Dime

  • Worth 10 cents

  • Smallest silver coin

  • Thinnest coin

  • Franklin D. Roosevelt and a torch, an olive branch and an oak branch on the other side.

• Quarter

  • Worth 25 cents

  • Largest silver coin

  • George Washington on the front and a variety of designs on the back including a bald eagle.

Coins Songs!

Teach these simple rhyming songs to help students remember each one.

Poster for the classroom!

Hands-On Learning

Preschoolers learn best through touch and play. Try fun activities like:

• Sorting games – Mix coins in a pile and have children group them by size or color.

• Coin rubbings – Place paper over a coin and rub with a crayon to create art while learning coin details.

• Coin hunts – Hide coins in a sensory bin or around the classroom for children to find and identify.

• “Store” play – Set up a pretend shop where children can “buy” items using real or plastic coins.

Students sorting coins on the carpet

Teaching Coins Resources!

We have created videos and classroom printables, posters, activities and tools to help make teaching coins a breeze!

Click below to explore our YouTube video All About Coins!

Check out our Learning Coins Pack on Teachers Pay Teachers!

Building Understanding

Focus on helping children recognize coins rather than fully understanding their value at first. Use songs, chants, and stories to make the learning stick—like our coins songs that help them remember each coin’s worth and features.

With a mix of play, observation, and repetition, preschoolers will soon be able to tell coins apart and begin to understand that each one has a different value. It’s a small step toward big money smarts!