My Rows and Piles of Coins : simplebooklet.com

Reading Makes Cents 2016-2017My Rows and Piles of CoinsMy Rows and Piles of CoinsBook Synopsis: Saruni, a Tanzanian boy, helps his mother carry produce to sell at themarket. His mother pays him for his help with a few coins and urges him to spend hisearnings on something he wants. His goal is to buy a bicycle that will help his mothertransport goods to the market. With this goal in mind, Saruni saves his money. Thedisappointment he encounters when he realizes how expensive bicycles are is replacedwith delight when his parents surprised him with a used bicycle. Saruni quickly plans anew savings goal. He will save money to buy a cart for the bicycle.LessonSaruni Makes a ChoiceCost-Benefit Decision GridIntroduction: Saruni has a choice to make. He can spend the money his mother hasgiven him at the market, or he can keep it in his pocket and save it. His ambitious goal isto buy a bicycle which has the potential to help his mother earn more money in thefuture.Time: 25-30 minutesGrade Level: 2-4Materials:● Visual 1- My Rows and Piles of Coins Economic Concepts● Visual 2- Saruni Makes a Choice Cost-Benefit Decision Grid● Activity Sheet- Activity Sheet Cost-Benefit Decision Grid● Writing ToolsObjectives:● The student will listen to the content of book My Rows and Piles of Coins.Lynne Farrell StoverJames Madison University Center for Economic EducationJ1

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Reading Makes Cents 2016-2017My Rows and Piles of Coins● The student will review the definitions for economic concepts: benefit, cost,consumer, producer, goods, services, savings, economic choice, and opportunitycost.● The student will complete a group activity based on a decision-making grid.● The student will be introduced to the concepts of costs and benefits.● The students will discuss the choice and opportunity cost based on a decisionmade by a book character.Virginia Standards of Learning – History and Social Science:K-3.1hThe student will demonstrate skills for historical thinking, geographical analysis,economic decision making, and responsible citizenship by using a decision-making model tomake informed decisions.K.9The student willa) recognize that people make choices because they cannot have everything they want; andb) explain that people work to earn money to buy the things they want.1.2The student will explain that people make choices because they cannot have everythingthey want.1.7The student will explain the difference between goods and services and describe howpeople are consumers and producers of goods and services.1.8The student will explain that people make choices because they cannot have everythingthey want.1.9The student will recognize that people save money for the future to purchase goods andservices.2.10The student will explain that scarcity (limited resources) requires people to make choicesabout producing and consuming goods and services.3.10The student will identify examples of making an economic choice and will explain the ideaof opportunity cost (what is given up when making a choice).Procedure:1. Prepare and collect materials prior to class.2. Introduce the lesson telling the students that the story in today’s lesson takesplace in the African nation of Tanzania. Show them this location on a globe or amap. Explain that the main character in this book, Saruni, is a boy who mustmake an important decision.3. Read the book My Rows and Piles of Coins to the class. A YouTube read along linkcan be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU_II4Jo0kM4. Display Visual 1 and tell the students that knowledge of these words will helpthem complete a class activity. Review the listed economic concepts by relatingeach term to its connection to the story.5. Explain all decisions have costs and benefits and that Saruni gave up spending hismoney when he decided to save it.6. Display Visual 2. Solicit suggestions from the students concerning the costs andbenefits of these making and selling lemonade and record them on theCost-Benefit Decision Grid visual. Accept all reasonable suggestions.Lynne Farrell StoverJames Madison University Center for Economic EducationJ2

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Reading Makes Cents 2016-2017My Rows and Piles of Coins7. Solicit suggestions from the students concerning the costs and benefits ofSaruni’s alternatives and record them on the visual. Accept all reasonablesuggestions. Remind students that opportunity cost is the next best choice that isgiven up when you make a decision. (A possible responses document is providedon page six.)8. Distribute the activity sheet and writing tools. Instruct the students to create acost/benefit decision grid based on some real life situations that require choicesbe made. Possible topics could include: what book to check out, whether to packlunch or buy the school lunch, which movie to attend, or what activities to doover the weekend. Students may work in small groups.9. Conclude the lesson by reminding the students that choices have costs andbenefits.Extension Activities:● Saruni saved his coins in a box. Ask the students if they think this was a goodidea. Brainstorm a class list of places to save money. (Piggy banks, credit unions,banks. savings bonds, etc.)● As time went on, Saruni’s coins added up to an impressive total. Have thestudents research local charities and pick one they consider to have merit.Provide a large jar and encourage the students to put their extra coins in it.When the jar is full, count the coins and donate the total to the selected charity.● For Discussion: What are some differences and similarities of the marketplace inTanzania and a supermarket in Virginia?Visual 1My Rows and Piles of CoinsEconomic ConceptsLynne Farrell StoverJames Madison University Center for Economic EducationJ3

