In a ceremony on April 12, 2005, the United States Mint celebrated the release of Minnesota's quarter.  The ceremony held in St. Paul, Minnesota marked the release of the thirty-second state to be celebrated as a part of the 50 State Quarters® Program.

Teachers, below you will find several activities and links that will bring the excitement of Minnesota's "State Quarter Day" into your classroom!

Minnesota Quarter

Learn more about the new quarter and the "Land of 10,000 Lakes."

• For kids
• For adults

50 State Quarters Program

Find out more about this program that honors every state in America!

• For kids
• For adults

50 State Quarters Program Lesson Plans

The 50 State Quarters Program lesson plans are ready for you to use in your classroom!  Take a look at the lessons created specifically to celebrate the Minnesota quarter:  Lots of Lakes (K–1), What's in a Name? (2–3), and A Fish Story (4–6)!  After that, be sure to check out the rest of the state-specific plans, FREE to download in sets designed specifically for grades K and 1, 2 and 3, and 4 through 6.

Are you a secondary school teacher interested in introducing the 50 State Quarters Program into your curriculum?  Well, now you can!  Our 50 State Quarters Program lesson plans for grades 7 through 12 are also written by educators.  To download these FREE plans, visit the 50 State Quarters Program Lesson Plans today!

State Quarter Day Classroom Activities

Here are some fun ways to infuse your curriculum with activities that celebrate the arrival of the newest quarter in circulation!

Also, take a trip to Coin Collector's Workshop!  Here, you can enroll in Inspector Collector's Coin Course, or solve coin mysteries in Get a Clue About Collecting.  You can even learn How To Share Your Hobby!

Minnesota is Resourceful!

Not only is Minnesota's quarter the newest coin to be released into circulation, but it was also the April 2005 Coin of the Month.  Check it out and Flip the Mint Seal will explain why Minnesota's special design is worth celebrating.

"Seeing the States" WebQuest

What's so great about the United States?  Let your students find out for themselves as they explore the coins in the 50 State Quarters Program to complete this fun Internet research project, the "Seeing the States" WebQuest.

Connected Coins and Medals

The Minnesota quarter isn't the first coin to highlight water as a natural resource that brings natives and visitors alike to the shores of its state.  Take a look at some other coins that display water as a natural resource:

	2004 Michigan Quarter—Learn more about the "Great Lakes State."  Did you know that Michigan is the only state that touches four of the five Great Lakes?  As you might guess, there are lots of fans of boating and water sports there.
	2003 Missouri Quarter—This coin features the Mississippi River in St. Louis and the gigantic "Gateway to the West" arch that stands 630 feet above it.  St. Louis is the city that started out as a simple trading post for trappers.
	2003 Arkansas Quarter—Arkansas has an abundance of clear streams, rivers and lakes.  In fact, Arkansas has more than 600,000 acres of natural lakes.  It is fitting that the "Natural State," Arkansas's official nickname, chose images of natural resources.  Visitors to Arkansas can also search Crater of Diamonds State Park for precious gems including, of course, diamonds.

Our Foreign Friends

The coins produced for the 50 State Quarters Program share much in common with the European currency, the euro.  With your students, visit the interactive cartoon, Coins of the World, to see how these two programs are similar (here's a hint: look at the backs of euros from different countries, and then look at their fronts).

Quarter Games

	Your students can test their knowledge of United States geography and the 50 State Quarters Program, all while helping Bill the Mint Buffalo earn enough money to plan a cross-country trip.
	Here's a challenge for your students!  Put all the pieces of the Minnesota quarter back together—in three minutes or less!
	Are your students budding artists?  Let them try their hands at painting the Minnesota quarter.  An orange loon and a red boat?  Let your students' imaginations run wild!
	Here's a word search all about quarters and other coins.  Can your students find all the words on each list?

A Coinage Cartoon

Teachers' Network

Teachers, if we've piqued your interest with the activities above, please sign up for the Teachers' Network.  As a member, you can receive information about all of the new educational resources that become available from the United States Mint!