Lesson Plan: Currency of Canada
Submitted by: John Baldridge (Oklahoma City, OK)
Date: August 1, 2012
Description:
This lesson will focus on Canadian currency, both bank notes and coins, and how the nation celebrates its history,
culture, and achievements in its money. This will serve as the introductory lesson in a series on Canada, to initiate
interest and give students a basic understanding of Canadian identity which will serve as a foundation for the remainder
of the unit.
Grade Level: 9th Grade
Subject: World Geography
Duration: 70 minutes
Goal:
The goal is to have students learn Canada’s national symbols and how the nation celebrates its cultural values. An
excellent way to determine how a nation views itself is to examine its currency. Students will appreciate the
characteristics of Canadian identity that make it unique in the world.
Objectives:
Students will:
• Interpret the symbolism of features on Canadian bank notes.
• Assess the importance of symbols on Canadian coins.
• Complete a worksheet containing questions corresponding to the symbols on each bank note and coin.
• Participate in a discussion relating to Canadian identity and its place in the world.
Standards:
Archdiocese of Oklahoma City High School World Geography Standard 2: “The Americas: United States, Canada, and
Latin America”
Background Information:
The Canadian Journey series of bank notes was introduced in the 2000s and serves a dual purpose: first, to provide
enhanced security measures to minimize counterfeiting, and second, to celebrate Canadian identity.
Materials:
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Royal Mint of Canada: http://www.mint.ca/store/mint/learn/circulation-currency-1100028
Bank of Canada: http://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/bank-note-series/canadian-journey/
Bank notes (5): $5
Printed color images (5 each) of $10, $20, $50, and $100 notes
Coins (5 each): $2, $1, 25¢, 10¢, 5¢, 1¢
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Worksheet (see pages 3-4)
Lined paper
Procedures:
1. Have students brainstorm on a sheet of paper all that they know relating to Canada.
2. Hold class discussion with students about what they know of Canada. Monitor their misconceptions and level of
accurate prior knowledge but refrain from correcting misconceptions to create student interest for later lessons when
they will learn much more about Canada.
3. Divide class into five groups.
4. Pass out bags of coins and bank notes.
5. Pass out student worksheet (see pages 3-4).
6. Give directions, including asking students to write their paragraph response on a separate piece of paper.
7. Monitor each group on an ongoing basis.
8. Hold class discussion while reviewing answers to the worksheet to share learning and appreciate issues relating to
Canadian identity.
Evaluation/Assessment:
Students will be assessed through 1) the worksheet; 2) the paragraph-writing assignment which asks students to
compare Canada and the U.S. via currencies as a reflection of identity; 3) group participation; and 4) class discussion.
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Currency of Canada Worksheet
Name: __________________________
1. Take a penny (1¢) from your bag.
A. What type of leaf is pictured? __________ B. Why do you think Canada chose this leaf to represent the country?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
C. Flip the coin to the other side. Whose image is displayed—what is her name? ________ What is her title? _______
2. Take a nickel (5¢) from your bag.
A. What type of animal is pictured? _________ B. Why do you think Canada chose this animal to represent the
country? ____________________________________ _________________________________________________
C. Now, flip the coin to the other side. Whose image is displayed? __________ D. Look above her face. Notice “D.G.
Regina.” Can you guess what that means? ___________________________________________________________
3. Take a dime (10¢) from your bag.
A. What is depicted on the back of the coin? __________ B. For what purpose do you think the Canadian people
utilized this ship?
__________________________________________________________________________________
C. Look at the other side of the coin. Whose image is displayed? ___________ Noticing a pattern yet?
4. Take a quarter (25¢) from your bag.
A. What type of animal is pictured? __________ (Look at its antlers closely—they don’t live in our area!)
B. Why do you think Canada chose this animal to represent the country? ____________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
C. Look at the other side of the coin!
5. Take a $1 coin from your bag.
A. Canadians call this coin a “loonie.” Why do they call it with this name? What type of animal is pictured?
________________________________________________________________________________________________
B. Why do you think Canada chose this animal to represent the country? ___________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
C. Look at the other side of the coin! You are probably figuring it out by now!
6. Take a $2 coin from your bag.
A. Canadians call this coin a “toonie.” Why do you think they call the coin with this name? ______________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
B. What type of animal is pictured? ___________ C. Why did Canada choose this animal to represent the country?
________________________________________________________________________________________________
[If you were the lucky group who received a coin with something else (in place of the animal), describe what is
depicted and what it means for Canadians.]
D. Look at the other side of the coin!
7. Who is depicted on the front side of all Canadian coins? ______________ Why did Canada decide to place her on each
coin? ___________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
8. Name at least 3 ways that Canadian coins are different from the coins of the United States. The first is really easy, but
you will have to think about the other two! (Do not rush through this question!)
1. _________________________________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________________________________________________
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9. Now, take a look at the $5 note in your bag.
A. Notice how it feels and looks different than we are accustomed to in the United States! In at least two sentences,
explain how it feels and appears different to you: _____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
B. Why do you think Canada took the “extra effort” to add so many unique features to this bill? _________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
C. Who is pictured on the front of the $5 note? What is his name, title, and years of service? ____________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
D. Turn to the back side of the $5 note. What is portrayed on this side? ____________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
E. What does this symbolize for Canadians? ___________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
10. Now, take a look at the color copy of the $10 note in your bag.
A. Who is pictured on the front of the $10 note? What is his name, title, and years of service? __________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
B. Turn to the back side of the $10 note. What is portrayed on this side? ____________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
C. What does this symbolize for Canadians? ___________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
11. Now, take a look at the color copy of the $20 note in your bag.
A. Who is pictured on the front of the $20 note?! ______________________________________________________
B. Turn to the back side of the $20 note. What is portrayed on this side? ____________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
C. What does this symbolize for Canadians? ___________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
12. Now, take a look at the color copy of the $50 note in your bag.
A. Who is pictured on the front of the $50 note? What is his name, title, and years of service? __________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
B. Turn to the back side of the $50 note. What is portrayed on this side? ____________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
C. What does this symbolize for Canadians? ___________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
13. Now, take a look at the color copy of the $100 note in your bag.
A. Who is pictured on the front of the $100 note? What is his name, title, and years of service? _________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
B. Turn to the back side of the $100 note. What is portrayed on this side? ___________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
C. What does this symbolize for Canadians? ___________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
14. Based on what you have examined of Canada’s coins and bank notes, what have you learned about this country?
How does it seem different from the U.S.? How does it seem similar to the United States? Explain in one fullydeveloped paragraph based on your observations of their currency and knowledge of American currency. Please use
a separate piece of paper for your paragraph and staple it to this worksheet.
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