What to do
Distribute an assortment of coins to each student or group.
Then ask your class the following questions:
1. I have three coins in my pocket. They are worth 7 cents.
What do I have? (a nickel and 2 pennies)
2. I have three coins in my pocket. They are worth 16 cents.
What do I have? (a dime, a nickel, a penny)
3. I have three coins in my pocket. They are worth 11 cents.
What do I have? (2 nickels and 1 penny)
4. I have three coins in my pockets. They are worth 30 cents.
What do I have? (3 dimes)
5. I have six coins in my pocket. They are worth 30 cents.
What
could I have? (1 quarter and 5 pennies or 6 nickels). This
problem has more than one answer. It is challenging for
children to experience problems like this.
6. I have coins in my pocket, which have a value of 11 cents.
How many coins could I have?
Source:
Helping Your Child Learn Math, U.S. Department
of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement
