This morning we went around the house and gathered up as many quarters as we could find in my wallet, my husband's change dish, and the couch cushions. We even raided the girls' piggy banks. We put all the quarters on the coffee table and pulled out this big beautiful State Quarters Collector Map.
Then the girls started arguing over the quarters and whining about who was taking more, so I had to put the project on hold while they went to their room, and I made an effort to breathe deeply. We need an occasional timeout in the land of flipflops and applesauce.
Then we attempted the project again.
I split the quarters up evenly among the two girls. We talked about how regular quarters have Washington's head on one side and an eagle on the other side. But the special state quarters have a different picture on the other side. They sorted through their quarters, putting the plain ole eagle ones off to the side and keeping the state ones front and center. After this sorting was finished we had 14 state quarters. Then I divided these up evenly between the girls. (They both counted to make sure it was fair.)
Because the girls aren't reading yet, they would look at just the first letter of the state. Then I would tell them the name of the state and give them a clue about where it was on the map. For instance, I would say, "Kansas is a purple state in the middle of the map." Then they would search until they found the right spot and push the quarter into it's circular pocket.
After the initial snag, it was really fun. They learned about quarters, the names of states, letters, colors, the map, and following directions.
Now we're on the hunt for the rest of our quarters. Want to join us?
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23 comments:
I do! Where did you find the map?
Your map is great! I have a coin book where I have been collecting the quarters. My girls love to pull it out to look at it, but not nearly as interesting as your map.
I love that map. We have a bunch of the stat quarters. Let us know where to find a map like this. BTW, your daughters are gorgeous!
I did the coin books for each of my grown kids to give to their kids. The map is fun for younger ones. You are such a fun mom!
I am a daily reader of your blog. The story of your girls is one of my favorite blog reads!
angela
You're too funny! "We have an occasional timeout here in the land of flipflops and applesauce."! I laughed out loud at that! You mean you're HUMAN after all and not some creative parenting goddess for which fairies sprinkle magical happy dust over every day? : )
Seriously, you put us all to shame by creating the most wonderful experiences for your daughters while finding time to blog about it and inspire the rest of us. We thank you for your dedication to the vast unknown worshipful minions like me out here in cyberspace. And I myself thank you for sharing all of yourself...even the stuff that doesn't work!
Cindy
We've been doing this for awhile, and I think, we only have about 6 quarters left to find. It's been a fun activity for my oldest (5 1/2 years) daughter. After we put in a particular state, we usually find a website or a book about that state and learn some fun facts. Kids seem to love geography at this age.
We got the State Quarters Map on amazon.
Here's the link
http://www.amazon.com/State-Series-Quarters-Collector-Map/dp/0794821944
Only $8.99!
You can also click on the link in the post (blue words.)
It's a great map!
Funny! Nope, I wasn't driving. My husband wouldn't put it past me though with my blog addiction!! Thanks for the comment. I have told a lot of my family with children about your blog. You have so many great ideas...and beautiful girls!!!
Awesome Chrissie! My kids havethis too...and we have been slacking lately! What a great wayto encouragem me to get it going again!
We've been doing those all along. My kids have killed 2 maps, I need to get a new one, thanks for the link! We only need 3 more quarters I think. Did you see the President Dollars they have out now?
My son did that too..it was fun!
~sandy toe
Great activity! I haven't seen a map like that, but that is really nice for kids.
My 17yo son started this when they first came out in 1999. He was only 8 years old!! I remember looking at the years and thinking this was going to take a long time. Well it didn't. Time flies.
We are missing North Dakota for some strange reason, but we have all the others. Have fun finding them all!
Thank you so much for such a wonderful project idea and keepsake. I had to grab one, thanks for the link to amazon.
Back when they started issuing them I worked at a Bank and collected all of them. A couple years later I didn't work for the bank and never could find nice ones to keep, so I stopped.
You should post the ones you need. If I have any I would be more than happy to send some your way!
What a cool project ! we don't live in the states so it would be difficult to join in, but my grandma has been collecting the state quarters for her great grand kids so my kids will have a set one day ! I'll have to buy one of those groovy maps to stick them in then !
What a great idea. Yes, we will join you! My twin boys are almost six and my girls are almost four and 1 year old...I think I'll buy two maps for our family. My four year old daughter has been "suffering" through the twinship of her older brothers. I think she would benefit from having her own coin book----and getting a chance to actually put a coin on the map!
at one time a family member was collecting the state quarter for us, but that was in a season when we needed the quarters :-)
do you know the states song?
50 nifty united states, with 13 original colonies...
alabama, alaska, arizona, arkansas, california colorado connecticut...
i sing it with my kids. maybe you could find it online? learning anything through music always works for my kids (and me). just a suggested addition to your already creative fun/teaching.
you'll have these girls ready for college by the time they enter kindergarten!
Hi Chrissie,
Well, I've ordered a map. Couldn't resist, since we're studying the U.S. for our Around the World Homeschooling Expo! It's going to be difficult finding the coins though since we don't live in the states, but I think that's what makes this so exciting! Thanks for sharing. I've got to stop shopping on Amazon!
Alison
Great idea! Our boys have been collecting for a while now and almost have them all. I love it when we get change and they get to count it out, reserve the quarters and put the rest in the family vacation fund jar.
Those of you who live outside the USA and can't get the coins - this is a great opportunity to strike up a pen pal relationship and you send them some of your interesting $ and they send you some of theirs! I love trading with Pen Pals. It makes learning so much more fun,impressionable, and personal.
I wanted to start this with my son but was worried it would be too hard to find all the quarters. I love the map, I think we'll try it!
we also have one like it... we almost done!!
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