Natures Money Worksheet Nature's Money
Lesson 1: Shells & Beans
Time Traveler Name
Date
1 What can be money?
Long ago, people used things from nature as money. Circle the things that people used to pay for items!
Shells
Crayons
Beans
2 The Shell Shop
Draw the shells you need to buy the apple!
🍎
Costs 3 Shells
Draw 3 shells here...
Question: Do we use shells at the grocery store today? Why or why not?
Natures Money Slides Nature's Money
Did you know you could once pay for things with things you found on the beach or in the garden?
The Cowrie Shell
People in Africa and Asia used these beautiful shells as money for thousands of years.
They are small and easy to carry.
They don't break easily.
They look unique!
🐚
Chocolate Money?
🫘 🫘 🫘
The Aztec and Maya people used cocoa beans (which make chocolate!) as money.
"Imagine buying a toy with a handful of beans!"
Why did they use these?
Hard to find
You couldn't just find them anywhere.
Everyone agreed
People liked them and wanted them.
Easy to carry
They fit in your hand or a small bag.
Let's Think!
If you lived long ago, what would you try to use as money?
💎 Shiny Rocks
🪶 Bird Feathers
🦷 Shark Teeth
Natures Money Teacher Guide Teacher Guide
Lesson 1: Nature's Money
Duration
45 Minutes
Key Concept
Commodity Money
Skill
Observation
Materials Needed
Collection of shells (cowrie preferred)
Large beans or beads
Common classroom toys for "shopping"
Lesson 1 Slides & Worksheets
Instructional Steps
The Hook (5 mins)
"Imagine you are hungry for an apple, but you don't have any coins or paper money in your pocket. Instead, you have a pocket full of beautiful shells. Do you think you could buy that apple? Today, we're going back in time to when shells WERE money!"
Direct Instruction (10 mins)
Use the Nature's Money Slides to introduce cowrie shells and cocoa beans. Pass around real shells or beans for students to touch and hold. Ask: "Why do you think these were good for money?" Focus on: small, hard to find, durable.
Simulation: The Shell Shop (20 mins)
Set up a small "store" with classroom objects. Assign "prices" (e.g., A bear toy = 5 shells; A crayon = 2 beans). Have students take turns being the buyer and the shopkeeper.
Pro-Tip:
Use small drawstring bags to make the "money" feel more official for the students.
Closing & Worksheet (10 mins)
Distribute the Nature's Money Worksheet . Students identify nature money and draw their shell "payment" for an apple.
Metal to Paper Worksheet Metal or Paper?
Lesson 2: Coins vs. Bills
Time Traveler Name
Date
1. Color the Money
Color Me Gold
Metal Coin
Heavy & Strong
Color Me Green
Paper Bill
Light & Foldy
2. The Heavy Choice
Draw a circle around the one that is easier to carry on a long trip!
💰
A Heavy Sack
👝
A Light Wallet
Time Traveler Fact: Long ago, coins were made of real gold! But people didn't like carrying heavy bags of gold everywhere, so they invented paper bills to represent the gold.
Metal to Paper Slides Heavy or Light?
From clinking coins to fluttering paper—why did money change its shape?
The First Coins
Metal coins were invented because they were STRONG.
They don't burn in a fire.
They don't rot in the rain.
They feel like treasure!
🪙
The "Ouch!" Problem
Imagine carrying 1,000 gold coins in your backpack!
It would be too heavy to walk. It might even rip your bag!
Paper Power
💵
Paper money is EASY to carry.
You can fold it.
It fits in your pocket.
It's light as a feather!
Time Traveler Test
Which would you pick for a long hike up a mountain?
💰
A Heavy Sack
💳
A Light Card
Metal to Paper Teacher Guide Teacher Guide
Lesson 2: From Metal to Paper
Duration
45 Minutes
Focus
Portability
Concept
Efficiency
Materials Needed
Two bags (one with rocks/washers, one with paper)
Play money (coins and bills)
A small scale (optional)
Crayons (Gold/Silver and Green)
Instructional Steps
The "Heavy Hunt" (5 mins)
Show students two identical-looking bags. Invite a volunteer to pick them up. One bag is stuffed with heavy rocks (representing coins); the other has a few pieces of paper. Ask: "If you had to walk across the whole school, which bag would you want to carry?"
