A Penny Wise Lesson for Young Learners: A Teachable Moment in the Common Penny

While it isn't necessary for a parent to assume the role of a classroom teacher to their child, it is necessary for a parent to recognize and use a teachable moment when one presents itself. An occurrence as common as finding a copper penny lying on the ground provides every parent an opportunity to become a parent-teacher. Nurturing a child's innate curiosity is a fundamental step in preparing the child for success in the formal education process. Sometimes all it takes is a penny. How often do you see a discarded penny lying on the parking lot or on the sidewalk, or lying forgotten in the return change slot? Most children are excited to find a shiny penny lying on the ground waiting to be discovered and picked up. To a child the penny is a tiny treasure! They have expressed an interest in something, so take that interest and expand on it.

Capture your child's excitement and turn it into a teachable moment. Ask your child if they know whose image is on the front of the penny. Ask if they know what the words or numbers are. Ask them why they think the penny is shiny or dull. Resting in that newly found coin is a whole world waiting to be explored. And, we adults should have a handful of facts ready to share without even thinking too hard.

For example:
Most of us know the image on the penny is of Abraham Lincoln.
Honest Abe's image has been on our penny since 1909.
He was the 16th president of the United States of America.
Mr. Lincoln was a tall man who wore a tall stovepipe hat.
Our 16th president enjoyed reading so much that he often read by candle light.
When he was president, he wrote a famous speech on the back of an envelope while riding on a train.
Someday your child may read that speech in school.
Mr. Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation that freed the slaves.

Some pennies will be shiny others will be darker. We all know a little bit about copper; and with a little preparation you can expand your knowledge just enough to impress your child and perhaps start him or her on a lifelong quest for knowledge.

The copper penny is not truly a copper penny anymore; but for the sake of this example, I will use that terminology. But, your child will probably have seen both a shiny penny and a dull one so the question of their difference will surely arise.

You can tell your child that a penny starts out shiny then, as it ages or gets older, air turns it darker. This process is called oxidation. In moist air copper slowly forms a greenish surface film (usually a mixture of carbonate, sulfate, hydroxide, and oxide) called patina; this coating protects the metal from further attack by the air. People who enjoy arts and crafts often speed up this process because they like the look of patina.

Make a demonstration of how a penny changes from shiny to dull come alive easily in your own kitchen. You can demonstrate a quick example of oxidation by cutting an apple in half and leaving it exposed to air for a few hours or overnight. Eat the other half of the apple with your child while continuing to talk about the wonders of the common penny.

If your older child shows some interest in the coin's metallurgical/chemical properties, you can go deeper into the makeup of the penny. Usually children want to see what other metals or fruits will 'oxidize' quickly after seeing the apple turn brown.

Here is some deeper information about our penny with which to amaze your young learner. The present composition of our one-cent coin today is 97.5% Zinc and 2.5% copper.

Copper is an abundant metallic element found in many places, often in the form of nugget buried in the earth.

Copper has a characteristic reddish-brown coloration.

When copper is pure it is very malleable and ductile and can be rolled into sheets, hammered into thin leaves, and drawn into wire because it is so soft.

Copper is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. Copper is often used to make wiring for motors and other devices.

Copper was such a valuable find to early man that it even had a time period of history named after it: the Copper Age.

Small amounts of elemental copper are found near Lake Superior in Michigan. Copper ore is also mined in several locations here in the United States including Arizona, Utah, Montana, New Mexico, and Nevada. Copper ore deposits are also found in Canada, Chile, Peru, South Central Africa, the Ural Mountains in Russia, and to a limited extent, in Europe and the British Isles. But, America is the largest producer of copper in the world.

During the early 1970s, the price of copper rose to a point where the penny almost contained more than one cent's worth of copper. The price of copper later returned to profitable levels but continues to fluctuate. The United States Mint did not need to change the cent's composition until 1982.

On the periodic table of elements (that ubiquitous chart that scientists' having hanging on a wall) Zinc is listed as Zn and its Atomic Number is 30 and Copper is listed at Cu and its Atomic Number is 29.

