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UPDATED in 1st post I am giving a presentation to my daughter's 3rd grade and son's 5th grade cla
SethChandler
Posts: 1,697 ✭✭✭✭
I've been invited to give a 30 to 45 min talk on numismatics at my children's school.
I wanted to reach out to everyone to see if you have any ideas or experiences doing this.
I will discuss, the history of money, how it got started, the meaning of coins, special coins and why they were made, a little about the manufacturing process, coin collectors and how they collect, and how I got started.
I am planning on giving out a grab bag of coins for each student....handful of wheats, indian cent, buffalo nickel, and I will bring a few silver dollars and silver certificates to give out as prizes for giving correct answers. I am also bringing dozens of the old whitman folders to give out as well.....thats how we all started!
For show and tell, and this is hard to contain myself...fewer isn't better...
These items should give instant gratification:
$1000 note
$500 note
various select notes, Educational, Indian, Gold Certificates, etc
Early Bust Coins
Large Cent
Saint
One Dollar Gold
gold nuggets
odd demons 2 cents, etc.
Any other ideas?
---------------------------------
Updated on 6/3
The talk for both classes went wayyyyyy better than I could have imagined.
I started with the 3rd grade class. I was given 45 mins. At first, the teacher couldn't believe I could talk for 45 mins about coins, so they suggested 20 to 30 mins. I said nope, no problem, I will keep it entertaining, I promise. For those that don't know me, I am a total jack*ss, I just let it fly and have fun. Then the day of the talk comes around, I'm thinking simple and sweet, is 45 mins toooooo long for a bunch of 8 year olds? Maybe I can keep them really engaged for 15/20 mins and I hope to fill up the rest of the time. But I am on a mission, the coin gods are calling me, I must spread the gospel!!!!! I must recruit new numismatics and cultivate fledging collectors.....all of this while trying not to embarrass my daughter (3rd grade) and son (5th grade).
I had prepared 70 something grab bags of coins, in each: a buffalo nickel , an indian cent, and a dozen world coins. For prizes I have out a total of 10 silver certificates and about 15 off center cents. All of this was a huge hit. At the beginning of each talk, I negotiated with the teacher on behalf of the class, that if everyone behaved and participated, that they get a bump to the next grade on their next history test, the teachers agreed.
The one obvious mistake a made: I brought too much. But its ok, I simply didn't show everything, and just focus on what I thought was going to be a hit.
Here's what I brought and what the kids liked....in order of how popular they were:
$1000 and $500 notes: no brainer
500BC Lydia silver coin: a huge hit
1776 Continental Currency Notes: they freaked out over this
3.3 oz gold nugget, with a cool story of how I acquired it, they stood in line to hold it in their hands!
Twenty Dollar Gold coin: after I taught them how to hold coins, another line formed to hold this in their hands...the correct way
A wildly rainbow bag toned Morgan, the girls really liked this.
I had placed about 20 notes on a large board and leaned it up against the wall, so everyone could get a clear view. The cool stuff, Bison, Large Eagle Silver Certs, etc.
They I had a tray of common, loose classic coins, Morgan, Peace, Barbers, bust Half, Pieces of Eight, "treasure coins" all coins they could touch and feel, the correct way.
With each talk, I asked a lot of questions, everyone was really into it, no one seem to think it was boring at all. Most were coin collectors, especially the state quarters but they'd tell me stories about their coins from other places where their parents have traveled, stories about wheat cents, and of course, silver pennies of 1943!
After a few mins of chit chat and giving everyone a chance to talk, I opened up a Powerpoint with about 10 slides. A picture of the half-disme, the story had them really engaged. A continental dollar, what it means, why are there 13 circles on the back??? etc type of questions. With each slide, a lot of kids just started raising there hands to ask questions.
In the third grade talk, we were all having such a good time, I looked down at my watch and I realized it had been an hour, and I was late for the 5th grade!!!! So they only got 30 mins. I am still stunned that I could have gone for over an hour, with a fully engaged 3rd grade class about coins!
