Show Me the Money: Currency & Types of Money

Gr 2 Up—Cousins Kevin and Alanna help Uncle Norm count the coins in his rainy day jar so he can buy a new umbrella. When Uncle Norm loses count, he and Kevin visit Brian at the bank to learn more about currency. Brian briefly explains the base 10 money system, which is used all over the world. While American dollars are briefly shown, the video focuses primarily on Canadian currency, and the use of the one dollar coin may be confusing to young U.S. viewers. Before Kevin and Uncle Norm return, Alanna disjointedly presents bits of information about currency, such as that salt was once worth as much as gold and that the Canadian mint made a one million dollar coin that's the size of a pizza. (Later on, she also demonstrates how to make a simple coin sorter using shoe box lids.) The jokes fall flat, such as Uncle Norm's comment that his rubber duck could open a bank account because he has a bill. In between scenes, a music video of a girl singing about making dollars out of cents in front of an animated screen feels out of place.