Parent guide · Grade 2 Math · Unit 6

Lesson 6.2 Counting Coins

Written for the parent. Read the Say this lines aloud as they are, or in your own words. Answers for you are marked Listen for.

At a glance

Time: 5 sessions of 20–25 minutes
Goal: Count mixed coins to $1.
You need: Counters (dried beans, buttons or pebbles)
A few real coins
Pencil and crayons
Print: Worksheet A · Worksheet B · the lesson page

Steps

Warm-up
Do this: Ask these out loud. Your child answers out loud; no paper needed.
- Ask: “How much money is shown?” Listen for: 75¢
Teach the new idea
Say this: “Sort the coins from most to least valuable. Count quarters by 25s, dimes by 10s, nickels by 5s, pennies by 1s.”
Say this: “Say the running total out loud.”
Say this: “Count on: start with the biggest coin and keep counting.”
Show how
Show: How much money is shown?
$coins$
Say this: “Start with the coin worth the most and count on: 25, 50, 60, 61, 62, 63.”
Say this: “Total: 63¢”
Answer: 63¢
Show: How much money is shown?
$coins$
Say this: “Start with the coin worth the most and count on: 25, 30, 35, 36, 37.”
Say this: “Total: 37¢”
Answer: 37¢
Practice together
Do this: Your child does these with you. Let them try first; help only after a real try.
Ask: How much money is shown?
$coins$
Listen for: 23¢
If stuck: Start with the coin worth the most and count on: 10, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23.
Ask: How much money is shown?
$coins$
Listen for: 25¢
If stuck: Start with the coin worth the most and count on: 10, 20, 25.
Ask: How much money is shown?
$coins$
Listen for: 32¢
If stuck: Start with the coin worth the most and count on: 10, 20, 25, 30, 31, 32.
10 more practice items on the lesson page, and on Worksheet A and Worksheet B.
Watch for
- Switching counting steps too early.
Game: Store and Change
Price items in cents. Your child buys with a dollar and you give change by counting up; then swap so your child is the shopkeeper.
Narration
Say this: “Tell me what you learned today. Show me with your hands or the counters if you like.”
Listen for: Count mixed coins to $1.
Daily habit
Count by 25s to 100. Count mixed coins: 25, 50, 60, 70, 75, 76.

Spread over the week

5 sessions of 20–25 minutes. Stop while it is still going well.

Session 1. Warm-up, then teach the new idea (steps 1 and 2).
Session 2. Warm-up again, then show how with the examples.
Session 3. Practice together, then play the game.
Session 4. More practice on the worksheet, and the daily habit.
Session 5. Quick check: narration and a few practice items. Move on when it is mostly right.