by James Johnson

Created on: July 12, 2009   Last Updated: July 14, 2009

Money, money, money! In the current world economy it is becoming of increasing importance with nobody having enough, especially teachers and schools. A bulletin board is often used to address themes of importance and that can include money. One proposed theme is currency, but how does one do a currency theme for school children? Should it focus on the evolution of currency and how it has changed over time? Maybe it should focus on the various currencies from around the world? Either subject can be a challenge for a bulletin board theme.

The evolution of currency could show how people started using funds and money to replace the old bartering system. The iron, gold and precious metal got a bit heavy for the average person to carry around. If you wanted to buy something big or expensive, you needed a wheel-barrow to complete the transaction, so IOU's started. Show this on the board. As IOU's started to become common, governments got involved and started issuing "notes" to guarantee payment and currency came into being.

Sounds like a boring and simple theme, but get the students involved! Have them first try to draw pictures of how many cows need to be traded for an expensive house or estimate the weight of gold one needs to buy a painting by Rembrandt! Use the drawings on your board. Then have them sketch or "forge" bills of different currency, it will be safer and easier than putting on real currency. It will also teach them about the importance of detail!

Currency from around the world can be exciting for the students as well. Give each child a different country and have them look up the currency used in that part of the world. They can then draw it and all the "bills" collected. Put a central theme in the centre of the board with a set amount of money, 100 dollars of the currency in the country in which you live, show how much it can buy. Then post exchange rates, if you are really energetic you can even post daily fluctuations. Compare the Euro with the Canadian Dollar with the US Dollar and the British Pound Sterling. This will show how currency not only changes shape and size, but value over time.

These are two complex currency themes that can be done on bulletin boards. They do require thought and effort that may be difficult for younger children to understand. Maybe a currency theme for primary school isn't the best idea, but try it anyway.

Learn more about this author, James Johnson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.