Coins, Coins, Coins is a dynamic, project-based, two-part videoconference series. It allows students to explore the history of coins and then create one representing their own communities. The first videoconference will introduce coins - - everything from ancient Greece to present-day United States - - in the museum’s collection. Students will then be challenged to create their own coin design. During the second videoconference, students show their designs and offer a persuasive, research-based presentation on their coin’s local symbolism. Co-developed by the Cleveland Museum of Art and teachers from Newark (Ohio) City Schools, this series is aligned to Social Studies and Language Arts standards.

Program Objectives

Students will learn or understand...

• Before the introduction of coins, a variety of items were used as currency in different cultures.
• Money serves as means of exchange, a standard of value and a store of value.
• Historical events, symbols and individuals have played an important role in how money looked in the past and today. Coins commemorate the important people and events that effect certain places and times.

Pre Videoconference Activities

(To be completed prior to the first videoconference)

• Use the U. S. Mints Time Machine to introduce students to coins of the past (1778 and 1907). This website can be used to further provide information about the history of money in the United States.
• Please make copies of the Coins Timeline and Coin Images for each student (pages 9-11 of the Teacher Packet). The students can complete the timelines before (or after) the video conference.

Coin Design Project Instructions

Students will design a new coin for their community. The coin design should reflect an important person, historical event, landmark, industry/business or transportation of significant importance in to their community. As a group, brainstorm to identify what features their coin should contain (symbol, motto, date, mint mark). Students should then use internet and book resources to research possibilities for their coin design. Students will draw their design based on their research – a Coin Design Template is included in the teacher packet.

Students will plan a presentation that presents their design, explains why this is of importance to the community and persuade their fellow classmates to accept their design. Schools will have 5-7 minutes to present their projects during the second videoconference and we encourage creativity in the project presentations!

About the Cleveland Museum of Art's Distance Learning Program

The Cleveland Museum of Art’s award-winning distance learning program
connects students from all over the country and beyond with the museum
to enrich their studies of history, languages, science, math, and the
visual arts. Through live videoconferencing, students view art and
artifacts from around the world while sharing in two-way conversations
with museum educators. The program has been recognized with the highest
awards in its field: the CILC Pinnacle Award and the Teachers’ Choice
award. The Cleveland Museum of Art participates in MAGPI's Preferred Content Provider Program, and provides MAGPI Members with a $15 discount on all of their distance learning programs.