Coin collecting lesson for high school students

KBmath

hi everyone. I have been an off and on reader of these boards for over a decade and come out of the shadows to ask for creative ideas. I teach high school and our school has an advisory groups that meet about 14 times a year. In general, it's a state requirement and the lessons are terrible. This year we are taking one period in the spring and having each teacher hold a seminar on something they are passionate about. I have been collecting coins since I was 5 or 6 so I want to share this with the students.



I am asking for some creative ideas you might have on this topic. I have some rough ideas already like showing a short (less than 5 min) video clip on how coins are minted, show pictures of some coins I own, bring in some coins for them to see in hand, and also I was kicking around giving them each a Lincoln cent coin folder and a roll from the bank to get them started on their collecting.



I have only 45 minutes, so I might already have too much for the time, but if there are ideas our there go ahead and let me know. I know there's a wealth of knowledge on these boards and I would love to pass some along.



Thanks.

carabonnair

I know ACE has programs for ancient coins. For US coins, I think the ANA has some programs.

mannie gray

Whatever you decide to do, if your passion comes through, it will resonate with at least a few students.

Good luck!

joeykoins

Hi and to school! It's ironic that you are a school teacher and joining our forum. I welcome every new member with this slogan. I say school because you'll not only be taught in coins but you'll also be taught in many areas, such as, ethics, manners and business. You say you are a lurker. So you may know a thing or two about what to ask or post on the forum. The topic you first posted is interesting. Pretty cool ideas you have there. Esp. having the kids place pennies in the album. That, i'm sure will spark their interest? How about bringing in a "1864 2cent" coin? Not really that expensive and quite a ice breaker. I don't know if you are aware that the 1864 2 cent coin was the FIRST coin that the mint stamped on the words," In God We Trust"! The 2 cent coin itself would be a wonder, let alone the U.S. slogan. Oh well, like I said, Welcome to our forum and Welcome to School! Don't be a stranger and post anything you wish. More importantly, have fun! Good luck with your class and collection.-joey
One More Thing... Please forgive me If I chopped up the English language? I hope I at least got a B-? LOL

TwoSides2aCoin

Numismatics covers math, science, history, art, and social studies. It should be discussed often as a subject of study. More kids would stay put and focused on the enjoyment of a hobby, given to a class on "numismatics". Why not ? It can be approached from many angles, as there are more than twosides2acoin... of course.

TommyType

From a non-teacher.....so take it with a grain of salt.





But I would try to tie collecting to some of the students other course work. Specifically, History and Art? And it seems that your video would also tie it to technology and the sciences?...



The reason I say this is that to non-collectors, coins might seem like a trivial pursuit. I'm sure we've all had friends and family roll their eyes when the subject comes up. Your talk about your coins, and coins in general is a good start. But if you can make it clear that it all circles back to things they have already learned, then it won't appear to be such a stand-alone, trivial hobby.



So, ask the questions:



- What coins might President Lincoln have used in his daily life? George Washington....MLK....etc.

- (As mentioned), Why did the motto "In God We Trust" on coins come into being? How was it tied to the Civil War?

- What sculptures and paintings inspired the Lincoln Cent, or the St. Gaudens $20?

- How is Teddy Roosevelt tied to US coinage?

- Etc....



It might be useful in tying the subjects that the students feel are dry and boring to their everyday life? Show that what they have learned does have impact on things that are always around them?



Just a thought to expand it beyond, "Here is a coin you've never seen before"....

steveben

one thing i think is important to teach young adults about coins is: intrinsic value.



show them silver and gold coins and explain what their value used to be, and what it is today. note how each denomination is a different size and/or weight because of intrinsic value.



next, show them modern currency. tell them to imagine a $100 bill and a $1 blank, with no ink. they are the same. however, blank intrinsic coins (planchets) would still be worth a certain amount, because of their weight in precious metal.



this would be a good introduction to a facet of coin collecting that might resonate with youth. you could also use the example of any bank account on a computer. if that data were to be lost or "blanked out" it wouldn't matter how much the number *used* to be.



good luck! thanks for teaching young adults about our hobby.

ChangeInHistory

I agree tying it in with their lessons is a solid plan. A Civil war coin/currency presentation would be easy as there's a ton of material available. Morgan dollars for the Bland silver act, the coinage of the teens and 1920 s and neo classical style. Lots of possibilities, 45 minutes may not be enough time

messydesk

Assuming you teach a specific subject in high school, the following possibilities exist:



1. Teach about numismatics as it best fits with your subject. The kids will see a diversion relevant to the subject matter to which you're seen as an authority.

2. Teach about numismatics as it fits with a subject you don't teach. The kids will see you out of your element, but still passionate about something "off the books," and you'll gain respect and curiosity.

3. Teach about your subject in the context of numismatics. Not exactly the same as option 1, as numismatics will play a more supporting role in what you're trying to teach and represent real-world artifacts of the subject.

4. Teach about a different subject in the context of numismatics.



I'd advise against the Lincoln cent folder at first. If there are students that show an interest, it will be within a context you set forth in your discussion, which might make it easier to determine how to get them started collecting. Besides, if you get bank-rolled cents, you have no idea if you're going to get a good mix or a solid roll.

joeykoins

Originally posted by: messydesk
Assuming you teach a specific subject in high school, the following possibilities exist:

1. Teach about numismatics as it best fits with your subject. The kids will see a diversion relevant to the subject matter to which you're seen as an authority.
2. Teach about numismatics as it fits with a subject you don't teach. The kids will see you out of your element, but still passionate about something "off the books," and you'll gain respect and curiosity.
3. Teach about your subject in the context of numismatics. Not exactly the same as option 1, as numismatics will play a more supporting role in what you're trying to teach and represent real-world artifacts of the subject.
4. Teach about a different subject in the context of numismatics.

