Presenter view · Grades 5–8 · Math · Timelines, ratios and the widow’s gift

The Numbers in the Coins

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Before you start

Learning objectives

By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

find the span of years between two dates: both AD, both BC, or across the join
explain why there is no year zero, and why a span from b BC to a AD is a + b − 1 years
use a ratio and a percent to explain why the widow’s two small coins were more than all the others gave
Go deeperprove the no-year-zero rule with algebra

Why this matters Every date and amount on a coin is a number with a meaning. Reading it right means remembering there is no year zero, and asking what a number is a share of.

Materials

A strip of tape on the board for a class timeline; centimeter rulers (Red level)
The Pilate prutah card on the handouts, or the coin on the exhibition page
Differentiated handouts, one per student; the answer key is page 3

On the classroom screen

MIn Their HandsThe Numbers in the Coins

Lesson · Grades 5–8 · Math · Timelines, ratios and the widow’s gift

The Numbers in the Coins

Why this matters

Every date and amount on a coin is a number with a meaning. Reading it right means remembering there is no year zero, and asking what a number is a share of.

By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

find the span of years between two dates: both AD, both BC, or across the join
explain why there is no year zero, and why a span from b BC to a AD is a + b − 1 years
use a ratio and a percent to explain why the widow’s two small coins were more than all the others gave
Go deeperprove the no-year-zero rule with algebra

James Tissot (1836–1902), Brooklyn Museum

Up next

What year came before AD 1? 2 min

Ask: “If this is AD 1, what year came just before it?” Most students say year zero.

Ready

45:00

Learning objectives

By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

find the span of years between two dates: both AD, both BC, or across the join

explain why there is no year zero, and why a span from b BC to a AD is a + b − 1 years

use a ratio and a percent to explain why the widow’s two small coins were more than all the others gave

Go deeperprove the no-year-zero rule with algebra

Why this matters Every date and amount on a coin is a number with a meaning. Reading it right means remembering there is no year zero, and asking what a number is a share of.