Article
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Infographic,

Hidden Secrets of the Dollar Bill

It’s not just lunch money, it’s a snapshot of America!

From the September 2019 Issue
Featured Skill: Main Idea and Supporting Details,
Common Core Standards
  • Anchor Standards
    R.1, R.2, R.6, R.8, W.1, W.4, W.10, SL.1, L.3
  • Grade 4
    RI.4.1, RI.4.2, RI.4.6, RI.4.8, W.4.1, W.4.4, W.4.10, SL.4.1, L.4.3
  • Grade 5
    RI.5.1, RI.5.2, RI.5.6, RI.5.8, W.5.1, W.5.4, W.5.10, SL.5.1, L.5.3
  • Grade 6
    RI.6.1, RI.6.2, RI.6.6, RI.6.8, W.6.1, W.6.4, W.6.10, SL.6.1, L.6.3
TEKS Standards
  • Grade 4
    4.9d; 4.12b
  • Grade 5
    5.9d; 5.12, b
  • Grade 6
    6.8d; 6.11b

Presentation View
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iStockPhoto/Getty Images

This mighty bird is a bald eagle, America’s national symbol. Congress chose it because it represents strength and courage.

Before America was a country, it was 13 colonies owned by England. Many images on the bill are in sets of 13, like the shield’s stripes. Can you find others?

iStockPhoto/Getty Images

This is the symbol of the Department of the Treasury, the part of the government that makes our money. Every year, it prints nearly 2.5 billion dollar bills—enough to wrap around Earth nine times. 

iStockPhoto/Getty Images

This guy is George Washington—our first president! His face was added to the dollar bill in 1869. 

iStockPhoto/Getty Images

These are Roman numerals, an ancient way of writing numbers. They translate to 1776—the year America declared independence from England.

Write to Win!

Imagine your cousin Mina is coming to visit America for the first time. She’s never seen a dollar bill before! Using information from the infographic, write her a letter explaining some of its symbols. Send it to “Dollar Contest”  by November 1, 2019. Five winners will each receive a Storyworks prize. See our Contest Page for more details.

This article was originally published in the September 2019 issue.  


Activities (2)
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
Activities (2) Download All Activities
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
Can't-Miss Teaching Extras

Are your kids eager to learn more about U.S. currency? This website from the U.S. Mint was created especially for kids and is filled with fun facts, games, and activities to help them learn all about coins. Be sure to check out the video showing how coins are made.

The U.S. Currency Education Program provides lesson plans about a variety of topics related to U.S. currency, with ways to teach math, social studies, art, and more.    

More About the Story

Skills

reading for information, evaluating    

Complexity Factors

Purpose

The infographic provides information about the $1 bill.  

Structure

Information is presented using text, images, and numbers.

Language

The language is conversational.

Knowledge Demands 

The infographic refers to “Congress” and “colonies” without explanation. 

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

1. Reading and Discussing 

Project the infographic as students follow along in their magazines.

Prompt students to use the headline, subhead, and central image to identify the topic of the infographic.

Ask: Is the purpose of the infographic to

  • explain something to you?
  • convince you of something?
  • tell you how to do something?

Have students look over the labels and images surrounding the central image. Ask:

  • How are they related to the central image? (They provide details about the main idea.)

Break students into groups to read each section of the infographic and discuss what they find interesting, surprising, or convincing.

Come back together as a class and ask volunteers to summarize the main idea and supporting details from the infographic.

2. Writing

Preview the writing prompt in the “Write to Win” box.

Download and distribute the guided-writing activity that goes along with the infographic.

Have students respond to the writing prompt. If you wish, send their responses to our infographic contest. 

Ideas to Engage and Inspire

Have students create their own infographics! Download our “Make Your Own Infographic” activity.

Text-to-Speech