Money | Project Based Learning
Students will explore the idea of money through an art project in which they create a coin and bill collage, design simple store items with price tags, and use their artwork in a pretend classroom shop. The lesson builds fine-motor skills, observation, and creativity while connecting art to real-life money concepts.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| money | Coins and bills used to buy things. |
| coin | A round piece of money made of metal. |
| bill | A paper piece of money. |
| collage | Art made by gluing different materials together. |
| texture | How something feels or looks like it feels. |
| price tag | A label that shows how much something costs. |
Show real or play coins and bills. Ask students what they notice about the shapes, colors, and pictures. Introduce the project: we will make money art and create a pretend classroom shop.
Observe the money examples, share ideas, and name features they notice.
Demonstrate how to make a simple collage coin or bill using paper shapes, crayons, and glue. Model cutting, placing, and gluing safely. Show how to add details like numbers, symbols, or patterns.
Watch closely, answer questions, and repeat key vocabulary.
Help students choose one coin or bill to focus on, or assign pairs different money items. Give each child a planning sheet or scrap paper to sketch their design.
Plan their artwork by drawing a quick idea and choosing colors and materials.
Circulate to support cutting, gluing, and adding details. Prompt students to compare shapes and textures and to notice what makes money look different from other objects.
Build their collage using cut paper, crayons, and optional decorative materials.
Ask students to draw or cut out simple store items from magazines or their own ideas, then create price tags with small numbers or dots. Place items on a class display table or wall.
Create one or two shop items and attach or write a price tag.
Invite students to walk through the display, describe their work, and practice simple buy-and-sell language such as 'I have,' 'I want,' and 'It costs.'
View classmates' work, share their own art, and use simple pretend store language.
Lead a quick clean-up. Ask students what part of the project was easiest, hardest, or most fun.
Clean their area and respond to reflection questions.
Gather students to celebrate the finished display. Review the words money, coin, bill, collage, texture, and price tag. Ask students to name one thing they learned and one thing they are proud of in their artwork.