Five of the coins in circulation have the head of a United States president printed on the front. Show an example of each of the five coins to the the students in your class and ask them to choose one president, such as Abraham Lincoln or George Washington, to study. Ask them to research the life and accomplishments of this president and write a short report about that person. Combine the various reports and create a class book to read aloud.
Create a pretend store in your classroom. Place price tags on various items throughout your class. For example, you may decide to charge a dime for a pencil. Give the students fake coins and ask them to purchase items at the store. Assign one student to be the store owner, and allow him to practice making change. Ask students to record their transactions so that you can check their math after the activity is completed.
The United States released a quarter representing every state in the Union. Assign each student in the class a different state or allow him to choose his favorite. Be sure that once a state is claimed, another student cannot choose the same one. Have the student research the history of the state and create a poster containing information on that state's history, flag and flower. Allow each student to present his poster and display it in the room.
Coins have changed throughout time, both in amount and look. Divide students into small groups and assign them a decade such as the 1920s or 1940s. Ask them to research coins in that era and then write a report. Have them include pictures or drawings of coins along with a visual description of them. Combine the reports and illustrations and create a class book called "Coins Throughout Time."