This counting coins game helps first and second graders learn the value of quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies by playing: match coin groups to their totals, pop balloons or race cars. Each question shows a handful of US coins in words, such as 1 quarter, 4 dimes, 1 nickel and 2 pennies, and you pick the total in cents. It is a free money game for kids that needs no sign-up, works on phones and tablets, and comes with a printable coin value chart.
Counting coins game: see how it plays
The game below has four modes, and each one asks only counting money questions. The printable chart shows the four coins, how many make a dollar and a count-on example, and the pictures show Memory Match, Balloon Pop and Answer Race on this page.
How the counting coins game works
- Memory Match: twelve face-down cards hide six coin groups, such as 2 quarters and 1 dime, and their six answers. Flip two at a time and match each one to its answer in as few moves as you can.
- Balloon Pop: answers float up on balloons, and you pop the right one before it drifts off the top. The wrong totals sit within 10 cents of the right one, so you have to add the coins up and not just guess. The game speeds up as your score climbs, and three misses ends the round.
- Answer Race: every right answer moves your car forward, and you race three computer cars to the finish flag. The first to 15 wins, and wrong taps cost time, not places.
- True or False: sixty seconds on the clock. Decide whether each total, such as 3 dimes and 1 nickel = 35¢, is right or wrong. A streak of five or more scores double.
Coin value game: quarters, dimes, nickels, pennies
| Coin | Value | How many make $1.00 | Memory tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarter | 25¢ | 4 | A quarter of a dollar, and the biggest coin in the game |
| Dime | 10¢ | 10 | The smallest coin is worth more than the nickel |
| Nickel | 5¢ | 20 | Skip count by 5s: 5, 10, 15, 20 |
| Penny | 1¢ | 100 | Count by ones, and you will need a lot of them |
In the counting coins game, the coins always appear as words, so children learn to picture each one. The dime is the smallest US coin by size but is worth more than the penny and the nickel, which surprises many children. Wikipedia’s articles on the quarter and the dime tell the history of each coin.
Count on from the biggest coin
The easiest way to count a pile of coins is to put them in order and count on: quarters first, then dimes, then nickels, then pennies. Say the running total each time. For 1 quarter, 4 dimes, 1 nickel and 2 pennies, say 25, then 35, 45, 55, 65, then 70, then 71, 72. The total is 72¢. Counting this way uses skip counting by 25s (or 10s and 5s) and then counting on by ones, which is exactly the skill the game builds.
- Sort the coins from the greatest value to the least.
- Say the value of the first coin out loud.
- Add each new coin to the running total, using skip counting for repeated coins.
- Stop and check: does your total fit the coins you can see?
Ways to make 25 cents
A favorite money puzzle is to find every way to make the same total. There are 13 different ways to make 25¢ with US coins, and these are six of them:
- 1 quarter
- 2 dimes and 1 nickel
- 2 dimes and 5 pennies
- 5 nickels
- 1 dime, 3 nickels
- 25 pennies
The counting coins game gives the same kind of puzzle on screen. Ask children to find a way that uses exactly 4 coins or exactly 7 coins, and they will practice addition without realizing it.
Counting money game ideas: counting coins in real life
- Piggy bank: empty it on the table, sort the coins and count the savings together.
- Pretend shop: price toys at 35¢ or 60¢ and let children pay with real coins.
- Allowance: if you give 2 quarters and 1 dime a week, how much is that in 4 weeks? (60¢ × 4 = $2.40)
- Vending machine: find three different coin combinations that make 50¢.
Counting coins word problems
- Ben has 3 dimes and 2 nickels. How much money does he have? Answer: 40¢.
- Ava finds 2 quarters and 3 pennies under the sofa. How much is that? Answer: 53¢.
- A sticker costs 45¢. Mia has 1 quarter and 2 dimes. Does she have enough? Answer: yes, exactly 45¢.
- Leo has 1 quarter, 1 dime and 1 nickel. How many more cents does he need to make 50¢? Answer: 10¢.
Where counting coins fits at school
| Level | What children are expected to do |
|---|---|
| Grade 1 (US) | Many state standards introduce coin names and values, usually starting with pennies, nickels and dimes |
| Grade 2 (US) | Solve word problems with dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies (2.MD.C.8) |
| Year 1 and 2 (England) | Recognise and use coins and notes of pounds and pence |
The counting coins game supports this standard. The Common Core grade 2 measurement and data standards include money. Print the counting coins worksheets for paper practice, then move on to making change.
Counting coins game: frequently asked questions
What grade is the counting coins game for?
Counting coins is taught in grades 1 and 2, usually starting with pennies, nickels and dimes, and adding quarters later.
What are the coin values?
A penny is 1¢, a nickel is 5¢, a dime is 10¢ and a quarter is 25¢. Four quarters make one dollar.
Why is a dime worth more than a nickel when it is smaller?
US coins are not sized by value. The dime is the smallest coin but is worth 10¢, while the larger nickel is worth 5¢.
Does the counting coins game use dollar bills?
No. It uses only quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies, and the totals are always in cents.
Is the counting coins game free, and do kids need an account?
Yes, it is free, and no account is needed. Best scores are saved only in the browser on this device.
Does the counting coins game work on phones and tablets?
Yes. Every game is built for touch first and also works with a mouse on a computer.