If your child likes to draw or color here's your chance to build on that artistic interest. Ask your child if he or she would like to design our money someday. Tell them that someone had to design the penny, so someday you may have the chance to decide what money looks like. Have your child draw for you what they would make the penny look like. Have them copy the profile of Mr. Lincoln on a piece of typing paper.

The penny's obverse side has featured the profile of President Abraham Lincolnn since 1909, the centennial (one hundredth anniversary) of his birth. This obverse side was designed by Victor David Brenner.
Since 1959, the sesquicentennial (one hundred and fiftieth anniversary) of Lincoln's birth, the penny's reverse side has featured the Lincoln Memorial building in Washington, D.C. This reverse side was designed by Frank Gasparro.
The following types of penny coins have been produced with a distinctive style that someone had to design: Flowing Hair Chain 1793; Flowing Hair Wreath 1793; Liberty Cap 1793-1796; Draped Bust 1796-1807; Classic Head 1808-1814; Coronet 1816-1839; Braided Hair 1839-1857; Flying Eagle 1856-1858; Indian Head 1859-1909; Lincoln Wheat Ears 1909-1958; Lincoln Memorial 1959-present.
Throughout its history, the Lincoln cent has featured several fonts (typeface or letter styles) for the date, but most of the digits have been old-style numerals. Until recently President Lincoln was the only person to be depicted on both the obverse and reverse of the same United States coin. This changed with the release of New Jersey state quarter in 1999, which depicts George Washington (our very first President) crossing the Delaware River on the reverse side.
For planned changes in 2009 the cent will get a one-year, four-coin commemorative program marking the 100th anniversary of Lincoln being placed on the cent. This redesign was passed as part of the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005. In 2010, the cent will be completely redesigned, with a new, permanent design being released into circulation. Lincoln, however, will remain on the cent. Perhaps your young artist will be selected for the next makeover of this venerable coin.
You can sneak in a math lesson as well. A penny is worth one cent as we all know. You can make a penny equal one step as well. For example, let us say you find this copper colored teachable moment on the way into the store or returning to the car. Help your child count their steps to the destination, then when you get home give them pennies equal to their counted steps. Count the pennies out systematically, step by step, one by one.
Now, depending on how many steps your child counted-five or more, turn the individual pennies into nickels or dimes or quarters. Show them that five pennies equal a single nickel or ten pennies (or two nickels) equal a single dime. This is not about money, but rather, counting and comparison. Beginning a piggy bank of savings could enhance the moment with the bank providing a daily reminder of today's 'lessons'.
This simple act of comparison can end with results that your child can hold in hand or jingle in pocket. Of course, this may result in your young learner asking why nickels and dimes are a different color than the penny or why is a dime smaller than the penny but has more value. Don't worry; you've thought ahead so you are expecting these questions and you will be prepared in advance to answer them.
If your young learner can read they might want to know about the words on the penny. The coin has the word LIBERTY in prominence. You can easily explain what that word means to you.

The motto, IN GOD WE TRUST, appeared for the first time on a coin of this denomination. The United States Congress passed an Act on March 3, 1865, authorizing the use of this expression on our coins during Lincoln's tenure of office.

Curving around the upper border is the national motto, E PLURIBUS UNUM, which means "Out of Many. One." This motto was first used on our coins in 1795. By law, it became a requirement on United States coins in 1873.
All of these words/mottos give you a chance to talk with your child and address their meanings in the manner you feel appropriate.

Lastly, we flip the coin over and take a look at the reverse side where we see the Lincoln Memorial. This side of the coin can provide an opportunity to talk to your child about geography, monuments, government, and, why people thought President Lincoln was so important that they built this special building to honor him. Depending on how curious your son or daughter is this one conversation could inspire them, in time, to pursue learning about: U.S. presidents, money, metallurgy, chemistry, construction, government, politics, and more.

This example of using a simple penny is designed to show you how easy, with just a little thought, or preparation, it is for you to maximize a teachable moment and open your child's doors of perception. Also, at this age you are in complete control of what your child learns. In essence, a teachable moment is nothing more that an impromptu lesson you deliver in response to a young learner's question or obvious interest. Whether academic or behavioral, you can set the stage for your child's future by simple actions involving everyday events.

