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Making Money

Students will explore international currency, then design and create money for a fictional country they invent.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Paper
  • Recycled Foam Tray
  • Sponge(s)
  • White Paper

Steps

  • Step 1

    Have a discussion about currency, which is the official money of a specific place. Ask students to name some currencies they know, such as the dollar, the euro, the yen, etc. Discuss how currencies and exchange rates are crucial to international trade and finance and important to know if traveling out of your own country. 

  • Step 2

    Ask students to invent a new country and write about it. What prompted it to come into existence? What is it known for? What are its exports? Then have them come up with a name for its currency and a design to feature on paper bills.

  • Step 3

    Have students create the paper currency. They will first sketch ideas on paper and convince other members of their country's decision making body (parliament or congress) to get the images approved. The selected design will guide the currency printing and distribution. Key ideas to explore in the currency design include whether a leader or landform will be included or if the design will be an abstract pattern.

  • Step 4

    After a design is approved, determine the denominations (such as 5, 10, 20, etc.). For the printing process students will cut foam trays and emboss the surface with the point of a sharp colored pencil. Then they will sponge paint onto the surface to pick up the image. Press firmly on paper. Cut out the bills. (Note that the art will be a mirror image which can be a design challenge students tackle.)

  • Step 5

    Have the class determine a currency distribution plan. How do students earn and spend the bills that were produced?

Standards

SS: Global Connections: Become aware of how things that happen in one part of the world impact other parts of the world and the global connections within basic issues and concerns. 

SS: Production, Distribution, and Consumption: Explore economic decision-making by comparing one’s own economic experiences with those of others. 

Adaptations

Have students investigate the history of the United States Mint (the bureau responsible for making coins) and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (which prints paper currency). When were they created? What other functions do they serve?

Have students investigate currency from a country of their choice. Who is featured on their bills? How does someone get selected to be on a bill?