Coin sort and class store: a 30-minute money lesson for K–2
What it is: children sort real or play coins, learn each coin's value, then use them to "shop" at a pretend class store. It suits kindergarten through grade 2. The U.S. coins used here are the penny (1 cent), nickel (5 cents), dime (10 cents) and quarter (25 cents).
Time: about 30 minutes.
Materials: a small bag of mixed coins per pair (real or play), a sorting mat with four labeled circles, and 6–8 small classroom objects with sticky-note tags showing amounts from 1 to 20 cents.
- Sort: pairs sort their coins into the four circles. Talk about color, size and the pictures on each coin.
- Name and value: hold up each coin and say its name and value together. Point out that the dime is the smallest coin but is worth more than the nickel and penny. Size does not tell value.
- Count: show how to count a dime and two pennies: "10, 11, 12. That's 12 cents." Then a dime, a nickel and two pennies: "10, 15, 16, 17. That's 17 cents."
- Shop: pairs take turns. One is the shopkeeper and checks the count, the other pays the exact amount for one item.
- Switch roles after each item.
- Wrap up: "Which coin would you want most in your pocket, and why?"
For background on money ideas at every grade, the free money and economics page below has short facts with sources.
What to change next time: for kindergarten, keep to pennies and amounts up to 10 cents. For grade 2, add quarters, raise tags to 50 cents, and ask children to find two different ways to pay the same amount. You can also add change: pay with a dime for an 8-cent item and count back 2 cents.
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About this resource
- Shared by
- @UpOnlyLearning · Curriculum team
- Posted
- Oct 26, 2026
- Type
- Lesson plan
- Grade
- Grades K–2
- Subject
- Math, Life skills & money
- Language
- English
- License
- Free for classroom, co-op and tutoring use. Please don't resell.