Teach children to identify a dime and that a dime is worth ten cents.

Directions

Gather 100 pennies, 2 nickels, and 10 dimes per child.

Have children complete the steps below.

Have children practice until they perfectly master each task.

Steps

STEP 1 - WHAT IS A DIME?

Children identify the dime.

  • Direct the children to examine the front and back of a dime. Ask the children to verbally describe what they see.
  • Have children hold up a penny and recite, '1 penny is worth 1 cent.'
  • Have children hold up a nickel and recite, '1 nickel is worth 5 cents.'
  • Have children hold up a dime and recite, '1 dime is worth 10 cents.'

STEP 2 - COMBINE AND SEPARATE

Children combine and separate groups of pennies, nickels, and dimes.

  • Ask children to group 10 pennies together.
  • Tell children to move 2 nickels next to the 10 pennies. Have them recite, '2 nickels are worth 10 pennies.'
  • Tell children to move 1 dime next to the 2 nickels and 10 pennies. Have them recite, '1 dime is worth 2 nickels' and '1 dime is worth 10 pennies.'
  • Ask children to group 25 pennies together.
  • Tell children to move two dimes and 1 nickel next to the 25 pennies. Have them recite, '2 dimes and 1 nickel are worth 25 pennies.'
  • Ask children to group 100 pennies together.
  • Tell children to move 10 dimes next to the 100 pennies. Have them recite, '10 dimes are worth 100 pennies.'

STEP 3 - PLAY STORE

Play store with children, where children show the amount of money required to buy pretend items.

  • Give each child 1 dime, 1 nickel, and 5 pennies. Say to children, 'A carrot costs 18 cents. Show me which coins must you give to the cashier.'
  • Give each child 3 dimes, 1 nickel, and 5 pennies. Say to children, 'A plum costs 36 cents. Show me which coins must you give to the cashier.'
  • Give each child 5 dimes, 1 nickel, and 5 pennies. Say to children, 'A pear costs 59 cents. Show me which coins must you give to the cashier.'
  • Give each child 9 dimes, 1 nickel, and 5 pennies. Say to children, 'An orange costs 97 cents. Show me which coins must you give to the cashier.'
  • Give each child 10 dimes. Say to children, 'A toy dinosaur costs 24 cents. Show me how many dimes you must pay to the cashier. How many pennies and nickels should the cashier give to you as change?'
  • Give each child 10 dimes. Say to children, 'An egg costs 45 cents. Show me how many dimes you must pay to the cashier. How many pennies and nickels should the cashier give to you as change?'
  • Give each child 10 dimes. Say to children, 'A book costs 87 cents. Show me how many dimes you must pay to the cashier. How many pennies and nickels should the cashier give to you as change?'
  • Give each child 10 dimes. Say to children, 'A bunch of grapes costs 90 cents. Show me how many dimes you must pay to the cashier. How many pennies and nickels should the cashier give to you as change?'