Counting Coins
Here's What To Do
Start with a pile of 10-20 coins (or other small objects) and ask your child to put some in each bag.
Ask your child to describe which bag they think has more and less, and to estimate how many coins are in each bag.
Check your child’s answer by drawing a 1-10 number line on a piece of paper. Show your child how to place one coin on each number to count the coins from the first bag.
Ask your child to place the coins from the second bag on the number line, counting as they go. Compare the amounts from each bag.
Put PEER Into Action
Pause:
- Gather some coins from around the house. Move them around and notice the different sounds they make.
Engage:
- “Which bag do you think has more coins? Less? How many coins do you think are in both bags?”
- “I’m going to place one coin on each number on this number line and count as I go. One, Two, Three… Let’s do your bag now! One… Two… Which bag has more? Less?”
Encourage:
- When your child is guessing the amounts in the bags, it’s okay if they get the wrong answers. This game is more about practicing estimation and comparing “more” and “less.”
- If your child has a hard time visualizing the amounts in the bags, take out the coins and hold them in your hands instead. See if they can determine “more” or “less” just by looking at the piles.
Reflect:
- “How did you guess the amount of coins in the bags?”
Not quite ready?
If comparing amounts seems too challenging, allow your child to play with the coins and arrange them in different groups on the table. Point out which groups have “more” or “less.”
Ready for more?
Write down the total number of coins and invite your child to try writing the numeral.
As your child masters this skill...
They will be able to accurately understand which amounts are “more” or “less” and will know how to count objects with a number line.