My Rows and Piles of Coins Activities & Printables

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Grab our free My Rows and Piles of Coins activities and lapbook printables so you can head to Africa for a wonderful learning adventure.

Thanks to Jodi Small for writing the lessons for this My Rows and Piles of Coins unit study.

My Rows and Piles of Coins Summary

The market is full of wonderful things, but Saruni is saving his precious coins for a red and blue bicycle. How happy he will be when he can help his mother carry heavy loads to market on his very own bicycle—and how disappointed he is to discover that he hasn’t saved nearly enough!
from My Rows and Piles of Coins at amazon.com

This wonderful story, set in Tanzania, tells the tale of hard work, disappointment, and loving others well. It serves as the base for a variety of lessons on human emotions, the history of banks, how money is made, adverbs, coffee trees, watercolor paints, and so much more.

My Rows and Piles of Coins Activities

This unit study includes lessons and printables based on the book My Rows and Piles of Coins by Tololwa M. Mollel.

Here are some sample lessons:

Human Relationships/Emotions: Disappointment
Saruni is so proud of the fact that he has saved his money. He approaches the man selling bikes and announces that he has, “three hundred and five” coins. The man laughed at him because bikes cost much more than what Saruni had. Saruni walks away deeply disappointed (and probably discouraged, too). Sometimes things happen that are out of our control and we are disappointed. It’s okay and normal to be disappointed, but we should still strive to be content within our circumstances (review memory verse).

When you know that someone is disappointed, you should do as Yeyo did and give them some kind, encouraging words.

Culture: Coins from Around the World
Grab some pocket change or coins you have in your purse.

Look at coins from your country. What are they like? What pictures are imprinted on them? Why? Discuss as age-appropriate.

Now, use an internet search to look at coins from around the world. You may want to grab a globe and look at the different parts of the world where the coins are from. What are the coins like? What are your observations?

After you spend time observing all the coins, have your student design her own coin. Draw the coin (front and back) or use some clay and etch a design on the front and back.

You can grab a copy of the entire My Rows and Piles of Coins Unit Study and Lapbook in an easy-to-print file at the end of this post.

My Rows and Piles of Coins Lapbook Printables

In addition to the My Rows and Piles of Coins lessons, the file also includes mini-books for your student to create a lapbook.

Where in the World is Tanzania? Shutterfold Book
Flag of Tanzania Simple Fold

Adverbs Flap Book
How Much Money? Piggy Bank Shape Book
My Coin Design Simple Fold Book
I’m Saving My Money Graph & Pocket

Swahili Words Flap Book
My Book of Masai Words
Where My Treasure Is Bible Verse Strips & Pocket
New Words Shape Book
Money Equivalents Mini-book

My Rows and Piles of Coins Lapbook Example

This lapbook example was made with one file folder and a piece of cardstock taped to the middle section to form an extension flap. If you are new to lapbooks, check out this How to Make a Lapbook Guide.

How to Get Started with Your My Rows and Piles of Coins Activities & Lapbook

Follow these simple instructions to get started with the My Rows and Piles of Coins Unit Study:

Buy a copy of the book, My Rows and Piles of Coins by Tololwa M. Mollel, or borrow one from your local library.
Print the My Rows and Piles of Coins unit study.
Choose the lessons you want to use with your student (a highlighter works great for this).
Choose and prepare the lapbook printables you want to use with your student.
Enjoy a week of learning all about money, saving, and more.