Lesson Plan - Show Me the Money!

Watch the Video
Build background knowledge by watching the video “What You Need to Know About Money.” Ask: How has money changed over time? Do you think it will continue to change? Explain. 

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• currency
• denominations

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them think about the reasons behind some of our currency’s special features.

1. What are two details in the article that support the idea that “money has changed a lot over the years”?
One detail in the article that supports the idea that “money has changed a lot over the years” is that until the 1860s, the U.S. had no paper bills—only gold and silver coins. Another detail that supports this idea is that the first $1 bills featured Salmon P. Chase instead of George Washington.
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2. What is one fact you were surprised to learn about the $1 bill in the “Secret Symbols” diagram? Why do you find the fact surprising?
Answers will vary.
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3. What is a watermark, according to the article? What is the purpose of a watermark on a bill?
A watermark is hidden design that you can see when you hold some bills up to a light. The purpose of a watermark is to make it hard for people to make counterfeit, or fake, bills.
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Featured Skills: Reading a Graph
Use the skill builder “How Long Does Cash Last?” to have students finish and analyze a bar graph spotlighting the estimated lifespans of six U.S. bills.
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