Money

Coin Drop

Money.

O's latest favourite word.

We're collecting items around the house, in addition to tools I have used teaching preschool over the years, that we think will be useful for imaginative play, science, maths and language. A few weeks ago Dabby came home to wet money hanging in the bathroom! After I assured him we were not running some kind of underground business, he was interested in all the bills we have collected from different countries and had stashed away. 

Then I set out to clean the coins with soap and water.

Apparently, soap and water is not the best solution to cleaning coins.

Salt is supposedly the key ingredient for dissolving copper oxide. 

On our list today is to try a salt solution and see if they sparkle up a bit better.

O loved her introduction to the coins and bills; it was a little scary how much she loved 'swimming' in money!

She hoarded the coins on the sofa, would only share one of her hand full of bills with me and sang 'Wheels on the Bus' for the American penny (the Lincoln Memorial that apparently resembles a bus!)

In true Montessori-style, we then cut a penny-sized slot in the top of an old, plastic honey jar and watched O master some fine motor skills.

(She was still far more interested in hoarding!)

EXPAND ON COINS

Great site to give a little science lesson to your coin-cleaning adventures. http://www.finishing.com/faqs/pennies.shtml

Bank Play. Set up a play-bank at home with a few bills, coins & cheques.

Collect-a-Hobby. Many lessons evolve from a coin collection! See Coin Collections for Beginners. http://www.coin-collecting-guide-for-beginners.com/coin-collecting-for-kids.html

Open a Bank Account. Great way to start teaching the value of money. An experienced Canadian mom writes the basics http://www.milliondollarjourney.com/canadian-bank-accounts-for-kids.htm