Coin Collecting for Kids - week long seminar I'm teaching...please help!!

coppercoins

Okay, so I have been hired by the MSU Continuing Education department to teach two week-long seminars (2 hours per day) to kids age 10-15, and have been challenged to come up with 10 hours of instruction in coins for these young participants. So far the class has an enrollment of 16 in the 4th-6th grade group and 10 in the 7th-9th grade group. The general focus of the class will be on the statehood quarters, but I intend on covering a number of different numismatic topics in the class.

Problem is, right now I don't have much of a game plan. I have a couple of ideas, but those would only take up a couple of days at best. Here they are:

1. Coins, Value, and Rarity: One day while the kids are arriving, hand them cardboard replicas of coins with different dates and designs on them. Make one of the newer examples be a very rare coin and hand only one out. Make some of the older examples be of older coins, and hand a number of them out. Have the participants discuss which is probably most valuable of all, and discuss how age is not the prime predicate of value in coins; show them how rarity is the most important part of value. Continue the discussion by giving examples in modern coins, i.e. that the 1909S VDB Lincoln cent is far more valuable than an 1898 Indian cent in the same grade.

2. Design on coins: Discuss some of the requirements that the US Government imposes on the designs of our coins. Discuss the wording required, and the design elements required. Give the participants a blank design template to design their own coins. Discuss depth in design (relief), and design elements.

3. Coin Storage and Care: Show the students a number of different albums, holders, and methods for caring for coins. Have them discuss which they see as their favorites and why. Hand out some samples of flips, 2x2s, and other supplies. Show them Dansco, Whitman, Intercept Shield albums so they will be familiar with them.

Now...from that I have three days of five covered to some extent. I need help with ideas on how to fill the other two days. Any suggestions are appreciated and will probably be incorporated into the overall plan. If anyone has anything they would like to donate to the cause, I would be appreciative of that as well. The class has a $50 budget with which I plan to buy statehood quarters from the bank for them to pick through. I am donating a pile of wheats for them to pick through. Coins will be given out as incentive for participation.

Anyone?? Thanks!

vega1

The history fo coins and coinage would be a good topic IMO. Why do we use coins? Who started it and why? etc.

coppercoins

That would be a good one to fill a day...the mint, branch mints, and why. Most were metals rushes, but I could show pictures and discuss the opening/closing of each mint. Cool! Others??

RKKay

Chuck: Send me your email, and I'll send a couple of my bare bones outlines.

coppercoins

Hi Rick...it's in my sig line. cd@coppercoins.com

RKKay

<< <i>Hi Rick...it's in my sig line. cd@coppercoins.com >>



I was never at the top of my class.

LeeG

CD,
I feel young people enjoy colorful things. Probably in their coins also. Maybe just touch on AT/NT. Just becasue it's very colorful, doesn't make it valuable.

mgoodm3

Show series of pics of what coins were like in so and so year. Like: Here are the coins they had in the year 1800 and show pictures of all the varieties. Civil war, etc.

xbob

Seems like it would be good to mention TPGs and their role in the hobby. I think the authentication aspect is important. Grading has it's pros and cons which should make a good discussion. Show them a few slabbed coins.

relayer

The Mint has a page for teachers

coinmickey

A few ancients might be cool just because the are so old. Saying something like "people who wore togas used these coins", etc.

JMHO

coppercoins

Relayer - Thanks! That gave me a bunch of good ideas! Oddly enough, the lesson plan there was very similar to the sketchy one I was starting.

solid

CD,

For part of the last day, you could have a small auction for coins they can keep, similar
to the YN auctions at shows. That would certainly end the class on a fun note, and give
them a coin ro two to build on!

I'll bet you would have no trouble getting enough low-value items donated for the cause. You
can count me in for a coin or two if you want to go this route.

Ken

coppercoins

Solid - I think that's a great idea for the last day. I have a dozen or so $5-$10 coins that would be good for the purpose. I would think that having enough so that each kid could bid on two coins would be enough, and there will be 20-30 kids altogether. I am sure I could get the local dealer to put in a dozen or more, so that would leave me needing 20-30 more coins to auction. If anyone wants to put in a coin or two, I can send my addy via PM. Any leftovers would be donated to the loal club for the YNs.

