Piscataway Public Library has been selected to host Thinking Money for Kids, a traveling exhibition created by the American Library Association (ALA) in partnership with the FINRA Investor Education Foundation. Our Library was chosen to host the exhibition through a competitive application process; we are one of just 50 sites nationwide that will host the exhibit!

The 1,000-square-foot exhibit will be on display at Kennedy Library (500 Hoes Lane) between October 14th and November 16th. Stop by to experience Thinking Money for Kids, an interactive exhibit that uses games, activities, and a fun storyline to help children understand what money is, its function in society, and how to use it responsibly.

Exhibit Dates: Thursday, October 14 - Tuesday, November 16

Don't miss our Thinking Money for Kids (TM4K) event series intended to introduce children to financial literacy skills. Check back for additional programming.

Event attendees can earn Kids Cash that can be used to “purchase” items at our TM4K Kids Cash Store. See store details here.

TM4K Kids Cash Catalog Challenge
Thursday, October 14 - Tuesday, November 16
All Ages
No registration required
Location: Kennedy Library (500 Hoes Lane)
Visit Kennedy Library to pick up our TM4K Kids Cash Catalog Challenge booklist or print the booklist from home. For each book that you read, complete a brief book review form, and earn Kids Cash that can be used to “purchase” items at our TM4K Kids Cash Store.

TM4K Wall of Currency
Thursday, October 14 - Tuesday, November 16
All Ages
No registration required
Location: Kennedy Library (500 Hoes Lane)
Money from around the world will be displayed on the main wall in the children’s department. Each piece of currency will be numbered.  Children must match the numbered money to the appropriate country on our Wall of Currency handout.

Exhibit Opening

Thinking Money for Kids Exhibit Opening
Thursday, October 14, from 3-7 PM
All Ages
No registration required
Location: Kennedy Library (500 Hoes Lane)
Scheduled tours run on the hour from 3PM-7PM. Enjoy financial literacy activities every hour at thirty minutes past the hour. See our full activity schedule here. Visitors to the exhibit are invited to complete a “What would you do with $100?” leaf handout for our money tree display. Leaf submissions will be entered into a raffle.

TM4K Counting Coins Quiz Show
Friday, October 22, from 4-4:45 PM
Kids in Grades K-5
Registration required
Location: on Zoom
Join us for a virtual jeopardy-style game show that tests attendees’ basic knowledge of coins and other currency and includes more complex money word problems. Learning to identify and count coins and other currency helps kids with financial literacy as they think about earning, saving, spending and lending money.

TM4K Story Time & Craft: Money
Tuesday, October 26, from 4-4:30 PM
Ages 3-6 years
Registration required
Location: on Zoom
Why is money important, and what do we need it for? In this story time, attendees will explore different denominations of money and talk about ways to make, earn and save money. Enjoy a story about saving and spending money, and create a special craft that involves designing two banks, one for saving and one for spending.

TM4K Virtual Book Discussion
Thursday, October 28, from 7-7:45 PM
Kids in Grades 4-8 & their caregivers
Registration required
Location: on Zoom
Join us for a virtual discussion of Bee Fearless: Dream Like a Kid by Mikaila Ulmer, a memoir detailing the experiences of the fifteen year-old lemonade entrepreneur and one of TIME Magazine's Top 30 Most Influential Teens on her road to success. Attendees will receive a free copy of the book in advance. After our discussion, children and caregivers will be tasked with brainstorming a product and business model that includes a charitable component similar to the one discussed in the book. Products and models will be presented to the group for discussion.

TM4K Money Bingo
Wednesday, November 3, from 4-4:45 PM
Kids in Grades 2 & Up
Registration required
Location: on Zoom
Reinforce your knowledge of coins and bills and their values in an exciting bingo game! Attendees will learn about different denominations of money used in the United States and abroad as well as fun facts about each country.  Prior to the program, each participant will receive a printed bingo board.

TM4K “Is the Price Right?” Virtual Game Night
Thursday, November 4, from 4-4:45 PM
Kids in Grades K-5
Registration required
Location: on Zoom
How well do you know the value of a dollar? Join us for a rousing round of Is the Price Right? modeled after the popular game show The Price is Right. Attendees will compete to win prizes by guessing the pricing of miscellaneous merchandise. Contestants will be selected randomly. Audience participation is encouraged. Recommended for kids in grades K-5 and their families.

TM4K Meet the U.S. Mint: Making Coins, Medals, and More!
Tuesday, November 9, from 4-4:45 PM
Kids Ages 7-11 years
Registration required
Location: on Webex
Did you know coins are pieces of art in your pocket? Join the United States Mint for a special virtual presentation all about coins, coin collecting, and a behind-the-scenes look at how coins are made. This program is presented by Abby Hildebrand, Education Coordinator of the U.S. Mint in Washington, D.C. Conducting the tour of the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia are Public Affairs Specialists, Tim Grant and Eliza Rasmussen.

