Let’s Learn to Add Coins
Goal:
Goal:
How do we add coins?
Now that we can recognize the coins, we can learn how to add them!
Let’s start with the penny. This is the easiest one to add because it is worth the least. When we add pennies, we count by ones because a penny is worth 1¢! Look at the pennies below.
Count the pennies by ones to add the pennies. How much are these pennies worth? Click the Show Me button to see if you are correct.
They are worth four cents. That can be written as 4¢ using the cent symbol. You can also say that 1¢ + 1¢ + 1¢ + 1¢ = 4¢.
You got it! The number of pennies tells you the amount of the cents. Pennies are worth one cent--1¢!
The nickel is the next coin, because it is worth more than the penny but less than the dime! The nickel is worth five cents--5¢. When we add nickels, we skip count by 5s or add five multiple times. Look at the nickels below.
Count the nickels by 5s to add the nickels. How much are the nickels worth? Click the button to check your answer!
They are worth twenty-five cents. That can be written as 25¢.
You can add 5¢ + 5¢ + 5¢ + 5¢ + 5¢ to get 25¢ or you can skip count by 5s—5, 10, 15, 20, 25. You added the nickels!
The last coin is the dime. The dime is the smallest coin, but it is worth the most! A dime is worth 10¢. Do you know how we will add dimes? You got it! We will count by 10s to add dimes. Look at the dimes below.
Count dimes by 10s to add the coins. How much are the dimes worth? Click the button below to check your answer!
They are worth sixty cents. That is written as 60¢.
Did you count by 10s like this…10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, or did you add 10 six times, like this: 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 = 60. You added the dimes!
Now you know how to add each individual coin. But what if you have mixed coins? How would you add them? Let’s look at the coins below to find out!
When we add coins, we always start with the one that is worth the MOST. The dime is worth the most, so we add the dimes first. Count by 10s to add the dimes.
10 , 20
So far, we have 20¢. Now, we add the next one that is worth the most. The nickel is worth more than the pennies. We will add the nickels next. This time, we start at 20 since we already added our dimes. Beginning with 20, count up by 5s to the next number. 20, ….
21, 22, 23, 24, 25
Now we have 25¢. Finally, we add the ones worth the least amount. The penny is worth 1¢. It is worth the least. When we add the pennies, we start with 25 and count up by ones. 25….
26, 27, 28
We have 28¢. We added the coins!
Let’s try another one! Remember always to start with the coin that is worth the most, and end with the coin that is worth the least. Look at the coins below.
Which coin do we start with? That’s right! We start with the dime. Can you count the dime?
10
We start with 10¢. What coin will we add next? The nickels come next! Begin with 10 and count up by 5s. 10…
15, 20
We have 20¢! Last, we add the pennies. Start with 20 and count up by ones.
21, 22, 23, 24
Great work! We have 24¢.
Here is our last one! It will be our most challenging one! Just like before, always start with the coin that is worth the most. Look at the coins below.
Which coin will you start with? The one that’s worth the most! Count the dimes by 10s.
10, 20, 30, 40
We have 40¢. Next count the dimes by 5s. Begin with 40…
45, 50, 55
Now, we have 55¢. The last coin is the penny. Count up by ones beginning with 55…
56, 57
We have 57¢. Terrific job adding coins!
Add the coins below. How much are they worth?
- 23¢
- 30¢
- 33¢
Incorrect. Be sure to count the dimes by tens, the nickels by fives, and the pennies by ones. Try again!
Incorrect. Don’t forget to add the pennies! Try again!
Correct!
Summary
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Questions answered incorrectly: