2nd Grade Money and Coins Activity

2nd grade teachers know that teaching money and coins to students can be tricky, to say the least!

While 2nd graders are already building a solid foundation of math skills, joining those abilities with the concept of money can get a little overwhelming for both students and teachers.

That’s because money takes the math that younger students already know a step further. For example, counting money requires a lot of addition and subtraction in their heads, aka mental math. Another reason is that adding and subtracting money values needs two steps: first, to identify the value of the coins themselves, and then to do the math.

American coins also are not sized based on value. Kids can get easily confused by this. Teachers have to explain why a dime, the smallest coin, is worth more than a nickel, which is considerably larger. It’s not a very intuitive system, especially for younger learners.

With that being said, learning how to count money is still a crucial lifelong skill. When it is second nature for us to identify and add up coin values, it can get a tad frustrating when kids don’t pick up on it so easily.

And with all of our classroom activities for the 2nd grade, it’s got to be fun. We need a money activity for 2nd grade that’s both engaging and gets us over the hurdle of mastering those concepts!

I created this 2nd Grade Money and Coins Foldable Activity to do just that. Teachers love this cute and helpful resource for helping their students learn about money and coins! It is hands down the most perfect way to solidify those tricky money skills that can get difficult for 2nd graders.

Plus, it’s far more exciting for students than your average money worksheets for 2nd grade. Not only are worksheets less engaging, but they get lost and misplaced easily. 2nd graders can hold onto this foldable activity and use it as a reference all year long!

What’s included in this foldable money activity for 2nd grade?

This foldable introduction to money and coins covers all of the basic concepts, including…

●       Coin names for quarter, dime, nickel, and penny

●       Coin value

●       Heads and tails

●       How to make a dollar using each coin

●       Cut and glue activity where students can put money into a piggy bank

I have included two versions: one with the answers already written in, and one where the spaces are left blank. This is perfect for differentiating the activity for any students who might be struggling with money concepts.

You also receive a step by step video tutorial on how to assemble the foldables. This is a great way to prepare for class and answer any questions your students might have!

How does the 2nd Grade Money and Coins Activity work?

Foldables aren’t just fun for 2nd graders — they are also super easy to assemble, so you don’t have to help students through every step of the process. Students begin with a large sheet of black construction paper. Then, they paste the printed squares that you receive upon download onto the different panels of the construction paper.

The video tutorial that’s included with this activity is super helpful for explaining this. Your students will become foldable masters in no time! And as always, if you suspect that your students may struggle to assemble their foldables, feel free to cut portions of the construction paper or the panels for them ahead of time.

How can you use this 2nd grade money activity in the classroom?

If you’re just kicking off your money and coins unit, this foldable activity is a fantastic way to introduce them to all the concepts in a fun way. Students can keep the foldable in their folders and refer back to it throughout the money unit to help refresh their memories. They could even fill it out as your class moves through the unit and learns about all of the different coins.

Alternatively, you could use it at the end of the money and coins unit as a review. Since it touches on a lot of the key money concepts, it would be an amazing way to help students lock in all of the basics before moving on to another unit.

Looking for more fun foldable math reviews and practice?

This 2nd grade money foldable is included in our larger bundle of 2nd Grade Math Review Activities! The bundle also contains…

●       2nd Grade Graphing and Data

●       Telling Time 2nd Grade Activity

●       2nd Grade Measurement Activity

●       2D and 3D Shapes Activity

●       2nd Grade Fractions Activity

Conclusion

Learning about money can be difficult for 2nd graders, not to mention boring — but it doesn’t have to be! This 2nd Grade Money and Coins Foldable Activity makes solidifying those money skills fun and easy for students. Use it as an introduction to a money unit, a review, or any way that suits your class!

Have you ever struggled with teaching money to students? Reach out and share your experiences with me!