This one example describes how you as a parent or guardian can maximize a teachable moment with your child. Pulling from your memory what you already know about a penny shouldn't have disrupted your day or put you on the spot-too much. With just a little preparation, based on what you know about your own child's interests, you can maximize teachable moments with just a little research into your child's interest areas.

Can you imagine the day your student comes home from school eager to tell you what he or she learned in school today? Wouldn't it be great to ask your student, "How was school today?" and get a real answer rather than a grunt?

It is important that you are not afraid of your young learner asking you a hard question. One of those tough questions you don't know the answer to. Honestly, I'm not very strong in math, but I know the value of being able to do basic math needed for everyday living. Be honest and tell your child what you do know or admit that you can't recall the answer from memory. Show your young learner that there are some answers even Mommies and Daddies don't know; let them know its okay to look an answer up in a book or on the calculator. Explain to your child that this is one time when answers to questions must be looked up, either in books or on the internet. It's a fantastic chance to enlarge their world view and show your young learner it is good to look up new things.

Look up the answer to their question right then, together, while the question and the desire to know the answer are fresh and active in your child's inquisitive mind. There will be few times better spent, and perhaps even fewer actions that show so clearly you approve of your child's desire to learn.

This is just one example of a teachable moment that won't disrupt your life's daily schedule, but rather show you how to find teachable moments in every day events. Of course, to get the most out of everyday situations, you will need to a make a few changes; but the rewards will be worth the change.

Some examples of simple changes include recording your favorite TV show to watch later that night, fast-forwarding through all of the annoying commercials as a bonus for you. Join the on-line gaming a little later in the evening than usual-after your young one is sound asleep. Call your auntie/sweetie/sibling/buddy and tell them you are spending six to seven o'clock each evening with your child in a telephone/distraction free time. Talk to your child rather than on the cell phone during the part of your commute that you share each day.

Writing out the bills, playing games, chatting, and watching TV programs can be delayed but you cannot delay the growth or education of your child.

Spend a few minutes with your child looking for answers on the internet or at the local library exploring printed books and exhibits. As you and your child continue this practice of togetherness the time shared doing these activities will become enjoyable and rewarding for both of you. As your child enters the formal education process, the foundational learning skills and parental influence you have built over the years may be the edge your child needs to take full advantage of, and thrive during, the formal education years. Your goal should not be for your child to simply survive school, but to thrive in school and in life after school.

It is a big, wide, extraordinary world we live in. It is full of technological and natural wonders we adults often take for granted; and sadly, it is full of wonders that many schoolchildren never give more than a passing thought about. You, and other concerned parents like you, can begin the transformation away from that limited mindset right now. All it takes is embracing teachable moments and making them count.

Parents with children about to enter school need to begin paying attention to the local news stories about education and school board information. Parents are bombarded with polls and media stories that range from frightening to disheartening with an occasional success story tossed in to the mix. American education is in a testing frenzy and it is showing no signs of changing. Even students in the lowest elementary grades are being evaluated on standardized tests. Merit pay and bonus pay plans, the return of twenty-first century segregation experiments, yearly 'breakthrough' pilot programs, national and local political agendas, and cronyism all affect the formal education process. All of these distractions also affect the classroom teacher who does the professional teaching of your child. It is up to you to prepare your young learner for the classroom turmoil they will face.

Countless long-term studies show that parents reduce their interaction time with children as the children grow up, especially in areas involving school. If you start practicing these simple suggestions now, positive interaction should become second nature as you and your child experience life together. The BIG BONUS for you is that, if you are open minded, you will begin to see the world through the eyes of a child; and for those few moments, you can feel the stress, cynicism, and malaise fall away from you.

So, the bottom line is: IF YOU WANT YOUR CHILD TO SUCCEED, OR THRIVE, IN SCHOOL, AND ON INTO LIFE, YOU, THE PARENT, MUST PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT EARLY ROLE IN THE CHILD'S LIFE. YOU MUST PLAY THE ROLE OF EXCITER.

If you can excite your child about learning and using that knowledge at an early age you have given your child an edge that will directly aid classroom teacher no matter how tumultuous the classroom is or how inane the current education policies seem to be.

The adage, "If it's going to be, it's up to me" is at no time truer than preparing your child for the gauntlet he or she will face during the formal education process.