Money Bags

Money Bags - A Coin Counting Game

Money Bags Coin Game is the coin value game that helps you make sense of cents. Wind your way from start to finish, working on coin identification, coin value, adding coins and exchanging money of lesser value for greater value as you go.

This Money Bags game is an updated version of Learning Resources' original Money Bags game. The original is based on chores a kids might do and get paid for. This one doesn't exactly have a theme, but the board is designed somewhat like a Rube Goldberg machine. Other than the looks, they changed very little in this newer version.

The game board is colorful and has a 32 space path shaped like a dollar sign (see image below). There is a spinner built into the board. The spinner shows one quarter, one dime and one nickle, each with a red circle and line through them. Also on the spinner is a spaced marked Any Coins. This will tell you which coins you can or cannot use when counting our your money. Instructions for the spaces on the board include the following:

• Amount of money - Count out and take that much money from the bank. Amounts range from 11¢ to 55¢.
• 10¢ Change it Up space - You must exchange some of your money of lesser value for money of greater value. For instance, exchange 4 quarters for a dollar bill or two dimes and a nickel for a quarter. You will also earn 10¢ interest on this turn unless you can't exchange any money.
• Dollar sign space - You may take all the money on the MONEY BAGS image (more about this below). Replenish the money bag with 41¢ from the bank each time it is emptied.

Ten $1 dollar bills and 100 coins are included. There are 25 of each coin (penny, nickle, dime and quarter) and they are a lightweight plastic and have the raised lip around the edge. The instructions are printed in four different languages but the money is American only. The four pawns include two females and two males.

I actually like the original Money Bags game better because each space indicates a chore that you did to earn the money while the spaces on this game just show money amounts. With the other game you can take the opportunity to talk about chores, earning money, saving money, etc.

To see a list of games with money that I have blogged about, click here.

Object:
Be the person with the most money at the end of the game.

Set up:
Place one coin of each value on the money bags space (41¢). Place the rest of the money nearby, this is the bank. Each player chooses one pawn and places it on the Start space.

Play:
Players take turns. Throw the die, move that many spaces and note the amount of money that is printed on that space. Spin the the spinner to tell you which coin(s) you may or may not not use when counting out your money. Count out your money and place it near you. Play continues in this manner until someone reaches the finish line. All players now count the money they have accumulated and the one with the most money is the winner.

Try this:

• Sort the coins into piles by denomination before beginning the game. Say the name and value of each coin as you drop it into a pile.
• Assign the person who needs money practice to be the banker or let each person be his own banker and count out his own money.
• Count all the money in the box. How much is there? Put the coins in piles of $1.00 as you go for easy adding at the end.
• Pick up (or put) several coins in the hand for sorting. Bring one coin at a time to the fingertips to drop.
• Look for a nice rounded web space before flicking the arrow.
• Use different fingers to flick the arrow.
• Skip the spinning of the arrow and just advance around the board collecting money.
• Spin the arrow and then remove the coins not allowed from the bank, if the player has trouble understanding the concept at first.
• Skip the game, line up the coins on the table with the face side up. Put one coin in the players palm or a couple coins at the base of the fingers. Ask him to move coins, one at a time, to the finger tips, turn it to the correct side, and place it on the table.
• Make change for $1. See how many different ways you can do it. Pick up the coins one at a time as you count and squirrel them into the palm without dropping. When you get to $1 (or when you have so many coins you think you might drop some), lay the money on a $1 bill. Repeat. See how many $1 bills you can count change for before the bank runs out of change.
• Work on in-hand manipulation, manual dexterity, fine motor precision, palmar arch development, web space, finger isolation, thumb opposition, coin identification and value, adding coins, making change, money management, visual discrimination, spatial relations, executive functioning skills, socialization skills, process skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

In the box: 1 game board, 1 die, 100 plastic coins, 10 play dollar bills, 4 game markers

Ages 7+, 2-4 players


If you are interested in purchasing this game or just want more information, click on the image below.