America the Beautiful Quarters® Day
in the Classroom
Chaco Culture National Historical Park
In 2010, the United States Mint began to issue 56 quarter-dollar coins featuring designs depicting national parks and other national sites as part of the United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Program. The Chaco Culture National Historical Park quarter is the second of 2012 and the twelfth overall in the America the Beautiful Quarters Program.
Teachers, below you will find lesson plans and classroom activities that will bring the excitement of Chaco Culture National Historical Park Quarter Day into your classroom.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park Quarter
Learn more about the quarter that honors this national site.
America the Beautiful Quarters Program
Find out more about this program that honors a national site in every state, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories!
America the Beautiful Quarters Program Lesson Plans
The America the Beautiful Quarters Program lesson plans are now available for you to use in your classroom. The lesson plans are FREE to download and are designed specifically for grades K and 1, 2 and 3, 4 through 6, 7 and 8, and 9 through 12. Be sure to also check out the lesson plans relating to the New Mexico quarter released in 2008 by visiting the 50 State Quarters® lesson plans
America the Beautiful Quarters Day Classroom Activities
With this link, you will find fun ways to infuse your curriculum with activities that celebrate the arrival of each new quarter!
In 2008, the United States Mint released the New Mexico quarter as part of the 50 State Quarters® Program.
The design on the reverse of New Mexico's quarter features an outline of the state with a topographical texture.
The location of the capital city, Santa Fe, is marked by a Zia sun symbol.
This symbol, from the Zia Pueblo people, represents the giver of all good. From the central circle, representing life and love without beginning or end, four groups of four rays represent gifts in groups of four: the four directions, the four seasons, the four parts of a day (sunrise, noon, evening, and night), and the four parts of a person's life (childhood, youth, adulthood, and old age).
To learn more, visit New Mexico's quarter page and the April 2008 Coin of the Month featuring the New Mexico quarter.
Teachers, if the activities above have piqued your interest, please sign up for the Teachers' Network! As a member, you can receive information about all of the educational resources available from the United States Mint.