Minds On

What do you notice?

Explore the following Canadian coins. Have you seen these in your everyday life? If so, where?

Canadian coins: 2 dollars, 1 dollar, 50 cents, 25 cents, 10 cents, and 5 cents.

Each coin has specific things about it that make it unique. Use the following questions to think about each coin and record your thoughts using a method of your choice.

Pause and Reflect

Pause and reflect

What do you notice about the shape of each coin?

What do you notice about the colour and/or design of each coin?

What do you notice about the size of the coin?

Action

Coin values

What is the value of each coin type? For example, a nickel is 5 cents, and a dime is 10 cents.

Record the values of a nickel, dime, quarter, loonie, and toonie. You can share your answers in an audio recording, on paper, or in the following fillable document Canadian Coin Values.

Canadian Coin Values
A Canadian coin with a beaver, also known as a nickel.

Nickel

 A Canadian coin with a sailboat, also known as a dime.

Dime

Value:

Value:
A Canadian coin with a caribou, also known as a quarter.

Quarter

 A Canadian coin with a loon, also known as a loonie.

Loonie

Value:

Value:
A two-coloured Canadian coin with a polar bear, also known as a toonie.

Toonie

Value:

Press the ‘Activity’ button to access Canadian Coin Values. 

Activity(Open PDF in a new window)

Task 2

A student who needs to purchase some seeds for their school garden has found a great deal: 50 cents for a crate of seeds. Using only one type of coin (only nickels, or only dimes, or only quarters), add the coins together to make 50 cents. How did you count? Did you count by 5s, 10s, or 25s?

Record your thinking by drawing coins, creating an audio recording, or by using real coins.

A Canadian nickel. It is worth 5 cents. A Canadian dime. It is worth 10 cents.
A Canadian quarter. It is worth 25 cents.

Task 3

Represent 100 cents in two different ways using only one type of coin of your choice (nickels, dimes, quarters, or a loonie).

How did you count? Did you count by 5s, 10s, or 25s? Did you use different coins to make 50 cents and 100 cents? What was similar about these two tasks? What was different about these two tasks?

Record your thinking by drawing coins, creating an audio recording, or by using real coins.

A Canadian nickel. It is worth 5 cents. A Canadian dime. It is worth 10 cents.
A Canadian quarter. It is worth 25 cents.

Consolidation

Lemonade stand

Ms. G is opening a lemonade stand. She has 200 cents to spend. What different combinations of items can Ms. G buy to start making her lemonade?

Canadian coins: 2 dollars, 1 dollar, 50 cents, 25 cents, 10 cents, and 5 cents.

Independent work

A student has 200 cents in their piggy bank.

1. Using one coin of your choice (only nickels, only dimes, only quarters, only loonies, or only toonies), how many coins could be in the piggy bank?

2. Now, using a different coin of your choice (only nickels, only dimes, only quarters, only loonies, or only toonies), how many coins could be in the piggy bank?

Express your thinking using pictures of coins or bills.

Reflection

How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity?  Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

I feel...

Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.

Press ‘Discover More’ to extend your skills.

Design your own currency!

  • What would you call it?
  • Who or what would you put on each bill and coin?
  • What values of coins and bills would you use? Why?