Member-only story
The Coin Game
A simple game for kids that teaches math, strategy, and history
Most of us have a jar of coins hanging around the house. That, a cup, and a rug or a towel are all you need for this game.
Put the coins into the cup. Randomly select one coin from the cup. Note the date of that coin and keep it out as a reminder. Call this coin “The Keeper.”
Preferably the cup is not transparent so that players cannot see the coins. Choose one player to go first. That player attempts to dump exactly six coins from the cup.
If they dump less, they can keep trying. If more than six spill out, all but five coins must go back into the cup.
The player to the left puts the excess coins back, choosing whichever coins they wish, leaving just five on the floor or table. This gives the incentive not to dump more than six coins.
Next, all coins without a date showing on their “up” side have to go back into the cup. The player will pick up and keep any coins that have dates within one year of each other. They also keep any coin that is showing a date fifteen or more years older than the Keeper coin. Additionally, they keep any coin showing their birth year. All the rest go back to the cup and the next player gets their turn.
