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In a ceremony on January 26th, 2004, the United States Mint celebrated the release of the newest state quarter, in Lansing, Michigan. The ceremony, held in the Capitol Building on Michigan's birthday, marked the release of the twenty-sixth state to be celebrated as a part of the 50 State Quarters® Program.
Teachers, below you will find several activities and links that will bring the excitement of Michigan's "State Quarter Day" into your classroom!
Michigan Quarter
Learn more about the latest quarter and the natural resources that 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 Michigan quarter: A Coin Out Of Water (K–1), How To Make A Lake (2–3), and Introducing Industries (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.
Are you a secondary school teacher interested in introducing the 50 State Quarters Program into your curriculum? Well, now you can! Our 50 State Quarters Program lesson plans for grades 7 through 12 are also written by educators. To download these FREE plans, visit the 50 State Quarters Program Lesson Plans today!
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.
A Pleasant Peninsula
Not only is Michigan's quarter the newest coin to be released into circulation, but it is also the Coin of the Month for January! See why this month is perfect for celebrating Michigan's special design, then try out the new Teacher Feature, "I Hear An 'A'". Students will explore Michigan's quarter design and the long 'a' sound.
"Seeing the States" WebQuest
What's so great about the United States? Let your students find out for themselves as they explore the coins in the 50 State Quarters Program to complete this fun Internet research project, the "Seeing the States" WebQuest.
Connected Coins and Medals
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Did you know one of our presidents was from Michigan? That's right, former President Gerald Ford grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He and his wife, Betty, received a Congressional Gold Medal in 1998 for their service to the American public. Both Gerald and Betty Ford dedicated their lives to helping those who needed it most. Michigan isn't the only quarter design in the 50 State Quarters Program that features a body of water. Can you figure out which body of water is included in each of the following designs? |
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Maine This quarter shows the lighthouse at Pemaquid Point. Congress paid to have the lighthouse built six years after Maine became a state (1826), and the light still guides ships around the shoals in its bays. |
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Missouri This coin commemorates Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery and features the Gateway Arch, built in 1865. Missouri played an important part in Lewis and Clark's journey, as it was the starting point of their exploration. |
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Rhode Island The Rhode Island quarter honors the "Ocean State" and its most popular sport with a sailboat gliding through the bay, past the Pell Bridge, which links the towns of Newport and Jamestown. |
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Virginia The Virginia quarter honors our nation's oldest colony, Jamestown, VA. The three ships on the coin—Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery—brought the first English colonists here in the spring of 1607. |
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New Jersey This coin design is based on a famous painting by Emmanuel Leutz, depicting General George Washington leading his troops across a river during the Revolutionary War. Do you know which river is portrayed on this coin? |
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 Michigan 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 Michigan quarter. A purple lake and orange land? Let your students' 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!