In a ceremony on March 24, 2003, the United States Mint celebrated the release of the newest state quarter, at a ceremony in Tuscumbia, AL. The ceremony, held at Ivy Green, the birthplace of Helen Keller, marked the release of the twenty-second coin to be celebrated as a part of the 50 State Quarters® Program. This coin, however, has the distinction of being the first U.S. circulating coin to feature a reduced version of braille writing.
Teachers, below you will find several activities and links that will bring the excitement of Alabama's "State Quarter Day" into your classroom!
Alabama Quarter
Learn more about the latest quarter and the amazing woman who inspired it.
50 State Quarters Program
Find out more about this program that honors every state in America!
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 Alabama quarter: Using Your Senses (K–1), Special Traits (2–3), and Talk To Me (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.
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 Get a Clue About Collecting to Find the Hidden Coins that are a part of the 50 State Quarters Program.
Change is Good
Not only is Alabama's quarter the newest quarter to be released into circulation, but it is also the H.I.P. Pocket Change Coin of the Month for April 2003! See how April is closely related to the brave woman featured on the Alabama quarter reverse, then try out the new Teacher Feature, "A Change for the Best." Students will be challenged to look at history from a different point of view!
Connected Coins and Medals
The Alabama quarter reverse is only one of several coins which highlight the accomplishments of a very special woman. Read on to learn more about some other women whose lives have been honored by the United States Mint:
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Who was the first real person to be featured on a U.S. coin? Try again, Lady Liberty isn't a real person! The Isabella Commemorative Quarter, created for the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, was not only the first U.S. coin to picture a specific individual, but it's also the only U.S. coin to portray a woman on both of its sides. |
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Did you know that the United States Mint not only produces coins, but it makes medals too? Many of the medals that the Mint has developed over the years have honored some extremely special women. Take a look at these Women's History Medals to see a handful of these celebrated women and the important contributions they made to our society. |
Our Foreign Friends
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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). |
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Quarter Games
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Here's a challenge for your students! Put all the pieces of the Alabama quarter back together—in three minutes or less! |
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Are your students budding artists? Let them try their hands at painting the Alabama quarter. Paint the coin's field purple and its legend gold...let their imaginations run wild! |
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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!