Parent guide · Grade 2 Math · Unit 6

Lesson 6.3 Dollars and Cents

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: Read and write money amounts.
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: 40¢
Teach the new idea
Say this: “$3.45 means 3 dollars and 45 cents. The point separates dollars from cents.”
Say this: “Cents always use two digits after the point: $2.05.”
Say this: “Decimal point: the dot that separates dollars from cents.”
Show how
Show: $4.60 + $1.54 = ___
Say this: “Line up the decimal points. In cents: 460 + 154 = 614”
Say this: “614 cents = $6.14”
Answer: $6.14
Show: At the market a loaf costs $0.86 and a jar of honey costs $0.43. How much do both cost?
Say this: “Work in cents: 86 + 43 = 129”
Say this: “129 cents = $1.29”
Answer: $1.29. Both cost $1.29.
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: $4.00
If stuck: Start with the coin worth the most and count on: 100, 200, 300, 400.
Ask: How much money is shown?
$coins$
Listen for: $1.20
If stuck: Start with the coin worth the most and count on: 100, 110, 120.
Ask: How much money is shown?
$coins$
Listen for: 40¢
If stuck: Start with the coin worth the most and count on: 25, 35, 40.
7 more practice items on the lesson page, and on Worksheet A and Worksheet B.
Watch for
- Writing $2.5 for two dollars and five cents.
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: Read and write money amounts.
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.