WASHINGTON, May 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United States Mint joins the Nation in showing its gratitude to our teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 2 - 6.  The United States Mint offers free resources for teachers at its online learning community, http://www.usmint.gov/kids/teachers/.  

The United States Mint H.I.P. Pocket Change™ web site was created in response to a 1997 presidential mandate to "enrich the Internet as a learning tool."  The teacher-oriented portion of the site offers lesson plans and project ideas that incorporate the educational value of coins into the learning process.

Lesson plans are based on United States Mint initiatives like the Presidential $1 Coin Program and the America the Beautiful Quarters® Program, the new 12-year initiative launched in 2010 to honor 56 of our Nation's national parks and sites.  

The lesson plans for the America the Beautiful Quarters Program feature an interactive format customized for students.  The flexible lesson plan format may be applied to a variety of learning environments – one computer to a classroom, one computer per student, or the traditional "pen and paper" offline approach.  The plans also integrate technology into the core curriculum, which supports national education technology standards – models for 21st century learning.

The America the Beautiful Quarters lesson plans are designed for grades K-12.  All lesson plans are free and available at the United States Mint Web site, http://www.usmint.gov/kids/teachers/.  Created and reviewed by teachers to meet national curricular standards, the plans draw on the new quarter reverse designs to inspire students to learn about the culture, geography, unique heritage and natural beauty of our national parks and sites.   

The site also includes redesigned "educators" pages that include such features as:  

• a central information space on the main page that provides updates on coin programs and education news
• specialized sections that target specific areas of interest (e.g., classroom, community, coins, kids)
• a reorganized navigation menu that provides easier access to available resources, including more than 500 lesson plans and projects
• Classroom Gadgets, which include useful multiple classroom activities, such as a timer, bingo game and card generator
• Trivia Treasures, a database of facts designed to spark ideas for lessons, including fun facts, coin chronicles, coin specifications and minting statistics
• the re-formatted E-newsletter, "What's New for You," a tool to help the more than 10,000 members of the Teachers' Network stay informed of the latest educational resources from the United States Mint

The United States Mint, created by Congress in 1792, is the Nation's sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage and is responsible for producing circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce.  The United States Mint also produces proof, uncirculated and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; and silver, gold and platinum bullion coins.

SOURCE United States Mint