HOW TO USE COUNT MONEY AS A TEACHING TOOL

Students can manipulate money objects to learn the value of individual coins and bills using the Math Skill Builders:Count Money program.

Choose the Count Coins activity. The Count Coins screen is divided into two windows. The window on the left holds the supply of coins and the window on the right holds the selected coins. When you start the activity pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters appear on the left side of the screen. When you click on a coin it moves to the right side of the screen. Check the Show Totals checkbox so that the total value of the coins on each half of the screen shows.

Move each coin to the right window individually and tell the student the value of that coin. Show the student the amount at the bottom of the right window. For example, choose a penny and the penny appears alone in the right window. Point to the .01 at the bottom of the right window and tell the student that a penny is worth one cent. Once you have demonstrated the value of each coin, move individual coins to the right widow, or have the student move one coin at a time to the right window. and ask the student what each coin is worth.

Choose the Count Coins activity . Once you have demonstrated the value of each coin, ask the student to move the coin that is worth a certain amount. Have the student check the answer by looking at the total at the bottom of the window. For example, tell the student to move the coin that is worth 10 cents to the right window. Then look at the total to make sure that the correct coin was moved. Do this for each coin until the student knows that a penny is worth one cent, a nickel is worth five cents, a dime is worth ten cents and a quarter is worth twenty-five cents.

Choose the Count Money activity. When the activity starts the window on the left side of the screen shows twenty dollar, ten dollar, five dollar and one dollar bills, along with all the coins. To demonstrate to the student what the bills are worth, move each bill individually to the right window. Look at the total at the bottom and tell and show the student what each bill is worth. Then practice moving each bill and having the student tell you what each bill is worth.

Choose the Count Money activity. After you have explained to the student what the different bills are worth and shown the students which bills are worth which amounts, ask the student to show you bills worth certain amounts. For example ask the student to move the bill worth 10 dollars. Check the answer by looking at the total at the bottom of the right window.