Fall for Financial Literacy
Connect students to money and financial literacy through books.
Monthly Mint Trivia: Peter the Eagle is a featured character in the U.S. Mint Coin Classroom. Where did the real Peter the Eagle live?
Financial Literacy Books
The U.S. Mint has several lesson plans that use books to introduce money-related concepts. Read on for a list of helpful texts you can use in your classroom alongside a lesson or on its own.
Below are some of the many books that can help students learn about money and financial concepts. Most of these can be found at a local library or have a read aloud video available online for free.
- Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina (Grades K-2)
- Lemonade in Winter by Emily Jenkins (Grades K-2)
- Monster Money by Grace MacCarone (Grades K-3)
- Money Madness by David Adler (Grades K-3)
- The Great Pet Sale by Mick Inkpen (Grades K-4)
- The Go-Around Dollar 1 by Barbara Adams (Grades K-4)
- Pigs Will Be Pigs by Amy Axelrod (Grades 1-3)
- The Lunch Line (Hello Math Reader, Level 3) by Karen Berman Nagel (Grades 2-4)
Additional resources for using books to explore financial concepts:
- Money As You Grow Bookshelf (Consumer Finance Protection Bureau): Contains books and reading guides for kids from ages 4 to 10 years old.
- Money Monsters (Consumer Finance Protection Bureau): Short stories targeted to young students that explain saving, investing, and more.
- Financial Literacy Portal Children’s Books that Teach Financial Lessons (Missouri State Treasurer): Showcases books, read aloud videos, and lessons that teach various financial concepts.
- Carnival Thrills and Dollar Bills (U.S. Currency): A free printable or hard copy book about U.S. currency for elementary students.
Want more ideas? Reach out to education.outreach@usmint.treas.gov for recommendations on lesson plans and activities for your students.
Coin of the Month: Nina Otero-Warren Quarter
The Nina Otero-Warren Quarter is the fourth coin in the American Women Quarters™ Program. Nina Otero-Warren was a leader in New Mexico’s suffrage movement and the first female superintendent of Santa Fe public schools.
Otero-Warren emphasized the necessity of using the Spanish language in the suffrage fight in order to reach Hispanic women. She also spearheaded the lobbying effort to ratify the 19th Amendment in New Mexico.
The obverse (heads) depicts a portrait of George Washington, originally composed and sculpted by Laura Gardin Fraser to mark George Washington’s 200th birthday. The reverse (tails) features an image of Nina Otero-Warren on the left, flanked by three individual Yucca flowers – New Mexico’s state flower.
Coloring Pages
Battle of Coins
Textile Tales
We Want to Hear from You!
Are you interested in incorporating coins into your classroom next year, but aren’t sure where to start? Let us help you! The U.S. Mint offers K-6 lesson plans, online educational games, videos, online quizzes, a free Coin Coloring Book, and other resources. Reach out to us at education.outreach@usmint.treas.gov to request resources that fit your education needs.
Trivia Answer: Peter the Eagle lived at the Philadelphia Mint.