Direct Instruction (10 mins)
Use the Metal to Paper Slides . Explain that while metal is strong, paper was invented to make traveling with money easier. Discuss why we still use both today (vending machines use coins, big purchases use bills).
Hands-on Comparison (15 mins)
Give each student one large plastic coin and one play bill. Have them "clink" the coin and "crinkle" the paper. Ask them to see how many paper bills they can fit in their pocket versus how many coins.
Observation Prompt:
"Does the paper feel like a regular drawing paper? No! It's special paper that doesn't rip easily."
Worksheet & Wrap Up (15 mins)
Distribute the Metal to Paper Worksheet . Students color the different types of money and circle the lighter option.
Global Money Worksheet My Money Passport
Lesson 3: Money Around the World
World Traveler Name
Date
What does it look like?
Money looks different in every country. In the boxes below, draw a picture of the money from these places!
Draw a Yen coin here...
🇯🇵 Japan (Yen)
Draw a Peso bill here...
🇲🇽 Mexico (Peso)
Same Job, Different Look
Even if money is blue, red, gold, or silver, it always does the same thing. What is the job of money?
Draw yourself buying something you like!
Travel the world with your Treasury! 🌍✈️
Global Money Slides Global Money
Grab your passport! Let's see what money looks like in other parts of the world.
Rainbow Money
In Australia and Europe, money isn't just green. It's Blue, Red, and Orange!
"Why do you think it's colorful? Maybe to help people tell the bills apart!"
💶
💶
💶
💶
🇯🇵 Japan's Yen
Coins with HOLES!
Some coins in Japan have HOLES in the middle!
A long time ago, people used the holes to string their coins together like a necklace.
Unsinkable Money
Countries like Australia and Canada use Plastic Money.
It's Waterproof!
Hard to Rip!
One Big Idea
No matter where you go, money is an Agreement.
"I'll give you this, and you give me that!"
💵💶💷💴🪙
Global Money Teacher Guide Teacher Guide
Lesson 3: Money Around the World
Duration
45 Minutes
Focus
Global Awareness
Skill
Visual Literacy
Materials Needed
Pictures or real examples of foreign coins/bills
A world map or globe
Global Money Slides & Worksheets
Crayons (Assorted colors)
Instructional Steps
The "Money Trip" (5 mins)
"If we got on a plane today and flew to Japan, do you think we could use our green dollars to buy a toy? No! We would need their money. Let's see what it looks like!"
Direct Instruction (15 mins)
Display the Global Money Slides . Point to the different countries on a map as you talk about their money. Focus on the unique features: colors, holes in coins, and materials (plastic vs. paper).
Discussion Question: "Why do you think some countries use different colors for different amounts? How would that help someone who might have trouble reading the numbers?"
Gallery Walk (10 mins)
Place pictures of different world currencies around the room. Let students walk around and "visit" different countries. Encourage them to look for animals, famous people, or landmarks on the money.
Worksheet & Passport (15 mins)
Distribute the Global Money Worksheet . Students draw the Yen and the Peso in their "Money Passport" and reflect on why money is used everywhere.
Invisible Money Worksheet The Tap Shop
Lesson 4: Invisible Money
Secret Agent Name
Date
Where is the money?
Even if we don't see coins, we are still spending money! Circle the ways we pay without cash.
Phone Tap
Cash Jar
Plastic Card
Invisible Power!
Draw a picture of a phone or card buying a dinosaur toy.
Draw your digital purchase here...
✨
Remember: Even when you don't see the coins, the money is still moving from your bank to the store!
Invisible Money Slides Invisible Money
Is it magic? Where does the money go when we use a card or a phone?
