Time and Money:

Martin Luther King Day

Money Math Challenge

 

Today's Snack: Did you know that if you cut a big, long carrot up into round disks, sideways, those are called "carrot coins"? With a grown-up's help, make yourself a pile of carrot coins. Then "spend" them into your tummy with a big glass of cold water.

 

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Supplies:

Play money, real money, or money flash cards

(the latter are available from a school supply store)

Scratch paper | pencil

 

 

On Martin Luther King Day, and every day, we celebrate equality. Realizing that two things are equal is really important in math.

 

"Equal" is where we get the word "equation," and equations are what math is all about.

 

In real life, noticing that things are equal is important, too. When it comes to money, you could say that the "price" of something is how much money it is "equal" to.

 

So let's challenge ourselves to say and write how much money each of these cards equals. (If you don't have money flash cards, lay out different quantities of bills and coins for each round of the game.)

 

You can either do this individually, or form into partners or teams and compete against others.

 

Have a piece of scratch paper and a pencil ready. The leader will hold up a card that has a picture of a coin, several coins, and maybe a paper bill or bills. Look at the picture of the money, and say aloud how much it "equals."

 

When you know you are right, then write down the amount properly on your scratch paper. Use the $ and ¢ signs.

 

For example, one penny equals one cent and you write it like this: 1¢, or $.01.

 

One dollar equals 100 cents, and you write it like this: $1 or $1.00.

 

A five-dollar bill and two nickels equals $5.10.

 

Too bad a money prize isn't appropriate . . . but maybe the winner can have 10 "carrot coins"!