How to Count Change for First Grade Math

A great way to teach first graders to count is to have them count money. You would be amazed how quickly children will learn how to count when you are using money such as pennies, nickels and dimes. Follow this tutorial to teach your first grader to count change.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Teach the name of each coin. Put a penny, a nickel, a dime and a quarter on the table, and teach the child to name each coin. As they learn the name of each coin, also repeat to them the value of that coin.

2. Show the value of each coin. To teach a child the value of coins, make four stacks of money on the table. One stack should have 4 quarters. The next stack should have 10 dimes. The next stack should have 20 nickels, and the final stack should have 100 pennies. You should also put a dollar on the table to explain that all of these piles of money equal one dollar.

3. Convert each coin into pennies. When you show them a nickel, they should be able to show you 5 pennies, they should also be able to count pennies to demonstrate, a nickel, a dime and quarters. You should also be able to show the child 3 dimes and have them count out 30 pennies.

4. Teach the child to combine coins when counting. Have them replace 5 pennies with a nickel and 10 pennies with a dime. After just a bit of practice, they should be able to show you that 2 dimes and a nickel equals a quarter.

5. Practice counting change daily until the child can count to a dollar using a combination of coins including pennies, dimes, nickels and quarters.

6. Finally, count change by making a purchase. “Purchase” something from your child for, say, 39 cents, and have them count out the rest of the change by counting up to 100. When counting aloud, it should sound like, 39, 40, 50, 75, one dollar, meaning they give you a penny, a dime and two quarters.

Tips & Warnings

• Take the first step slowly, teaching one coin each day.