Lesson Plan: ‘How to Print Money’

Lesson Overview

Featured Article: “How to Print Money”

It is often said that money doesn’t grow on trees. So if it doesn’t, where does it come from?

In today’s featured article, The New York Times takes us behind the scenes of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Fort Worth, Texas, to find out how money is made in the United States. In this lesson, you will learn about the many fascinating steps needed, and meet the vast team required, to print the money that fuels the U.S. economy, the largest in the world.

In Going Further activities, we ask you to share your opinions and experiences with money and invite you to design your own currency.

Warm-Up

When was the last time you looked at money? We mean, really looked at it?

Take out some printed money (a $1, $5, $10 or $20 bill — whatever denomination you can easily find), and spend a good five minutes looking closely at it. Feel free to use a magnifying glass, if you have one, and to take notes on your observations. Here are a few questions to help guide your close inspection:

• What do you notice? What can you observe about the design, colors and paper? Its texture? Its symbols? Its writing?

• What do you wonder? What questions do you have about the bill you examined or money in general?

Afterward, share your observations with a partner. Then, together, make two lists. On the first one, write down all the materials that you think are needed to make money. On the second, write down the steps you think go into printing it.

Questions for Writing and Discussion

Read the featured article, and then answer the following questions:

1. Summarize the six basic steps in printing money at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Fort Worth, Texas. Which part of the process did you find most fascinating, and why?

2. Return to the lists you made in the warm-up. Which steps and materials did you get right? What else do you need to add?

3. What can you learn about the process of making money from the videos and images featured in the article? Which visuals stood out most?

4. Consider some of the numbers included in the article: How much U.S. currency is currently in circulation? What percentage of Americans are cashless in their weekly spending habits, according to the article? Do either of those figures surprise you? How often do you and your family use cash — coins or bills — rather than cards or apps?

5. The article ends:

And while many people may never give a second thought to how the crumpled dollar bills in their pockets actually got made, the painstaking process of printing money highlights the important role that the U.S. dollar continues to play in the world.

What is your biggest takeaway from the article? Do you think you will give more thought to the crumpled bills in your pockets now?

Going Further

Option 1: Share your thoughts and opinions on money.

Many of our daily Student Opinion questions and Picture Prompts have invited teenagers to share their views and experiences about money. Choose one of our money-related writing prompts below and share your thoughts with young people around the world:

Option 2: Design your own currency.

You’ve seen what it takes to make money. Now it’s your turn: Design your own currency. You can redesign the currency for the nation you live in or for a fictitious country of your own.

For your original bank note, you might include:

• Country name

• Denomination (how much your currency is worth)

• National motto

• Political or cultural symbols

• Serial numbers

• Signature of the Treasury secretary

As you design your currency, keep in mind: What “story” does your money tell? How does it represent the values of your country? Does your design catch your eye? Is it easy to read and use?

For inspiration, check out this history of U.S. currency or these exciting design examples from around the world here and here.

Find more lesson plans and teaching ideas here.