Lessons That Make Cents

A More Perfect Union

Explore ways to incorporate coins into your classroom.

Monthly Mint Trivia: In colonial America, what did people use as a means of exchange?

Check Answer

A Reflection of American Culture

Elements of U.S. coins tell a powerful story of a nation enduring, evolving, and emerging stronger. There are many ways that you can foster students’ knowledge about coins using curated learning materials that feature interactive lesson plans and activities, fun games, and engaging videos!

U.S. Mint Coin Classroom:

• How Do I Make Change for a Dollar? (Grades K-5): Students will apply mathematics strategies of counting, adding, and subtracting decimal amounts to create change for a dollar.
• Battle of the Coins (Grades K-2): Students will observe the physical attributes, such as size, height, weight, and length, of coins, and engage in a game to compare coins.
• Coin Power (Grades 4+): Ignite curiosity by using electrodes to create an electrical current using this hands-on experiment.
• Tip the Scales (Grades K-1): This lesson plan allows students to determine the weight of objects and challenge classmates in critical thinking.

Coin of the Month: 2026 Emerging Liberty Dime

The Emerging Liberty Dime represents the nation’s founding era. The obverse (heads) design features a determined Liberty as the winds of revolution waft through her hair. With steadfast resolve, she faces the tyranny of the British monarchy. Her liberty cap bears stars and stripes, at once a symbol of our burgeoning Nation and a reference to early American coinage. Inscriptions are “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “1776 ~ 2026.” 

The reverse (tails) design features an eagle in flight carrying arrows in its talons, representing the American Revolution and the colonists’ fight for independence; the additional inscription “LIBERTY OVER TYRANNY” arcs across the bottom.

Coin Weight Investigation

Explore different coin weights by creating a coin balance scale.

Clean or Green Pennies

Teach kids about chemical reactions using pennies with this experiment.

Coins and Science

Watch this video to learn how the U.S. Mint uses science, technology, engineering and math to produce coins.

Trivia Answer: The primary form of exchange included foreign coins, livestock and crops, and paper currency issued by individual colonies.