The Credit Card
A card is like a Key to your money in the bank.
You swipe it.
You dip it.
The money moves instantly!
**** **** **** 1234
Tap to Pay
📱
Your Phone
Holds your digital wallet
🤖
The Machine
Beeps when you pay
The Bank Vault
The actual coins and paper are safe in a bank.
Computers just send messages to say "the money is gone now!"
BEEP!
Have you ever heard the "Success Beep" at the store? That's the sound of money moving!
Teacher Question:
What do you think is better:
Invisible Money Teacher Guide Teacher Guide
Lesson 4: Invisible Money
Duration
45 Minutes
Focus
Digital Literacy
Concept
Abstraction
Materials Needed
Pretend credit cards (old gift cards work great)
Card reader (toy or a small cardboard box)
Dramatic play store items
Invisible Money Slides & Worksheets
Instructional Steps
The "Magic Beep" (5 mins)
Have a student bring a toy to you. Instead of taking coins, hold up a blank card and touch it to a box. Make a loud "BEEP!" sound. Ask: "Did I just pay for this? Where did the money go? It's magic... or is it?"
Direct Instruction (10 mins)
Use the Invisible Money Slides . Explain that the card or phone is like a "remote control" for the money that is safely stored at the bank. Emphasize that it is still real money even if you can't touch it.
The Tap Shop Simulation (20 mins)
Set up the Dramatic Play center. Half the students are shoppers with cards; the other half are shopkeepers with a "beeping" machine. Encourage them to use the phrase "Tap to Pay!"
Discussion Prompt: Ask the shoppers: "Does your card feel lighter than a bag of shells?" Ask the shopkeepers: "Where do you think the money goes after the beep?"
Worksheet & Wrap Up (10 mins)
Distribute the Invisible Money Worksheet . Students identify digital payment forms and draw a digital purchase.
Future Money Worksheet Future Fortune
Lesson 5: Money Inventions
Inventor Name
Date
My Money Invention
What will money look like in 100 years? Draw your idea below!
Draw your future money here... (Maybe it's a wristband, a glowing crystal, or a robot!)
How do you use it?
What is it called?
"The future belongs to the curious!" 🚀✨
Future Money Slides Future Fortune
We used shells. We used gold. We use cards. What comes next?
The Journey of Money
🐚 Past
💳 Now
❓ Future
What if...
⌚
Money Watches
You high-five someone to pay them!
🤚
Hand Scanners
Your hand is your credit card!
💎
Glow Crystals
Beautiful gems that hold your money!
Your Turn!
In a moment, you will get your Inventor Sheet.
1. Draw your invention
2. Give it a name
3. Show us how it works!
Show and Tell
The Time Travelers Treasury is almost complete. Who wants to show their future money first?
Future Money Teacher Guide Teacher Guide
Lesson 5: Future Money Inventions
Duration
60 Minutes
Focus
Creative Foresight
Goal
Synthesize Learning
Materials Needed
Future Money Slides & Worksheets
Washable markers or markers with glitter
Recycled materials (optional for building models)
Stickers or "jewels" for decoration
Instructional Steps
The "Time Jump" (10 mins)
Review the timeline of money. "We started with shells, moved to metal, then paper, and now we use invisible cards. In 100 years, you won't be kids anymore—you'll be the grown-ups making the money! What will it look like?"
Brainstorming (10 mins)
Use the Future Money Slides to spark ideas. Encourage wild thinking: Robots? Fingerprints? Glowing rocks? Telepathy? Remind them that it should be portable and hard to lose.
The Invention Lab (25 mins)
Give students the Future Money Worksheet . Let them use the "fancy" materials (glitter, stickers) to make their money look high-tech. Circulate and ask: "How does this machine know the money belongs to YOU?"
Show & Tell (15 mins)
Have students present their inventions in a "Future Gallery." Each student shows their drawing and says its name and one thing it does.
Unit Conclusion: Congratulate the class on becoming Money Museum Experts! Remind them that money is just an idea that changes with the world.
