History of Money Lesson for Kids - Lesson | Study.com (2024)

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InstructorDavid WilsonShow bio

David has taught college history and holds an MA in history.

Modern money is typically in the form of paper notes or metal coins, but this was not always the case. Follow the history of money transactions from trading, silver and gold, and paper money to modern uses of electronic and digital currency.Updated: 06/28/2023

Table of Contents

  • Trading
  • Silver and Gold
  • Paper Money
  • The End of Money
  • Lesson Summary
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When was the last time you bought a candy bar or a can of soda? Imagine if money didn't exist and you had to trade for a snack instead of buying it with dollars. You'd have to find out what the store owner wanted, like gasoline for their car or a new jacket, then find a way to trade for those items as well.

Our money serves as a replacement so that nobody has to trade for what they want. In the U.S., we use dollars and cents for our money.

The use of money dates back thousands of years. About 3,000 years ago, China developed the use of miniature metals as a system of trade. At first, they created small symbols out of bronze, which is a mix of copper and tin metal. For instance, you could trade a bronze symbol of a shovel for a real shovel. Eventually their symbols became circles, creating the first coins.

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  • 0:04 Trading
  • 0:49 Silver and Gold
  • 1:27 Paper Money
  • 2:05 The End of Money
  • 2:35 Lesson Summary

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Around 2,500 years ago, other places outside of China began creating coins out of precious metals. Some of the first silver and gold coins in history appeared in Turkey and Greece around 500 BC. Since silver and gold are both rare, these coins had a lot of value. Only the richest people living in the ancient world would have had gold coins.

Kings stamped their faces on coins so that everyone would know the coin was not a counterfeit, meaning a fake. The first values of coins were also set down. For instance, we know that a Greek silver obol coin could buy a loaf of bread, while a nice pair of shoes would cost about ten larger drachma coins.

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When the Italian explorer Marco Polo traveled all the way across Asia to reach China in the 1200s, he found a crazy sight. People paid for everything using paper money! China had moved on from heavy coins made of metal to light paper.

Our dollars today say 'In God We Trust', but the paper cash that Marco Polo saw said 'Counterfeiters Will Be Beheaded.' Marco Polo brought the idea back to Europe, but it wasn't until 400 years later that paper money became popular.

Banks began issuing pieces of paper promising coins instead of coins themselves. This led to the development of credit, which means borrowing money with the promise to pay it back.

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Paper cash remains popular today, but new technology has began to make it even easier to spend money. Credit cards, invented in the 1950s, became very popular.

All you need to do is swipe a credit card, and the merchant will notify the bank. The bank pays the merchant for you and sends you a bill at the end of the month. Then you pay the bank back.

Smart phones make it possible to use an app that pays for something with the tap of a finger. The rise of Bitcoin, a type of Internet cash, has made it possible to buy products without any actual dollars.

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Alright, let's review what we've learned. Coins made from rare gold and silver were the standard type of money for hundreds of years, using things like bronze, which is a mix of copper and tin metal.

Paper money, first invented by the Chinese, became popular more recently. As technology improves our lives, people use money less and less because they can quickly pay for things with a credit card or a smart phone, credit being the act of borrowing money with the promise of paying it back.

Money is easy to take for granted, since so much of our lives is based around it. But now, you should have a better idea of where the concept of money came from and how it works.

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History of Money Lesson for Kids - Lesson | Study.com (2024)

FAQs

What is the history of money for kids? ›

The use of money dates back thousands of years. About 3,000 years ago, China developed the use of miniature metals as a system of trade. At first, they created small symbols out of bronze, which is a mix of copper and tin metal. For instance, you could trade a bronze symbol of a shovel for a real shovel.

How do you introduce money lessons? ›

Lesson Summary

Begin by teaching them to skip count, and then move on to explaining all about money. Have students identify value, count, and practice before combining more than one type of coin. Finally, it will be time to put them all together. Reinforce skills by connecting to home and making learning visible.

