The Value of a Dollar
Grade Level: 2nd
Content Level: Math
TEK: 111.4. (b) (5.4) Number and operations. The student applies mathematical process standards to determine the value of coins in order to solve monetary transactions. The student is expected to: (A) determine the value of a collection of coins up to one dollar.
YouTube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULwhJ-8VlAQ
Summary:
The Value of a Dollar is a video created and produced by Julian Waters, founder of Readeez, an organization founded on the belief that children’s videos should be both educational and enjoyable. Throughout the video, Waters teaches children how to add coins up to a dollar through song. He includes the values of pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. He uses each coin to represent the value of a dollar (i.e. 100 pennies equals 1 dollar). The video includes real images of the coins and the dollar.
Instructional Use Suggestion:
After introducing the lesson objective, I would play the video once for my students – just to watch. Then I would give them a worksheet with a series of questions to answer while watching the video for a second time. For example questions could be, how many nickels equal one dollar? After watching the video the second time through, I would lead a mini review over the worksheet. Then I would ask students to think about different coin combinations that add up to a dollar, and write them down on the worksheet. To complete the lesson, I would ask students to turn and talk to their partner about different coin combinations that add up to one dollar.
To make the lesson more hands on, I would give students pretend coins and have them “test” their coin combinations by counting.
Another strategy would be to encourage the students to create their own song based on their coin combinations that add up to one dollar.
I think having the students watch the video first just to merely watch it, is highly important for them to get introduced to it. I wasn’t able to watch the video, but it sounds like a fun and engaging video for the students and using music in math is a good idea. Also, your instructional strategy to have a worksheet that they fill out while watch the video is a great connection. The hands on is also very engaging. Would the other strategy (make up song) be done by individuals or as a class or groups?
AC
I think the idea of teaching math paired with song is very creative and effective–because it uses different parts of the students brains! Although I can’t watch the video here at school, it sounds like it would be very useful in the classroom and that it would really help students as they learn more about money. Money is a tough topic that is hard for students to get off the bat, and the song will be really helpful for them. Being in second grade now, I would love to bring this idea to my class and use it to teach my class about money.
Also, your instructional strategy seems to bind really well with the video. It seems really well developed! Also, I loved reading that you would have tangible coins there for your students to work with and use to develop their math money understanding.
Have you thought about creating physical movement to include with the song?
AD