In a ceremony on October 25, 2004, the United States Mint celebrated the release of Wisconsin's quarter.  The ceremony, held at the State Fair Grounds in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, marked the release of the thirtieth 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 Wisconsin's "State Quarter Day" into your classroom!

Wisconsin Quarter

Learn more about the new quarter and how Wisconsin values its "Foundation in Education".

• 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 Wisconsin quarter:  Goods For You (K–1), Being Resourceful (2–3), and In Great Demand (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!

Wisconsin is Wonderful!

Not only is Wisconsin's quarter the newest coin to be released into circulation, but it was also the Coin of the Month for October 2004!  See why Wisconsin's special design is worth celebrating, then check out the new Teacher Feature, "Flower or Flour?".  In this teacher feature, your students will learn to identify and use homophones.

"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 Wisconsin quarter isn't the first coin to celebrate a region's agriculture.  Take a look at some other coins that honor the agricultural strengths of a particular state or region:

	Georgia Quarter—The "Peach State" boasts a long agricultural history.  Currently, Georgia yields almost one half of the peanuts produced each year in the United States and ranks third in the country for peach production.
	Vermont Quarter—Vermont is famous for its maple syrup.  But did you know that dairy makes up about 75% of Vermont's agricultural income?  And almost all of Vermont's dairy products are exported to other states!
	Arkansas Quarter—Arkansas celebrates all of its natural resources on this quarter design.  Farmlands make up about half of the state of Arkansas.  In addition, agricultural crops (like soybeans and rice) constitute about 40% of the state's income.
	Indian Head Nickel—American buffalo (or bison) were an incredibly important agricultural resource to American Indians in early American days.  Bison meat provided food and the hides yielded warm clothing and shelter.

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 Wisconsin quarter back together—in three minutes or less!
	Are your students budding artists?  Let them try their hands at painting the Wisconsin quarter.  A purple cow and orange ear of corn?  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!