What is the concept of money for kids? ›

Money is a mode of payment accepted by both sellers and buyers for goods and services. Money is what we give in return when we buy stuff like food, clothes, house, groceries, etc. We give money in return for purchasing anything. This is a simple trade or exchange.

What is the history behind money? ›

The barter system likely originated 6,000 years ago. The first coin we know of is from the 7th century BC and the first paper money came into the world around 1020 AD. Eventually, medieval banking systems gave way to the gold standard, which in turn gave way to modern currency.

How to explain money to a child? ›

How to Teach Preschoolers and Kindergartners About Money
  1. Use a clear jar for their savings. ...
  2. Set an example with your own money habits. ...
  3. Show them stuff costs money. ...
  4. Show them how opportunity cost works. ...
  5. Give commissions, not allowances. ...
  6. Avoid impulse buys. ...
  7. Stress the importance of giving. ...
  8. Teach them contentment.
Jan 9, 2024

What are some facts about money for kids? ›

Money is made in factories called mints! The U.S dollar is the most commonly used currency in the world! The first Credit-Card like payment method appeared in 1950 when the “Diners Club” issued its first charge card. Before money existed, people used other systems to pay for goods, like bartering.

What are the 3 concepts of money? ›

To summarize, money has taken many forms through the ages, but money consistently has three functions: store of value, unit of account, and medium of exchange. Modern economies use fiat money-money that is neither a commodity nor represented or "backed" by a commodity.

What is the elementary concept of money? ›

Money is a liquid asset used to facilitate transactions of value. It is used as a medium of exchange between individuals and entities. It's also a store of value and a unit of account that can measure the value of other goods.

What are 10 facts about money? ›

  • Each Dollar Amount Has Its Own Lifespan. ...
  • A Banknote Can Be Folded 4,000 Times. ...
  • There's a Reason US Dollars Are Green. ...
  • A Coin Can Last Around 30 Years. ...
  • The Highest Bill Denomination Issued by the US Was $100,000. ...
  • A Penny Costs More to Make than It's Worth. ...
  • Money Is Dirtier Than You Think. ...
  • The Dollar Sign Was First Used in 1785.
Dec 7, 2022

What are the five stages of evolution of money? ›

There are more than five stages of money's evolution. Still, five notable stages include: commodity money (i.e., grains, livestock), metallic money (i.e., coins), paper money, credit and plastic forms of currency, and digital money.

Where in the Bible is the first mention of money? ›

The first mention in the Bible of the use of money is in the Book of Genesis in reference to criteria for the circumcision of a bought slave. Later, the Cave of Machpelah is purchased (with silver) by Abraham, some time after 1985 BC, although scholars believe the book was edited in the 6th or 5th centuries BC.

How did money got its name? ›

Etymology. The word money derives from the Latin word moneta with the meaning "coin" via French monnaie. The Latin word is believed to originate from a temple of Juno, on Capitoline, one of Rome's seven hills.

Why was money invented by kids? ›

Money was invented more than 4,000 years ago. People who wanted to trade goods and services gradually realized that exchange would be easier if there were some single commodity that everyone would accept as valuable. There was something—precious metal, or three precious metals, to be exact.

What is the origin of term money? ›

The English word money first appeared in the 14th century. It was derived from the Latin word moneta, a name given to the Roman goddess Juno, at or near whose temple the Romans first began minting coins around 300 BCE. (Read Milton Friedman's Britannica entry on money.)

What is the history of play money? ›

The first such toy money was printed in 1880 by the Milton Bradley Toys company, and was actually a teaching tool, distributed to schools so that children could play at commercial transactions and learn skills for reckoning change, recognizing coins, and budgeting purchases.

How old are kids when they learn about money? ›

Kids between the ages of 6 and 8 may start to understand how money works. "As soon as your child is receiving an allowance, he'll need a place to put his money," says Pearl.

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