Simple but effective 2nd-grade money projects that help students learn the common core money standards (in a fun way).
Want to go beyond just a money worksheet here and there with your 2nd graders?
These money projects for 2nd grade are a great way to dive a bit deeper into the subject of money and cover those common core money standards in a fun, meaningful way.
Sprinkle in a little learning about saving, needs vs. wants, and financial responsibility, and you’ve got yourself the makings of a solid early money education.
Money Projects for 2nd Grade
I don’t have to tell you what the common core standards are for 2nd grade.
But just so we’re all on the same page, these money projects attempt to give your students practice in the following areas:
- Recognizing and understanding the values of different coins and bills.
- Adding money amounts to find totals.
- Solving real-life money problems, such as making purchases or giving change.
- Using correct symbols ($ for dollars, ¢ for cents) when writing money amounts.
1. My Favorite Coin Printable
Supplies needed: magnifying glasses, actual coins (of each variety), the free printable mat, materials on each coin, OR computers to access the free coin identification game/information
Second graders need to get familiar with and be able to identify each of the different coins.
One of the perfect ways to help them is to have each student choose their favorite of all the coins, and deep dive into it a bit more.
You can set up two stations to help kids discover more about the way each coin looks.
Including:
- Coin Discovery Station: Have a pile of each coin, and magnifying glasses so that students can really get a close-up look at each type of coin and its features.
- Coin Features Learning Station: Have one of the coin identification programs open on a computer for students to go through (here's one about designing coins), OR, include a big pile of coins and a coin collector's binder so that kids can take turns looking at features and putting coins in the right place.
Use this free printable mat as the money project anchor.
They’ll use it to answer the following questions (and present them to the class, if you choose):
- Their favorite coin name/drawing
- How much it’s worth
- How many they need to make $1
- What they like about the coin
Psst: help enrich this project with some counting money games.
2. Need Vs. Want Show & Tell
Supplies needed: an item from home, the free printable for ideas (optional)
Kids need to understand the difference between a need and a want, in a way that makes sense to their world.
That’s where this special Show & Tell comes in!
Go over needs vs. wants.
- A need is anything a person must have to survive. People need shelter (housing), warmth (clothes), food, water, air, and sleep to survive.
- A want is anything else a person would like to have, but can survive if they do not get.
You can go through some examples, as well.
A helpful question to ask when trying to guide students through whether an item is a need or a want is, “How long would someone survive without this?”
Have each child bring in one item from home that is a need, and one item from home that is a want.
Each student takes turns talking about how their family uses each of the items (without telling the class which one is the need and which one is the want).
After they present, you can ask the class which item was the want, and which one was the need.
Here’s a printable to help with examples of needs vs. wants in a child’s life and their family’s life, plus a reminder of what makes a need vs. a want.
Psst: here are some free printable Needs vs. Wants worksheets if you want to dive deeper into this topic.
3. Piggy Bank Boutique
Supplies needed: one printed piggy bank for each child, lots of printed out decoration sheets, pretend coins and dollars for kids to use to purchase the decorations, crayons/colored pencils, and glue sticks
Kids love to personalize things, so I thought I’d use that to engage them in an activity where they’re really learning how to make purchases, make change, and add up different money amounts.
Each child will get their own blank piggy bank to decorate.
They’ll also start with a set amount of money to use to purchase their decorations (you decide how much they get – there’s a money sheet included in case you need it).
Set up a Piggy Bank Boutique “store” station where you have cut out piles of each decoration, according to how much they cost.
You’ll also need a place to make change (you could designate other students to make the change).
Each student will then need to plan out what they want to purchase with their pretend money by making a shopping list ahead of time.
They’ll add it up, make any changes necessary if they’re over or under the amount they have to spend, then go to make their purchase.
Once they purchase their decorations, they can color them as they’d like and glue them onto their piggy bank.
I hope I've shown you a few money projects you 2nd graders and elementary students will enjoy (while getting some good practice with their money skills).
Amanda L. Grossman
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