Math
Strategy: The Dollar Game – Place Value, number sense
Appropriate Grade Level: Kindergarten – 1st grade
Procedures/Steps:
 Students roll a dice and determine how many pennies they should
receive from the banker by counting the dots on the dice.

Students place the pennies in the “penny” column of their game
mat.

When they get 10 pennies, they trade up with the banker for a
dime (which they place in the “dime” column).

The students continue to roll the dice, receive pennies and trade
up to dimes.

Students can count their dimes and then trade up with the banker
to receive a dollar. The first student to receive a dollar is the
winner!
Pennies
Dimes
Comments and/or tips:
Materials:
 8 ½ x 11 game mat for each player (3 columns labeled Pennies, Dimes, Dollars)
 One number cube per group (3-4 members per group)
 Money box (crayon box) with $5 in pennies, $4 dollars in dimes and 5-one dollar bills
(real or play money)
 One “banker” per group (preferably an older student or adult)
Source:
Hoover, H. M. (2003). The Dollar Game: A Tool for Promoting Number Sense among
Kindergartners. Teaching Children Mathematics, 3, 23-25.
Dollar