The Money Counts Daisy leaf is part of the "Financial Literacy" badge set.
When a Girl Scout Daisy has earned this leaf, she will know more about money and what it's worth.
Activity #1: Treasure Hunt[]
Leaf Connection: Step 1—Understand the different kinds of coins Time Allotment: 20 minutes Materials Needed:
- Assorted coins (pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters)
- Posters or pictures of the coins with the names.
Steps:
- Hide coins throughout meeting space prior to girls’ arrival.
- Once all members of the troop have arrived, have girls search for the most money (coins)
they can find in five minutes.
- After five minutes, ask the girls to come back together and begin sorting the coins that they
found into four different groups.
- Have the girls present what they found to the group. Ask one girl to volunteer to
explain how she sorted her coins.
- Have the girls sort their coins by color. Continue to sort using different categories (such as, big vs. small, which way the heads face, smooth or bumpy edges).
- At the end of the activity, review each coin with its name.
Activity #2: Money Math[]
Leaf Connection: Step 1—Understand different kinds of coins and Step 2—Know more about paper money Time Allotment: 20 minutes Materials Needed:
- Coin Equivalents Worksheet (one per girl)
- Four quarters, 10 dimes, and 20 nickels for each girl*
Steps: 1. Discuss with girls the value of the different coins and visually show how certain coins
can add up to equal one separate coin.
- Explain to the girls that they will be figuring out how many quarters, dimes, and nickels
are needed to make a dollar. Provide each girl the worksheet and a set of coins.
- Challenge girls to figure out how many coins you need to have $5.00 in quarters, nickels, etc.
*Note: If needed, request families to send coinage needed for the activity with girl. Plan to have some extra for those who forgot.
Activity #3: Cost of Fun[]
Petal Connection: Step 3—Find out the cost of fun Time Allotment: 20 minutes Materials Needed:
- Coloring utensils
- Paper
Steps:
- Ask the girls to list things they do that cost money, such as go to a movie or eat at a
restaurant.
- Now ask the girls to each think of one thing they like to do that costs money. Have each
girl draw her “cost activity” on a sheet of paper.
- Have each girl share her drawing and activity with the group.
- Now challenge girls to think of activities they like to do that don’t cost money, such as play
at the park or go to the library.
- Ask girls to brainstorm activities they would like to do as a troop that cost money and
activities that are free. For activities that cost money, help girls understand how much
those activities would cost to do together.
- Optional: Have girls pick one activity from each list that they can do together as a troop this
year.