Coining Canada
Activities Grab Bag
When you visit the Royal Canadian Mint in Winnipeg, you will get to see exactly how the coins of Canada are created. You will also get to view displays of all of the coins that have been created throughout Canada’s history. In this activity, you will create your own Canadian coin.
Instructions:
As you witness how Canadian coins are created and you look at all of the designs used on Canadian coins over the years, see if you recognize any patterns. What types of pictures are found on Canadian coins? Are there people? If so, who are they and why are they important enough to put on a coin? Are animals found on Canadian coins? If so, what is their significance? What other symbols or designs do you see on the Canadian coins created over the years?After getting an idea of the types of pictures that are typically placed on Canadian coins, now it’s your turn to create your own designs and draw them on a piece of paper. You will be creating designs for the front and back of the penny, nickel, dime, and quarter.
There are many things you should think about when deciding what should be on each of these coins. Will you include people? If so, who will you include and why? Will you put the mountainous Canadian landscape found in some areas of the country on one of the coins? What about the animals? Will the symbols, people, or animals you draw for the coin increase in importance as the value of the coin increases, or will the coin value have nothing to do with your decision?
Keep in mind that the design you create would need to be placed on a small coin. You don’t have to make your drawing that small, but keep it simple enough that it could be shrunken down without losing its overall look. But, most of all, have fun with your creations!
Conclusion:
In this activity, you created your very own designs to be used on Canadian coins. Do you know how long it takes the Royal Canadian Mint to begin production of a coin after the design has been created?Supplies & Materials
-sketch pad or journal-pen or pencil
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My Trip
est. visit time: 0.0 hrs
Best Audience
Age: Children (4-8yrs), Pre-teen (9-12yrs)Duration: 45-60 minutes
Cognitive Level: 1-3 Grade, 4-6 Grade
Activity Level: Low
Attention Span: Low
When to do it: During Your Trip, On Location