Fifth grade was more of the same, they were very curious about all the coins in their grab bag. Asked a lot of questions about the metal contents of the world coins. The aluminum threw them off. There were a few kids that had Whitman folders, thats a good sign! One girl kept going on and on about her visit to the Carson City Mint, the tour there really made an impression.
My son is in the fifth grade, and he's not into coins. The scene was quite funny. Alex is sitting front center, two feet from me, with his arms folded. He had this look on his face, like DAD, PLEASE do not embarrass me, and you Dad, are about to find out how coins are not cool at all. He sat there watching his friends nearly knock over their desks because they are raising their hands so high and excited to answer questions, beg, yes beg, to be my assistant and bodyguard ( two positions I created in the talk), constantly ohhhh and ahhhh, ask questions about each coin I displayed, and proceeded to discuss coin collecting activities they have had with their Dad and families. The look on his face was priceless. Shocked and proud that I was his Dad. I guess he never thought that his Dad's hobby that he has grown up around would ever be so popular with his "cool' friends.
When the fifth grade talk was over, the last bell rang for the kids to leave, but every single child came up to me to talk and look at more stuff up close.
In the days after the talk, I had well over a dozen parents come up to me to say thank you, it was a big hit. One Father said it was great because his daughter showed him her sil cert she had won, which led to Dad's old coins, then some of Dad's old stories came out. He said it was a really close 2 hour bonding session with his daughter.
The teachers said it was the best in classroom experience they had ever seen!
A big shout out to a few forum members here, I appreciated all the advice, thank you. And a special thank you to the members who loaned me items from their collection to share with the class. That was very kind and double thank you. You know who you are!
Our hobby is alive and well. We just have to do our part to nurture them along.
Seth
I wanted to reach out to everyone to see if you have any ideas or experiences doing this.
I will discuss, the history of money, how it got started, the meaning of coins, special coins and why they were made, a little about the manufacturing process, coin collectors and how they collect, and how I got started.
I am planning on giving out a grab bag of coins for each student....handful of wheats, indian cent, buffalo nickel, and I will bring a few silver dollars and silver certificates to give out as prizes for giving correct answers. I am also bringing dozens of the old whitman folders to give out as well.....thats how we all started!
For show and tell, and this is hard to contain myself...fewer isn't better...
These items should give instant gratification:
$1000 note
$500 note
various select notes, Educational, Indian, Gold Certificates, etc
Early Bust Coins
Large Cent
Saint
One Dollar Gold
gold nuggets
odd demons 2 cents, etc.
Any other ideas?
---------------------------------
Updated on 6/3
The talk for both classes went wayyyyyy better than I could have imagined.
I started with the 3rd grade class. I was given 45 mins. At first, the teacher couldn't believe I could talk for 45 mins about coins, so they suggested 20 to 30 mins. I said nope, no problem, I will keep it entertaining, I promise. For those that don't know me, I am a total jack*ss, I just let it fly and have fun. Then the day of the talk comes around, I'm thinking simple and sweet, is 45 mins toooooo long for a bunch of 8 year olds? Maybe I can keep them really engaged for 15/20 mins and I hope to fill up the rest of the time. But I am on a mission, the coin gods are calling me, I must spread the gospel!!!!! I must recruit new numismatics and cultivate fledging collectors.....all of this while trying not to embarrass my daughter (3rd grade) and son (5th grade).
I had prepared 70 something grab bags of coins, in each: a buffalo nickel , an indian cent, and a dozen world coins. For prizes I have out a total of 10 silver certificates and about 15 off center cents. All of this was a huge hit. At the beginning of each talk, I negotiated with the teacher on behalf of the class, that if everyone behaved and participated, that they get a bump to the next grade on their next history test, the teachers agreed.
The one obvious mistake a made: I brought too much. But its ok, I simply didn't show everything, and just focus on what I thought was going to be a hit.
Here's what I brought and what the kids liked....in order of how popular they were:
$1000 and $500 notes: no brainer
500BC Lydia silver coin: a huge hit
1776 Continental Currency Notes: they freaked out over this
3.3 oz gold nugget, with a cool story of how I acquired it, they stood in line to hold it in their hands!
Twenty Dollar Gold coin: after I taught them how to hold coins, another line formed to hold this in their hands...the correct way
A wildly rainbow bag toned Morgan, the girls really liked this.
