How Do You Use Foreign Coins To Teach Across The Curriculum?
Excellent teachers can turn one simple item into the inspiration for an entire thematic unit that teaches lessons from every subject in the curriculum. Not only does this serve to emphasize the importance of the lesson, it also helps students grasp the lesson by appealing to different student interests and different learning styles. Something as simple as a foreign coin collection can easily be turned into multiple lessons in all of the core subjects. Study the history of the country that the coins came from. Learn how the currency has changed since the country began minting its money, and have students do presentations on the symbols that appear on the money, noting why they are important to the country and its history. Discuss the major exports and businesses from the country, and learn about the government and its policies. Assign the students to be representatives from the different branches of the foreign country, and have them work through passing legislation about adopting a new