Vetter

Chuck,
I can send you 10 of these books. They are great for kids just starting out. You could give one to each of the kids that show the most interest in collecting. PM me your address. I should be able to get them out tomorrow. My gift to the kids.

MikeInFL

How about a session on grading?...Mike

DUIGUY

Vega1 has a good point about history. How did we go from the barter system to currency?

LanLord

CD, would it be possible to come up with a way to tie in particular types of coins with people in history that these kids may know of.

George Washington - chain cent, half disme, disme, flowing hair coins etc.

Abe Lincoln - IHC, seated series of coins etc

and maybe tie in some infamous characters in history Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Pretty Boy Floyd etc.

This always seems to interest me and I'm about the biggest kid in the world.

Of course if your coins of coverage are more than US coins, you can also cover British, Spanish, Portuguese royalty, Roman Emporers etc.

ldhair

Hi CD.
Maybe a little Q&A time the first day or so will lead you to what interest them the most.
When dealing with kids be prepared for them to turn your plans upside down
This sounds like a really fun deal.

bgrice

It might be fun to break up things as you go and maybe show some of the error coins that have come out of the mint. Everything from double dies to almost complete stamp errors where only a hint of what was minted is there. That would be cool to me if I was just learning about coins. Okay... I still am. And maybe have some pictures to see if they pick out things that you have to really look at to see what is different. Nothing real hard, but something just to intrigue their interest. I don't know if you can put up slides, but it might make things where more involvement takes place.

fullerfun4

My wife covers coins and currency with 4th to 6th graders by incorporating it with the history subjects they have during that year. Here in California, 4th learns the Gold Rush, 5th state history, and 6th is Greek, Roman & Egyptian history. Perhaps they can relate to what they have just learned.
Regards
Gary

astrorat

Some tips from an educator . . .

1. Remember you only have 10 hours and don't try to pack in too much material. You will lose the kids.
2. Be flexible with your topics. More often than not when I taught numismatics the day's material changed in the first few minutes of questions from the students.
3. Don't emphasize value, otherwise that is primarily what the kids will think about when you pass around coins. Too many hobbyists make this mistake.
4. Lots and lots of hands-on activites.
5. Show the kids early on how to handle coins.
6. Emphasize how coins are a reflection of a people's culture (e.g. history, politics, sociology, etc)
7. Remember that what interests you may not be interesting to the students (this is the major error most non-educators make when talking about numismatics with kids).
8. Find out what the students learned most recently in the school hear and tailor some "lessons" to make their school work come to life. You will be amazed at how engaging it will be for them.
9. If you cover grading, be sure to help them understand why coins wear. Give them a MS cent and have them carry it around for a week to illustrate what happens when a coin wears. If you teach them grading, be sure to give them a hands-on exercise. For example, place the students in groups and have them grade Lincoln cents and buffalo nickels of various levels and then pass the coins to the next group. Encourage discussion in the group.

That's all for now. Any questions or you want to chat, give me a call at work . . . 719-482-9872.

Lane

cladking

The Flynn, Volpe, and Flynn book is very good.

I think kids need to know something about how coins are made, get into circulation, and
wear and how all these evolve over time. They should also know how coins are valued as
money and something of the nature of money. Without some understanding of these there
is little understanding of coins or even what they are.

Also there should be some discussion of designs, history, and collectibility.

To understand the hobby they need to know why people collect and how coins are and have
been saved when current. Attrition and the reasons specific coin types were or weren't saved
can be enlightening. They should also understand the importance of demand and how demand
changes with price and over time.

If you want to get them interested in the hobby just provide some folders and some coins.

Books are great to keep them interested after the class is over.

coppercoins

I really appreciate all the suggestions to present, I have a five day lesson plan outlined, now's the task of filling it with content. I have been in contact with the ANA, the Mint, and Krause Publications, and all have donated materials and loaned resources to help teach the class.

