The chart shown in the photo below was created and used by my former co-teacher and I to teach students in a high school life skills program how to count out the total value for coins (dimes, nickels and pennies). Here is how we implemented it.
- The students are given a pile of coins, set next to this chart.
- Students start with dimes (identifying dimes as the coin to start with is a prerequisite step that can be taught in isolation if necessary)
- They line up the dimes in the dimes column as shown below.
- They count out the total value of dimes (and can look at the number under the last dime)
- Then the students identify the nickels as the next coin to use.
- The place the first nickel in the nickels column, starting at the row below the dimes (you can use a highlighter to highlight the last dime row to scaffold where the student places the nickels)
- Have the student count off 5 and place the next nickel (on the dimes column) etc.
- Then follow the same steps to transition to pennies.
- Have the student identify the total value by looking under the last penny.
The idea is to fade the use of the chart and have the student count out the value without the chart. This is more possible if the task demand is incremented with pennies only, then dimes only, the pennies and dimes etc. Here is a link to handouts for those.