TM4K Money, Banks, and the Federal Reserve System for Kids!
Wednesday, November 10, from 4-4:45 PM
Kids Ages 7-11 years
Registration required
Location: on Zoom
Using concepts from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s educational comic book, Once Upon a Dime, kids will explore the basic functions and characteristics of money. They will then learn about some of the reasons why people might go to a bank and understand how the Federal Reserve System affects their daily lives. This program is presented by Chaeri Han, Economic Education Associate, Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

TM4K Financial Literacy for Kids! Kahoot Game
Thursday, November 11, from  4-4:45 PM
Kids in Grades 3-5
Registration required
Location: on Zoom
Join us for a virtual Kahoot game that tests attendees' basic knowledge of money matters including what constitutes needs vs. wants, goods vs. services, as well as earning, saving, investing, spending and borrowing money - all key components of financial literacy.

TM4K Easy Money Origami
Friday, November 12, from 4-4:45 PM
Kids in Grades K-5
Registration required
Location: on Zoom
Join us for a virtual origami program! Learn how to transform our Kids Cash dollar bills into fun, easy, simple origami shapes.  See if you can create an interesting scene and story with your finished origami pieces.

TM4K Family Financial Literacy Day
Saturday, November 13, TBD
Registration required
Location: on Zoom
What is money? What is its function in society? How can we learn to use it responsibly? Discover the answers to these questions and more at our Family Financial Literacy Day event! Join us for a schedule of programs that explore the essential role that money plays in our lives and discover how we can learn to make smart financial decisions. See our event schedule here.

Explore On Your Own!

Thinking Money for Kids Online Games

U.S. Currency Education Program: The Federal Reserve Board's U.S. Currency Education Program provides public access to education, training, and information about Federal Reserve Notes. Find  downloadable materials and lesson plans.

U.S. Mint Virtual Tour App (Google)(Apple): The United States Mint has been making the nation's coinage since 1792, and for the first time, you can get an inside look at how coins are made in Philadelphia. Enter the virtual reproduction of the Philadelphia Mint through the lobby and examine Tiffany stained glass murals. Then, head to the production floor of the largest mint in the world to become immersed in coin production. Interact with 360-degree videos and images of the real Philadelphia Mint to see employees and machines at work. Videos, images, and 3-D models provide an in-depth look at each part of the coin production process. Along the way, collect hidden coins and learn more about coins produced at the Philadelphia Mint.

Million Bazillion Podcast: How is money made? Let’s head to the U.S. Mint!

U.S. Mint How Coins are Made for Kids: Learn how the United States Mint makes coins!

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: The CFPB's Money As You Grow initiative helps parents and caregivers support financial literacy at home with tips and activities.

Biz Kids: Biz Kid$ is a national financial literacy initiative based on the Emmy Award-winning public television series where kids teach kids about money and business.

Cash Puzzler (Ages 3 to 6): Memory puzzles are some of the first games young children play. Put the scrambled pieces of the puzzle back together to complete the image of a dollar bill in Visa’s Cash Puzzler game. Choose between 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollar bill puzzles and learn fun facts about Benjamin Franklin, Ulysses S. Grant and more.

Peter Pig’s Money Counter (Ages 5 to 8): Test your coin counting skills with three fun games. With each right answer, you’ll earn virtual money to save or spend in the store on accessories and scenes for Peter Pig. Along the way, learn fun facts about money and saving with one click.

Peter Pig’s Money Counter CD (App available for Android or iOS devices) This app features a fun, interactive video game that teaches kids ages 4-7 about counting coins. With the help of wise Peter Pig, kids practice sorting and counting coins to earn money for their "banks" - all the while learning fun facts about U.S. currency. They also practice recognizing the value of coins, sorting coins based on value, adding up multiple coins, and more.

Lessons: PreK-Grade 2: These activities for the very young include simple but important lessons like recognizing different coins and understanding what they're worth.

Lessons: Grade 3 - Grade 6: As children get older, they can start to learn about more complex financial topics like saving money, comparison shopping and managing their allowance

Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis:  Explore Economics Video Series for Grades 2-5: Explore Economics is a series of short videos that introduce elementary-age children to economic concepts (topics include Saving and Savings Goals, Good and Services, Productivity, etc.)

Federal Reserve Bank of New York Educational Comic Books: Join Flora, Glix, and an intrepid cast of characters as they travel the universe, meet new friends, and work together to learn about economic and financial literacy. The New York Fed’s Educational Comic Book Series brings readers on an out-of-this-world journey to teach about basic economic principles and the Federal Reserve’s role in the financial system.