I'd advise against the Lincoln cent folder at first. If there are students that show an interest, it will be within a context you set forth in your discussion, which might make it easier to determine how to get them started collecting. Besides, if you get bank-rolled cents, you have no idea if you're going to get a good mix or a solid roll.

On that note, Imagine If one were to find a Key Coin/Variety that has a high premium? Say a 1914D, that person(if they had the knowledge of the coin)would take a huge interest in collecting!$$$$$$$$

Mercury

The US Mint Website actually has lesson plans for teachers on their site for grade k-12.

US Mint

IrishMikey

I taught a coin collecting class for elementary school students (it was a once-a-week class, not a regular subject). What interested the kids most were ancient coins -- I would bring in a few beat-up pieces and pass them around, then give the kids some basic history.

Each class I would give each child a low-value coin -- Wheat cents, Buffalo nickels, steel cents, and so on. I think your idea of the coin folder is a good one, as is the idea of a roll of cents. You might want to encourage them to trade with each other.

Good luck.

astrorat

Contact the ANA and talk with Rod Gillis (rgillis@money.org or 719-482-9845), the numismatic educator on staff. Talk to him about your interest and what you want to accomplish. He's a great guy and very helpful.

Ask him for materials related to the "Coins in the Classroom" program that fits your needs. It's a program I developed for the ANA before I was on staff at the Association (I hired Rod). The program was designed to show teachers how to use coins as learning tools (not to teach numismatics). It was about connecting numismatics to art, history, math, and science as a way to open up these topics for students.

You can also contact me directly at Lanejbrunner@gmail.com if the ANA no longer has the material or if Rod is not allowed to share it with you. [Also, for a short period before I joined the ANA, I wrote a column for Numismatic News on the "Coins in the Classroom" concept, but I have no idea how to access back issues.]

Lane

RockyMtnProspector

I like all of these ideas as other beat me to it. As a former educator, I'm glad for all the links.



I will, however, amplify the "old stuff" angle. Kids I've talked to (if they were anything like me at that age) are fascinated by old stuff--ancient, 1800s, whatever--and love holding it in their hands. So older coins (low grade, cheap) can really be appealing.



I would also consider short videos (given time constraints) that illustrate the folks that can be discussed. I had a college classroom at 8am who was kind of out of it, but since we were discussing the Teddy Roosevelt era, I pulled up a video (this was before youtube even) of Roosevelt giving a stump speech. It had no sound, but the students were enraptured by it, as Teddy had suddenly come alive. Cool tie-in to the coins of that era.



Good luck and hope to hear your report on how it goes.

ambro51

It is very difficult to teach a hobby.

RockyMtnProspector

Teaching the appreciation of the thing--the history, art, technology, politics even--gives context and context is important in developing an interest like a hobby.



I came to coins through my love of history. I couldn't own the Roman ruins or talk to the people but I could have an ancient Roman coin!



Otherwise coins and other things are seen only as . . . things. Not of value, intrinsically (like gold, other than to be sold for money), or extrinsically like in the context of the hobby (numismatic value, etc.)

BryceM

If I did it, I'd have a locked case of some very cool stuff they could look at - $20 double eagle, Modern Silver Eagles, an ancient Greek or Roman coin, high-grade DMPL dollar, a few pizzaz toners, VDB 1909 cent and similar stuff.



I'd also have some coins they could touch and feel and also something each of them could take home like a cheapie steel 1943 cent or a buffalo nickel. I like the suggestion to show them now-defunct coinage like the 1/2 cent, 2 cent copper, 3 cent nickel, 3 cent silver, half-dime, and such. I like the story of the 1/2 cent. It was discontinued in 1857 for lack of purchasing power, but at the time was worth more than $0.14 in today's value.......



Talk about buried treasure, pirate gold, intrinsic value, "hard money", our current fiat system........ Done correctly, it will open their minds a bit to the actual value of money.

ambro51

You need to find the dozen or two kids in high school there who have ALSO been "collecting since five or six" and begin a Coin Club.

MICHAELDIXON

Send me your email address and I will send you a PowerPoint presentation on coin collecting I developed and use.

MICHAELDIXON

Sorry, double posted in error.

ricko

Welcome aboard.... some really great suggestions above. Since you are a teacher and a coin collector, consider what attracted (and keeps) your interest in coins... relate that to lessons... keep it short and with impact - attention spans are short and must be captured. Cheers, RickO

TopographicOceans

Bring twelve $100 bills and a 2014 Gold Kennedy PR69 DCAM to class.

Throw the money out the window and then show them the Kennedy..

That should teach them something

mannie gray

Originally posted by: ricko

Welcome aboard.... some really great suggestions above. Since you are a teacher and a coin collector, consider what attracted (and keeps) your interest in coins... relate that to lessons... keep it short and with impact - attention spans are short and must be captured. Cheers, RickO

cladking

Welcome aboard.



Astrorat has been at this a while.



I think just letting them fill books and telling them to save the nicest specimen they can find is enough to identify anyone with the collecting bug.

lkeigwin

However you proceed the very first thing to do is grab their attention. Have a cool coin and/or short story to share. Something students can relate to, like the 1909 Lincoln cent: the first circulating coin with a real person on it...the 100th anniversary of Lincoln's birth...the designer's initials, public outcry, removal of the initials, instant scarcity and crazy collector value. Or perhaps the story of the '55 DDO.



If you don't have their interest and begin with a video of coins being minted or something arcane you may lose students.



Very cool you are doing this!

Lance.