I had placed about 20 notes on a large board and leaned it up against the wall, so everyone could get a clear view. The cool stuff, Bison, Large Eagle Silver Certs, etc.
They I had a tray of common, loose classic coins, Morgan, Peace, Barbers, bust Half, Pieces of Eight, "treasure coins" all coins they could touch and feel, the correct way.
With each talk, I asked a lot of questions, everyone was really into it, no one seem to think it was boring at all. Most were coin collectors, especially the state quarters but they'd tell me stories about their coins from other places where their parents have traveled, stories about wheat cents, and of course, silver pennies of 1943!
After a few mins of chit chat and giving everyone a chance to talk, I opened up a Powerpoint with about 10 slides. A picture of the half-disme, the story had them really engaged. A continental dollar, what it means, why are there 13 circles on the back??? etc type of questions. With each slide, a lot of kids just started raising there hands to ask questions.
In the third grade talk, we were all having such a good time, I looked down at my watch and I realized it had been an hour, and I was late for the 5th grade!!!! So they only got 30 mins. I am still stunned that I could have gone for over an hour, with a fully engaged 3rd grade class about coins!
Fifth grade was more of the same, they were very curious about all the coins in their grab bag. Asked a lot of questions about the metal contents of the world coins. The aluminum threw them off. There were a few kids that had Whitman folders, thats a good sign! One girl kept going on and on about her visit to the Carson City Mint, the tour there really made an impression.
My son is in the fifth grade, and he's not into coins. The scene was quite funny. Alex is sitting front center, two feet from me, with his arms folded. He had this look on his face, like DAD, PLEASE do not embarrass me, and you Dad, are about to find out how coins are not cool at all. He sat there watching his friends nearly knock over their desks because they are raising their hands so high and excited to answer questions, beg, yes beg, to be my assistant and bodyguard ( two positions I created in the talk), constantly ohhhh and ahhhh, ask questions about each coin I displayed, and proceeded to discuss coin collecting activities they have had with their Dad and families. The look on his face was priceless. Shocked and proud that I was his Dad. I guess he never thought that his Dad's hobby that he has grown up around would ever be so popular with his "cool' friends.
When the fifth grade talk was over, the last bell rang for the kids to leave, but every single child came up to me to talk and look at more stuff up close.
In the days after the talk, I had well over a dozen parents come up to me to say thank you, it was a big hit. One Father said it was great because his daughter showed him her sil cert she had won, which led to Dad's old coins, then some of Dad's old stories came out. He said it was a really close 2 hour bonding session with his daughter.
The teachers said it was the best in classroom experience they had ever seen!
A big shout out to a few forum members here, I appreciated all the advice, thank you. And a special thank you to the members who loaned me items from their collection to share with the class. That was very kind and double thank you. You know who you are!
Our hobby is alive and well. We just have to do our part to nurture them along.
Seth
Collecting since 1976.
0
Comments
buffalo nickel.
They will find the large (size and denomination) bills interesting.
Half dime and 3 cent pieces are always interesting.
The change in the women on the coins is interesting in terms of fashion.
I find the "face forward" Jefferson on the newer nickels interesting.
Remind everyone that you DO NOT keep gold coins at home.
Since I'm a half dude I would bring in some examples of every general type of half dollar I have, showing the design differences through the years, with metal composition comparisons too. Try to throw in examples of what each would buy too when discussing, along with historical events that the coins might have seen, who's pocket they might have been in, stuff like that.
2 Cent Pieces always make an impression.
bob
My youngest son went on a class field trip in 4th grade to the State Capital in Sacramento. Multiple stops during the filed trip, including the Wells Fargo Bank building in Sacramento. It is a huge, new skyscraper and on the ground floor is a museum with the Stage Coach and a mock up and an 1850's Wells Fargo Office in Sacramento. The docent leading the tour had the students go to the mock up office and he opened the big metal safe. He reached in the safe and pulled out a very large and very heavy bar of gold (probably 40 pounds or $640.00 ounces). At that time gold was trading at around $440.00 per ounce. The docent handed the gold bar to my son. My son's eyes lit up big time when he was standing in the middle of his classmates holding about $280,000.00 worth of gold in his hands.
