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Should We Get Rid of the Penny?

Some say there isn’t much use for the penny anymore. Is it time to ditch this copper coin? 

By Justin O’Neill
From the March/April 2021 Issue
Lexiles: 500L-600L, 600L-700L
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In the early 1900s, you could treat yourself to a candy feast for just a few cents. Many sweets—such as Tootsie Rolls, licorice, and bubble gum—cost just one penny each.

Today, finding a penny on the sidewalk might be good luck. But it won’t do you much good otherwise. There’s almost nothing you can buy for less than five cents. Some people wonder: Do we still need the penny? 

In the early 1900s, you could buy yourself a candy feast for just a few cents. Many sweets, like Tootsie Rolls, licorice, and bubble gum, only cost one penny each.

Today, it might be good luck to find a penny on the sidewalk. But it won’t do you much good otherwise. There’s almost nothing you can buy for less than five cents. Some people wonder: Do we still need the penny?

Worth the Cost? 

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Pennies are made by a government agency called the U.S. Mint. The Mint runs places across the country that make all of our nation’s coins. They make pennies out of zinc and copper.

But the prices of these metals have gone up in recent years. So making a single penny now costs about two cents.

And there’s almost nothing that people can buy with just a penny. Vending machines and parking meters don’t even accept the coins. Plus, paying for pricier things with pennies can be a lot of work. Imagine bringing a thousand pennies to the movie theater to buy a ticket instead of using a $10 bill!

Canada stopped making pennies in 2012. Australia and New Zealand have also ditched the penny. What is America waiting for? 

Pennies are made by a government department called the U.S. Mint. The Mint runs places across the country that make all of our nation’s coins. They make pennies out of two metals: zinc and copper.

But the prices of these metals have gone up. So making one penny now costs about two cents.

And there’s almost nothing that people can buy with just a penny. Vending machines and parking meters don’t take the coins. Plus, paying for more expensive things with pennies can be a lot of work. Imagine using pennies at a movie theater. Would you rather use a $10 bill or a thousand pennies to buy a ticket?

Canada stopped making pennies in 2012. Australia and New Zealand have also gotten rid of the penny. What is America waiting for?

Life Without Pennies 

There’s a downside to life without pennies. All prices would have to be rounded to the nearest nickel. That means the cost of some items would go up. For example, a pizza shop that sells a slice of pizza for $1.98 might start charging $2.00 instead. Those little extra costs could add up quickly.

Plus, many Americans love the penny. In a 2019 poll, 68 percent of Americans wanted to keep the coin. Some people collect old pennies. And a lot of people treasure the penny because of who is on it: Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was America’s 16th president. He was one of our country’s most respected leaders.

And don’t forget the old saying: Every penny counts. Many charities make money from pennies. They hold penny drives, which ask people to donate their one-cent coins. These drives can bring in a lot of money.

So what do you think: Should we get rid of this copper coin? 

Life without pennies would lead to some problems. Without pennies, all prices would have to be rounded to the closest nickel. That means some items would become more expensive. Think about a pizza shop that sells a slice of pizza for $1.98. Without pennies, it might start charging $2.00 instead. Those little extra costs can add up.

Plus, many Americans love the penny. In a 2019 survey, 68 percent of Americans wanted to keep the coin. Some people collect old pennies. A lot of people love the penny because of who’s on it: Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was America’s 16th president. He was one of our country’s most respected leaders.

And don’t forget the old saying: Every penny counts. Many charities are helped by pennies. They hold penny drives, asking people to donate their pennies. These drives can bring in a lot of money.

So what do you think: Should we get rid of this copper coin?

What do you think?

Should we get rid of the penny? Go back to the article and write down reasons to support each side of the argument. Then study the points on both sides. State your opinion in one sentence, which can be the introduction to an opinion paragraph. 

What do you think?

Should we get rid of the penny? Go back to the article and write down reasons to support each side of the argument. Then study the points on both sides. State your opinion in one sentence, which can be the introduction to an opinion paragraph. 

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Can't Miss Teaching Extras
Explore This

The US Mint’s website has excellent videos and games that will show your students what it’s like at the Mint’s six locations! We especially love the 3-minute video “How Coins Are Made.”

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Looking for debates that will help your students think about Earth Day? Try using these articles which consider whether or not to ban plastic straws, plastic bags, and plastic water bottles.

Science Experiment!

Pennies make great materials for a science project. Have your kids try this experiment to learn the science behind cleaning pennies. 

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan

1. PREPARING TO READ

Have students preview the text features. Ask:

    What is the topic of the debate? (Prompt students to use the debate title and the     heading on the chart as clues.) 

    What are the two opinions people might have about this topic?

2. READING THE DEBATE

Depending on the reading level of your students, read the debate as a class or break the class into groups.

Have students read the debate a second time. Prompt them to highlight evidence supporting each side as they come across it. Using two different colors of highlighters would be useful here.

3. DISCUSSING

As a class or in groups, have students discuss:

Which opinion has the best evidence to support it?

Is one side stronger than the other? Why?

What is your opinion? What evidence helped you form your opinion?

For more advanced readers: Do you think the author has an opinion on this issue? What is your evidence?

4. WRITING

Have students complete the chart in the magazine or our full-page printable chart (available in your Resources tab in PDF and interactive formats).

Guide students to write an essay on the debate topic, using the chart they filled out.

Text-to-Speech