The Penny Problem

Students will research the cost of making the penny and the use of the penny. They will come up with reasons why the penny should or should not continue to be made and used.

How many pennies do you have in your pocket or purse or bookbag? How often do you get a penny back in change? Can you buy anything with a penny? For four pennies? What use are pennies in our economy?

Arizona Congressman Jim Kolbe introduced a bill in congress to reduce the importance or use of the penny. He wants to bar purchases that would be made with more than 25 pennies. He would also round up or down to the nickel. In July of 2001, Good Morning America aired an interview, claiming that the penny is not a very economical coin. The claim was made that many people don't use pennies, instead people just save pennies and don't get them back into circulation. The mint has to make so many pennies, because people don't use them after they get them as change. During the interview it was stated that pennies are getting expensive to make. The suggestion was made to do away with the use of the penny altogether and round purchases up when paying.

A group dedicated to keeping the penny, called Americans for Common Cents , supplies information that claims that it costs .7 cents for the mint to make a penny.  The Mint would have incurred an additional net cost of $40.4 million without producing the penny for the year 2011. 

• Decide what they think the fate of the penny should be.

• Americans for Common Cents: Information regarding the penny.
  www.pennies.org
   
• The United States Mint: Information related to the United States Mint.
  www.usmint.gov/downloads/about/annual_report/2010AnnualReport.pdf
   
• Ban the Penny: Information related to Congressman Kolbe's Legal Tender Modernization Act
  https://www.forbes.com/2002/07/05/0705penny.html#4c3384f61132
   
• Write your Representative: Contact information for United States Congress.
  http://physics.mnstate.edu/cabanela/contacting_the_congress_shutdown.php
   
• Pros and Cons Worksheet: Worksheet used to help students understand the pros and cons of the penny.
  Pros and Cons Worksheet

• Chart Worksheet: Students will use this worksheet to record their findings for and against the penny.
  Chart Worksheet

Step 1

Divide the class into brainstorming groups (no more than 3 to a group). Tell the class about the Congressman who has introduced a bill to eliminate the penny coin. Have the groups brainstorm ideas about why the penny is useful and why it is not so useful.

Now have each student list the pros and cons of the penny in the appropriate columns. Click here to download the worksheet.

Step 2

In the same groups, have the students go to the following websites to find facts about the penny suggesting that it is or is not a worthwhile coin to have around. Have them complete their chart worksheet.

• "The Americans for Common Cents"
• "The United States Mint"
• https://www.forbes.com/2002/07/05/0705penny.html#4c3384f61132

Now have the students add to their columns. Advise the students that the information on the websites may take some time reading. It may not just list pros and cons. Guide the students to understand that the cost of making the penny may fit into the pro or con category.

Now have the students in their groups discuss and list two ways to get pennies back into circulation . They also should list two ways to buy and sell things without the use of the penny as one of our coins.

Bring the students together as a whole group and list the pros and cons of continuing to mint the penny on a large chart paper. On another piece of large chart paper make a whole class list of ways to get the penny circulating, and how we should deal with buying and selling without the penny.

Further studies could be done with the dollar bill or using a longer lasting coin.

Each student is to write a letter to their http://physics.mnstate.edu/cabanela/contacting_the_congress_shutdown.php either for or against the plan for getting rid of the penny. Remind the students to check for grammar and spelling mistakes before handing in their letter.

Grading System