Mini Lesson: Currency Through the Centuries

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New Jersey Three Pounds

Georgia Twenty Shillings

Lancaster Bank Five Dollars

This mini lesson examines historical currencies as primary source documents. Students will be able to view and contextualize three different currencies from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and be able to observe, analyze, and make connections to the present day. These questions and documents could be used for many age groups, but are specifically alligned to National Social Studies Standards and New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards for fourth grade.

Questions for discussion:

1.) What do you first notice when you look at this piece of currency?

2.) What distinguishes this currency from others and what makes is unique?

3.) Were there any methods used to protect this piece of currency from counterfeit? What methods are used today?

4.) What are a few questions you would like to ask the maker of this currency?

5.) What are some of the similarities and differences between this currency and the currencies that are used today?

6.) Why is money important to you in your daily life? Why is it important in all societies?


National History Standards
Topic 3: The History of the United States: Democratic Principles and Values and the Peoples from Many Cultures Who Contributed to Its Cultural, Economic and Political Heritage
Standard 4 : How Democratic Values Came to Be, and How They Have Been Exemplified by People, Events, and Symbols

Thinking Standard 1: Chronological Thinking Thinking Standard 2: Historical Comprehension Thinking Standard 3: Historical Analysis and Interpretation Thinking Standard 4: Historical Research Capabilities Thinking Standard 5: Historical Issues-Analysis and Decision Making

National Social Studies Standard
NSS-EC. K-4.11 Role of money: Money ma

New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standard
6.1.4.C.10 Explain the role of money, savings, debt, and investment in individuals' lives.

Images Cited:
New Jersey Three Pounds. Lloyd William Smith Collection. Morristown National Historical Park. 30 Washington Place, Morristown New Jersey 07960. LWS 4685-179.

Georgia Twenty Shillings. Lloyd William Smith Collection. Morristown National Historical Park. 30 Washington Place, Morristown New Jersey 07960. LWS 4685-179.

Lancaster Bank Five Pounds. Lloyd William Smith Collection. Morristown National Historical Park. 30 Washington Place, Morristown New Jersey 07960. LWS 1298.

Sources:
New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards: http://www.state.nj.us/education/cccs

National History Standards: http://nchs.ucla.edu/standards/us-standards5-12.html

National Social Studies Standards: http://www.educationworld.com/standards/national/soc_sci/civics/k_4.shtml

ML2: Currency Through the Centuries

Lesson plan by Karyn Pereny