We had a staff meeting this afternoon, and for all who donate anything that will be used, please include the dollar amount of the donation - a letter of appreciation from SMSU (Southwest Missouri State University) will be sent to each donator, and included will be the dollar amount of the donation (mainly for tax purposes).

Donations for the class auction (no more than $10 per coin) can be sent to my PO Box and I will ensure they are used properly:

C. D. Daughtrey
P.O. Box 6103
Springfield, MO 65801

nwcs

My brother has done a similar class before. What he loves to do is get some raw foreign and domestic common stuff and let them get a feel for the coins (literally). Then he tells them stories about the coins. For example, the cultures of the places where they are from and what was going on then. He tries to connect the coin into their world. Thinking back to when I was 15 the coolest thing that would get my attention would be some cool rare things. I remember back then when a dealer let me hold a raw 1799 VF bust dollar. Biggest thrill I could ever get!

If you have error coins, that could be fun as well. Tell them about how the government messes up and all and look what they do to regular coins. That would likely draw them in. Then, in dramatic form, you can explain how the mint equipment works and how things go haywire. Show them a pic of the 55 doubled die or something, some die caps, clips, etc.

AJ2525

I'll agree with Lane Brunner (Astrorat) (To me a local phone number!)

Give them things to hold.
Go into a bit about all of the odd things that were used as money. Our word salary comes from the fact the romans were paid with salt.
Try to keep them engaged by being flexible. You have more than enough knowledge to fill ten day let alone ten hours. You don't have to impart all of it to the kids. Canadian money and mexican money and why we sometime get a Canadian cent but never get any mexican money.

Maybe you could also go into a bit about the symbols on money and what they mean.

mozeppa

i'm simply amazed at the kind hearts and minds that are here on the boards...

you guys are the best!

Vetter

<< <i>Chuck,
I can send you 10 of these books. They are great for kids just starting out. You could give one to each of the kids that show the most interest in collecting. PM me your address. I should be able to get them out tomorrow. My gift to the kids.


>>



20 of the books are in the mail for the kids. I hope they enjoy and use them.

coppercoins

Thanks a bunch Vetter! That's really cool!

Called Krause Publications today, got 30 copies of Coins magazine headed my way. I'm gonna load them down with stuff!

prooflike

Get the video on the minting process(Discovery channel??).

or at least discuss it.

oreville

CD:

Just some additional thoughts in case the kids are not too cerebral on all the technical stuff on coins:

These might be good last ten minutes part of the two hour lectures, or emergency filler in case the lecture loses the kids:

(1) All of the recreational games kids have enjoyed over the centuries that uitilized coins, such as flipping coins heads or tails, coin toss against the wall, coin tricks, two headed coins, etc., etc., and how some famous decisions were made based on the heads or tails. Also the football games that begin with a coin toss, etc, etc.

(2) I have found over the years that kids seemed to be fascinated by showing them tax tokens, gambling tokens, etc., etc. While these are not coins, these tokens illustrate the differences between coins and tokens to the kids. Hopefully you have some Missouri tax tokens to show them. Also the tax tokens history is real interesting to the kids!

(3) Another idea is showing the kids the OPA tokens (Office of Price Administration). Explaining to them how the United States had to ration certain things like meat, gasoline (that they might understand), etc. and how Americas had to use the OPA tokens, you can tie this into the gasoline rationing we had in the 1970's (the odd and even days purchasing of gasoline based on your license plates) that some of us are old enough to remember and that most of these kids would be able to ask their parents about.

(4) Ask the kids to bring in a show and tell item that their parents would be proud to have their kids show to the class. Or some coin that the kid is proud of to show the class. Generally it is a coin that Grandma or Grandpa gave them. I remember the 1878-S uncirculated silver dollar that I proudly showed my class back in 1961 only to find out that 1/3 of my class had almost the same coin but it did not matter, none of their coins came from MY Grandpa!

These are just peripheral and extra ideas in case the mainstream lectures or the kids run out of gas.

Another thought is to split the class into two or three groups when showing specific show and tell items to make it easier for all the kids to see and pass all of the coins around.

Last but not least, bring some aspirin or tylenol with you, just in case!!!