Second Grade · Math · week 22

Dollars, the dollar sign, and the cent sign

Understand a dollar equals 100 cents, and correctly write amounts using dollar and cent signs.

A dollar is worth 100 cents -- the same as four quarters, or ten dimes. We write cents with a small cent sign after the number, like 75 cents written as 75c. We write dollars with a dollar sign before the number, like $1.00.

When money includes both dollars and cents, like one dollar and 25 cents, we write it as $1.25 -- the dot separates dollars from cents.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Show real dollar bills and quarters together and count 4 quarters up to $1.00 out loud.
  • Point out that the dot in $1.25 splits dollars (left) from cents (right) -- always two digits after the dot.
  • Practice converting the same amount both ways (75 cents and $0.75) until it feels like just two spellings of the same word.
  • Look for prices on real receipts or store signs and read them aloud together.
Talk about it:
  • How many cents are in one dollar?
  • What is the difference between writing an amount in cents and writing it with a dollar sign?
  • Why are there always two digits after the dot in a dollar amount?

Mastery looks like: They convert between cent amounts and dollar notation accurately and know 100 cents equals $1.00.

Common stumbles: Writing only one digit after the decimal point (like $0.6); mixing up where the dollar sign and dot go.

Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
Records attendance + 15 min of Math for this learner.
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