If you do not have access to a gold bar, perhaps a heavy brick can be found and painted gold.
It's a lot of fun and you might even have your kids come home from school and tell you the class thought you were the coolest dad ever!
Recipient of the coveted "You Suck" award, April 2009 for cherrypicking a 1833 CBHD LM-5, and April 2022 for a 1835 LM-12, and again in Aug 2012 for picking off a 1952 FS-902.
A decent uncirculated common date Buffalo Nickel will do just as much as a Bust Quarter will. Wheat cents work wonders as giveaway gifts.
Also keep your talk interesting while using relevant anecdotes the youngsters can relate to and care about. 5th graders' attention spans fade quickly and once you lose them there's no fixing that damage.
Authorized dealer for PCGS, PCGS Currency, NGC, NCS, PMG, CAC. Member of the PNG, ANA. Member dealer of CoinPlex and CCE/FACTS as "CH5"
I think a really brief, funny, light hearted way to present coin history would be cool- don't keep the presentation longer than 10 minutes. These are, after all, 3rd graders. What would be fun, though, is a "coin bingo": pass out bingo cards, and play several (3-5) rounds. For Bingo markers, use a bunch of wheat cents. As prizes, give out VF-F condition coins.
That will give each student a little time to actually look at the coins in their hands and such.
You can still do a show-and-tell in addition to the game.
Interests:
Pre-Jump Grade Project
Toned Commemoratives
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars
siliconvalleycoins.com
<<I will discuss, the history of money, how it got started, the meaning of coins, special coins and why they were made, a little about the manufacturing process, coin collectors and how they collect, and how I got started. I will discuss, the history of money, how it got started, the meaning of coins, special coins and why they were made, a little about the manufacturing process, coin collectors and how they collect, and how I got started.
I am planning on giving out a grab bag of coins for each student....handful of wheats, indian cent, buffalo nickel, and I will bring a few silver dollars and silver certificates to give out as prizes for giving correct answers. I am also bringing dozens of the old whitman folders to give out as well.....thats how we all started!
For show and tell, and this is hard to contain myself...fewer isn't better...
These items should give instant gratification:
$1000 note
$500 note
various select notes, Educational, Indian, Gold Certificates, etc
Early Bust Coins
Large Cent
Saint
One Dollar Gold
gold nuggets
odd demons 2 cents, etc.>>
You are a great dad!
I don't know why no one has said it but I will - I think your intended scope is way to large for 3rd grade, and perhaps for 5th grade in 30-45 minutes. Just re-read it, count the topics and divide into the time. you will be speed talking. Better to make a few points that are retained than a dazzling, dizzying display that will be either confusing or too condensed and thus bounce off. Having taught for a short for some time (little kids to adults, challenged too for a while) this is my advice. I would expect a common approach would be to tie in a coin with a historical event they know, placing collecting in a context, followed by a bit of why condition is important. And then a touch of show and tell. Your "want list" sound enough to confuse and turn off many kids, even 5th grade perhaps.
I can talk at breakneck speed about the weaves of linen appropriate for oil painting, the weights, yarns, wet/dry spun, stretching, tacks to be used and how, how to align and stretch, how to remove size and restretch for sizing, what a stretcher is, what glue is and how it is made, lead, oils and so on Not to mention the history of these things. But no one retains this - and they all want to paint in 12 minutes anyway. By making the information have a context and practical use, ie by showing why Monet canvases are cracked in the corners making a diamond shape (because he did not know how to stretch his purchased cheapo canvas at all), or that Rembrandt used the lowest quality lead when he bothered to make his own canvas, people say "ah! That is why..." - and even that is overkill for 85% or more people. My .02. Keep it simple.
Best wishes with this! I hope whatever you do has great success!
Eric
I have done this twice, to grade schoolers in Tahoe, and my home town Houston.
You will overwhelm them with any details past basic.
Pass around some unusual coins--ones they have never heard of or seen. That might start with Buffalos, as they are so young
If you have some oversized coins, they would love it--Pan Pac 50's, Bolivian 5 dl, Big Panda.
