Non-fiction: Making Cents

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Non-fiction: Making Cents Making Cents The Minting Process Learn how coins are made. Coins are made at U.S. Mint offices. A mint is a place that makes coins.

Making Blanks Getty Images (1) Large sheets of metal go through a machine that punches out circle shapes called blanks. The blanks are heated to make them soft.

1 Non-fiction: Making Cents Making Cents The Minting Process Learn how coins are made. Coins are made at U.S. Mint offices. A mint is a place that makes coins. Coin-making is called minting. Follow the steps below to learn how a sheet of metal becomes a pile of new coins. Making Blanks Getty Images (1) Large sheets of metal go through a machine that punches out circle shapes called blanks. The blanks are heated to make them soft. Then they are put in machines where they are washed, dried, and polished. Raising the Edges AP Images 1 Article: Copyright 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved. Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation. Used by permission.

Adding Details AP Images (3) The blanks go through a coining press. It presses both sides of each blank with pictures, words, and numbers.

2 Non-fiction: Making Cents (2) The blanks go through another machine that raises a tiny rim around the edge on each side. The rim protects the coin s design. It also makes the coins easier to stack on top of one another. Adding Details AP Images (3) The blanks go through a coining press. It presses both sides of each blank with pictures, words, and numbers. Checking for Mistakes AP Images Article: Copyright 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved. Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation. Used by permission. 2

Non-fiction: Making Cents (4) Workers check the design on each coin. A machine called a coin sizer makes sure each coin is the right shape. If a coin is not perfect, it does not leave the U.S. Mint.

3 Non-fiction: Making Cents (4) Workers check the design on each coin. A machine called a coin sizer makes sure each coin is the right shape. If a coin is not perfect, it does not leave the U.S. Mint. Counting and Bagging James L. Amos/Photo Researchers (5) A counting machine drops the coins into large cloth bags. The bags are taken to banks, where people get the shiny, new coins! Article: Copyright 2009 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved. Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation. Used by permission. 3

4 Questions: Making Cents Name: Date: Directions: Answer the following four questions based on the information in the passage. 1. Why is it important to have the edges of coins raised? 2. What is the third step in the process of making a coin at the U.S. Mint? 3. If you wanted a brand new quarter, where could you go to get one? 4. What is this passage mostly about? 1

5 Questions: Making Cents Directions: Please read the sentence below and then write the word or phrase that best answers the questions. The first answer has been provided for you. During step four of the minting process, workers check the design on each coin by using special glasses. Who? workers 5. (do) What? 6. When? 7. How? 2

6 Questions: Making Cents 8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. The edges of coins are raised, their designs are protected. A but B because C so Directions: Read the vocabulary word and definition below. Then answer questions 9 and 10. Vocabulary Word: mint (mint): a place that makes coins; to make coins; a peppermint flavor that comes from a certain plant. 9. Read the sentences below and underline all forms of the word mint. a. Workers at the mint had to wear gloves so that they did not smudge the coins. b. My grandmother loves the fresh taste of mint, so we buy her peppermint-flavored candies on Valentine s Day. c. If you have ever seen newly minted coins, you know how shiny they are! d. A girl did a research project on the U.S. Mint and shared her findings with the class. e. Banks depend on U.S. Mint offices to supply them with coins. 10. Which picture does NOT show a minted coin? 3

7 Teacher Guide and Answer Key: Making Cents Teacher Guide and Answer Key Passage Reading Level: Lexile 700 Featured Text Structure: Sequence the writer provides an order of events or steps in a process Passage Summary: The passage describes the five steps in the process of making coins at U.S. Mint offices. To the Teacher: Read the passage aloud to the class [TIP: while reading aloud, show the passage on a whiteboard or give all students a copy of the passage so that they can follow along]. Then, use the text-dependent questions 1-8 to facilitate a whole class discussion to ensure students comprehend the key details from the passage. Finally, use questions 9-10 to deep-teach one important vocabulary word [TIP: you can use the model provided for teaching additional vocabulary]. 1. Why is it important to have the edges of coins raised? [Important Detail] Suggested answer: The rim protects the coin s design. It also makes the coins easier to stack on top of one another. [paragraph 3] 2. What is the third step in the process of making a coin at the U.S. Mint? [Important Detail] Suggested answer: After the coins have rims added, the third step is going through a coining press. It presses both sides of each blank coin with pictures, words, and numbers. [paragraph 4] 3. If you wanted a brand new quarter, where could you go to get one? [Inferential] Suggested answer: You could go to a bank, where people get shiny, new coins. [paragraph 6] 4. What is this passage mostly about? [Main Idea] Suggested answer: The article is about how coins are made (minted). It walks the reader through the five steps of the minting process. 1

8 Teacher Guide and Answer Key: Making Cents Directions: Please read the sentence below and then write the word or phrase that best answers the questions. The first answer has been provided for you. During step four of the minting process, workers check the design on each coin by using special glasses. Who? workers 5. (do) What? check the design on each coin 6. When? during step four of the minting process 7. How? by using special glasses 8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. The edges of coins are raised, their designs are protected. A but B because C so To the Teacher: ReadWorks recommends that you teach this vocabulary word to the whole class out loud using the four steps listed below. Vocabulary Word: mint (mint): a place that makes coins; to make coins; a peppermint flavor that comes from a certain plant. Step 1: Introduce the word a. Teacher writes the word on the board and divides it into syllables: (mint) b. Teacher says: This word is mint. What is the word? [All students reply together out loud: mint. ] Step 2: Provide a child-friendly definition a. Teacher says: A mint is a place that makes coins. You can also mint coins, which means to make them. So mint can be a place or the act of making coins. Mint is also a peppermint flavor that comes from a certain type of plant. 2

9 Teacher Guide and Answer Key: Making Cents b. Teacher says: The word mint is used in the passage when talking about where and how coins are made. Coins made at the U.S. Mint go through five steps. c. Teacher says: What is the word? [All students reply together out loud: mint. ] Step 3: Practice the word Teacher provides examples and additional opportunities to repeat the word. Read the first sentence out loud to your students. Begin reading it again and when you come to the vocabulary word prompt students to say the vocabulary word out loud. Then, finish reading the sentence out loud to your students. Directions: Read the vocabulary word and definition below. Then answer questions 9 and 10. Vocabulary Word: mint (mint): a place that makes coins; to make coins; a peppermint flavor that comes from a certain plant. 9. Read the sentences below and underline all forms of the word mint. a. Workers at the mint had to wear gloves so that they did not smudge the coins. b. My grandmother loves the fresh taste of mint, so we buy her peppermint-flavored candies on Valentine s Day. c. If you have ever seen newly minted coins, you know how shiny they are! d. A girl did a research project on the U.S. Mint and shared her findings with the class. e. Banks depend on U.S. Mint offices to supply them with coins. Step 4: Check for student understanding To the Teacher: This step can be completed as a whole class activity or as an independent practice. 10. Which picture does NOT show a minted coin? Suggested Additional Vocabulary: metal, coins, blanks, polished, rim, coining press, coin sizer, counting machine 3

Colorful Crayons: Inside a Crayon Factory

Non-fiction: Colorful Crayons: Inside a Crayon Factory Colorful Crayons: Inside a Crayon Factory If you are like most kids, you've probably drawn a picture with crayons. Have you ever wondered how crayons