Coin Transfer

Today I set up this simple Coin Transfer activity to supplement our Jacob’s Family is Reunited Torah story learning for the week. This was such an easy way to review the part of the story where Joseph instructs his servant to return the money the brothers brought back into their bags, as well as help my older kiddo practice her currency knowledge and math facts. I love when I’m able to differentiate an activity so that it works for numerous children, their skill levels and their goals.

During summer we’ve been learning a new Torah story each week. We always start our unit with our 3 Part Cards about the story, then do a few supplemental hands-on activities to help us review the story.

This Coin Transfer activity not only makes a connection with this Torah story (and others!), but is such a simple activity that practices fine motor skills, coin identification, and math concepts.

What You’ll Need

Coins
Coin Activity free printable
Slot insert or DIY it by cutting slots in cardboard or a cardboard box

Putting It Together

Print out your Coin Activity free printable.
Set up your slot insert or create your own by cutting slots in a piece of cardboard or in the top of a cardboard box.
Spread coins around your set up. Make sure you have multiple of each kind (quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies).
Introduce each coin by its name and value. Use the Coin Activity free printable as a guide.
Invite your child to transfer the coins into the slots.
For older children, use the Coin Activity free printable to invite them to put the coins in order of smallest to largest physical size and least to greatest value. They can also match the coins to the images on the printable.
For older children practicing addition, use the cue cards in the Coin Activity free printable to match the coins and complete the math facts.
Talk about the Jacob’s Family is Reunited story and how coins were carried by the brothers to Egypt to purchase food, then snuck back into their bags on Joseph’s orders.

Finished & Loving It!

The kids really enjoyed this Coin Transfer activity. They quickly discovered the tongs did not work to pick up the skinny coins and that’s just fine. Using fingers to transfer the coins is a wonderful way to practice fine motor skills. It takes concentration and a good pincher grasp to grab the thin coins and maneuver them into the slots. This is a great way to practice for young children (just watch those who might put the coins in their mouths as they are a choking hazard).

I set up the coin identification, matching and math for my incoming third grader. She just started learning about coins and practicing math facts with them in school last year so I thought this would be a good review for her. But the younger boys were also interested in grabbing coins and matching their pictures. My daughter was also interested in identifying each coin and its value before she put it in a slot. Yay!

When we worked on the math facts, we grabbed the appropriate coin and set it up next to the cue cards. I love that these are such real life, practical manipulatives to use when practicing these math facts. My daughter really enjoyed the practice, especially since it wasn’t too long or hard!

As they transferred the coins, I did a quick review of the Jacob’s Family is Reunited story and emphasized the part about the coins. I love these short, simple, and hands-on ways to learn about our Torah stories!!