A quiz is fun-- Name the first and last state quarter, and a prize
The speech is fine, and well worth while for a few, but get to the actual coins asap.
Good luck and have fun with your kids(and coins)
Authorized dealer for PCGS, PCGS Currency, NGC, NCS, PMG, CAC. Member of the PNG, ANA. Member dealer of CoinPlex and CCE/FACTS as "CH5"
It might also be fun to bust open a dozen rolls of cents and have them search through them to find the 4 or 5 wheat cents you planted.
<< <i>Make sure your paper money is housed in those screw-together hard acrylic holders and don't be surprised if your UNC note becomes an XF by the time you're done. >>
Fixed it for you. It's amazing what some kids are capable of.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars
Error Cent
1. Show 2,200 year old large, heavy Roman Bronze coin. Tell a little history and pass it around.
2. Bring a small Tupperware bowl of wheat cents and steel cents and a large magnet. Talk about steel cent history and magnetism and have a volunteer help with the demonstration. Give each kid a steel cent.
3. Show a blow-up picture of a 3-Leg Buffalo Nickel. Tell about Black Diamond and the chiefs purported to have posed for the obverse. Then, point out the 3-Leg and share the story and value. Give each kid a Buffalo Nickel.
4. If there's time, bring a large size bill and compare it to current size.
Ten minutes is about the right length for a presentation for kids. Talk about the oldest coin, the biggest coin, the smallest, the lowest grade worn dug coin, the new proofs. That would do for ten minutes. Maybe some shipwreck coins or metal detector coins if you have any. Kids are captivated by the idea of buried treasure and secret maps. For the rest of the time, games are good, but bingo a bit slow for 10 year olds and trivia too intellectual. Maybe a spin the wheel kind of game for prizes. Maybe some kind of coin toss game or coin shuffleboard. Topical coins (ships, animals, foreign) may be much more interesting to many kids than old coins.
I agree with other posters, keep it short. Think 'Show and Tell' when you were in grade school.
After that, milk and cookies! Yea!
"Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!
--- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.Keep it simple and fun.
Most importantly, stress that you keep all your items in a SBD - just in case the wrong ears may be listening.
Let us know how it goes!
The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
Coins in Movies
Coins on Television
Ancient coin "A coin from the time of Jesus"
8 real "Pirate treasure"
British half pence from 1700's "Colonial money"
silver dollar
two cent "odd denomination"
large cent
copper nickel Indian cent "Civil War money"
Civil War token
bronze Indian Cent "replaced the tokens"
large size bill ($1 silver certificate would be fine)
All should be raw and touchable.
The teacher will be thrilled to give you (or your kid) extra credit if you point out that the sundial and message on the Fugio Cent is another way of reminding, "Time Flies, do your work." Put that motto up on the blackboard, and with your visual aid to reinforce it, the students will remember it for the rest of their lives. Don't be surprised if at their graduation they reflect back on how the impetus to stop wasting time and get down to business instilled in them years ago was the spark that propelled them on to academic success.
Here is the link.Fugio Cent
“I may not believe in myself but I believe in what I’m doing” ~Jimmy Page~
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947)
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
"Ancient coin "A coin from the time of Jesus" "
Can you say that in school? Should you? No offense please.
Eric
He'll most-likely be able to ship you a box of goodies!
I specialize in Errors, Minting, Counterfeit Detection & Grading.
Computer-aided grading, counterfeit detection, recognition and imaging.
impress kids because they don't know what most shield nickels look like. A well
worn 2C piece might look like an old valuable coins where they'll ho hum a BU bust.
By the same token some will be impressed by a BU clad coin from the '60's since it
looks "different" than what they're used to seeing.
With kids the objective is to show them things that surprise them and this is easy
to do with a world of coins dating back millinea. Most kids like to see gold and old
coins. They love coins they can keep especially if the coins are different. They also
love folders to hold the coins. The '40 to '58 cents can be given pretty cheaply if you
can find used folders. Memorial cents are great since they can continue at home but
this takes two folders and they might not appreciate the coins as much. Most kids
respond fairly well to coins especially when the presenter has a little passion and
can answer their questions about odd coins.
Can you say that in school? Should you? No offense please.
It's that guy from Mecca you can't mention.
I always start by asking the kids, "Who of you are interested in art?" You'll see a group of hands go up. Then you repeatedly ask after that, "Who of you are interested in science?"... "politics"... "math"... "history", finally ending up with "money". Invariably, after each question some group of hands will go up, and after the question about money essentially all hands will go up.
Then I state that coin collecting (or coins in general) covers all of those fields, and that is one reason why I like to collect coins.
After that it is up to you to decide where you want to take the talk. When I was talking in schools I'd track one series, in my case half dollars, and talk about Liberty and the evolution of what people thought was "Beauty" as exemplified by Liberty, and throw in examples of politics/history along the way. I'd always bring some Morgans too, as kids like the size. Also, that allows you to get into the story of how a school teacher was the model for the Morgan dollar. Depending on the length of time that I had, I might also bring in some toned Morgans to maybe do a brief mention about chemistry. The kids all loved highly toned Morgans. The toned Morgans were slabbed, while all the other coins were raw.
I live in CA. and went on a multi-day school field trip to the Gold Country when my youngest was in 4th grade. I brought along a raw 1849 gold $10 piece, and ALL the kids (and the adults) could not get enough of holding the coin. It helped to bring the history alive for them. Is there some sort of "magic" date for the State that you live in? If so, try and get a coin that links in to that date.
At the end of my talks I'd give each kid in the class a well circulated Buffalo nickel, as they are inexpensive, beautiful, and "different" from what the kids can find in change today. Much as I like Wheaties, I think that they are close enough design-wise to the currently circulating Lincoln, that they are not as "exotic" as a Buffalo. Sometimes I will leave a (circulated) common date Morgan with the teacher, and let him/her use it as a prize for a quiz given later that week.
U.S. Type Set
<< <i>You could do a little magic and turn regular ATB quarter into the 5oz silver version (if you have one). Might be able to open with something like that to get their attention. >>
I would love to learn how to do that.
<< <i>
I would love to learn how to do that. >>
Magic is easy.
Just get everyone to look at the wrong hand.
I LOVE how you taught them how to handle coins and then let them feel and hold a $20 gold piece. There is something tangible about our hobby that was lost when we started entombing everything. I've owned a few dozen gold coins on and off but I've only ever held two or three of them. The weight and heft of the $20 coin will stick with them forever. Kids have their "idiot" moments, but in general they're so much more capable than we give them credit for.
Great job and it was probably the best history lesson they've had all year.
Eric
makes me want to do the same thing. but I don't have a collection with those kind of chops.
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
Now the real test to know just really how interested the kids were...in a week's time inquire about how many of the grab bag coins ended up getting spent at the student store or nearby shops.
Authorized dealer for PCGS, PCGS Currency, NGC, NCS, PMG, CAC. Member of the PNG, ANA. Member dealer of CoinPlex and CCE/FACTS as "CH5"
<< <i>Show one of the coins near the founding of our country that have the motto "Mind Your Business" such as the Fugio Cent which is always of interest whether to school child or adult. Fugio Cent or Continental Currency also have the motto. Accompany the coin with a brief summary from Wikipedia explaining how Benjamin Franklin designed our first Copper Penney.
The teacher will be thrilled to give you (or your kid) extra credit if you point out that the sundial and message on the Fugio Cent is another way of reminding, "Time Flies, do your work." Put that motto up on the blackboard, and with your visual aid to reinforce it, the students will remember it for the rest of their lives. Don't be surprised if at their graduation they reflect back on how the impetus to stop wasting time and get down to business instilled in them years ago was the spark that propelled them on to academic success.
Here is the link.Fugio Cent >>
That was great to read the report provided as to how the class visits went. Nice to hear the Continental Currency was such a big hit. Did it include the "Mind your business " motto and did you get a chance to explain how with the sundial the message was, "Time flies, do your work and don't waste time and get down to business?"
Great touch getting the teachers to cooperate by upping the students' grades on their next history test. That alone must have added to your childrens' coolness quotient from their peers.