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Reading Makes Cents 2016-2017My Rows and Piles of CoinsBenefit- A benefit is what satisfies your wants.A benefit is the positive effect of a decision. ☺Cost- A cost is what you give up when you decide to dosomething. A cost is the negative effect of a decision. ☺Consumer- A person who uses or buys goods and services is aconsumer.Producer - A person who makes goods or provides services is aproducer.Goods - Things people make or use to satisfy wants are goods.Services - Activities that satisfy people’s wants are services.Savings - Money not spent now so it can be spent in the future iscall savings.Economic Choice- You cannot have all the goods and services youwant, so you must choose some things and give up others. Aneconomic choice is the decision you make among alternatives orpossibilities.Opportunity Cost - The next best choice that is given up when youmake a decision is your opportunity cost.Visual 2Saruni Makes a ChoiceLynne Farrell StoverJames Madison University Center for Economic EducationJ4

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Reading Makes Cents 2016-2017My Rows and Piles of CoinsCost-Benefit Decision GridThe story in My Rows and Piles of Coins takes place in Tanzania, a country in east Africa.Here, Saruni receives payment for helping his mother carry produce to sell at a market.His mother encourages to him to buy something he would like to have. Saruni would liketo do this, but he also thinks that saving his money to buy a bicycle would be a good ideatoo. What should he do? Help him decide by filling in this chart with some of theadvantages and disadvantages of his two possible alternatives (choices). Then, using theinformation on the grid, make a decision and state the opportunity cost of this decision.Alternative 1Saving Money for a BikeAlternative 2Spending Money at the MarketBenefitsA benefit iswhat satisfies awant.☺☺☺☺☺☺CostsA cost iswhat yougive upwhen youdecide todosomething.☹☹☹☹☹☹Decision:Opportunity Cost:Lynne Farrell StoverJames Madison University Center for Economic EducationJ5

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Reading Makes Cents 2016-2017My Rows and Piles of CoinsPossible Responses -Saruni Makes a Choice: Cost-Benefit Decision GridAlternative 1Saving Money for a BikeAlternative 2Spending Money at the MarketBenefitsA benefit iswhat satisfies awant.☺ A bike would make takingproduce to the market easier.☺ Bikes are useful and fun toride.☺ It takes less time to ride abike to the market than walkingdoes.☺ Roasted peanuts and rice cakesare delicious and good to eat.☺ It would be fun to have a toytruck or a kite to play with.☺ The producers selling food andtoys would appreciate getting moneyfor their hard work.CostsA cost iswhat yougive upwhen youdecide todosomething.☹ Bikes are expensive and it willtake a long time to save enoughmoney to buy one.☹ Saving coins in a box is riskybecause these coins could get lostor stolen.☹ Once you have a bike you mayneed more money for things likea basket, bell, or new tires.☹ Sweet treats are expensive and,once eaten are gone.☹ Toys are expensive and can bebroken, lost, or stolen.☹ There are some many goods at themarket that it’s hard to decide whatto buy.Decision: Saruni will save his money to buy a bike.Opportunity Cost: He will give up the chance to buy full things at the marketplace.Lynne Farrell StoverJames Madison University Center for Economic EducationJ6

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Reading Makes Cents 2016 2017 My Rows and Piles of Coins My Rows and Piles of Coins Book Synopsis Saruni a Tanzanian boy helps his mother carry produce to sell at the market His mother pays him for his help with a few coins and urges him to spend his earnings on something he wants His goal is to buy a bicycle that will help his mother transport goods to the market With this goal in mind Saruni saves his money The disappointment he encounters when he realizes how expensive bicycles are is replaced with delight when his parents surprised him with a used bicycle Saruni quickly plans a new savings goal He will save money to buy a cart for the bicycle Lesson Saruni Makes a Choice Cost Benefit Decision Grid Introduction Saruni has a choice to make He can spend the money his mother has given him at the market or he can keep it in his pocket and save it His ambitious goal is to buy a bicycle which has the potential to help his mother earn more money in the future Time 25 30 minutes Grade Level 2 4 Materials Visual 1 My Rows and Piles of Coins Economic Concepts Visual 2 Saruni Makes a Choice Cost Benefit Decision Grid Activity Sheet Activity Sheet Cost Benefit Decision Grid Writing Tools Objectives The student will listen to the content of book My Rows and Piles of Coins Lynne Farrell Stover James Madison University Center for Economic Education J1

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Reading Makes Cents 2016 2017 My Rows and Piles of Coins The student will review the definitions for economic concepts benefit cost consumer producer goods services savings economic choice and opportunity cost The student will complete a group activity based on a decision making grid The student will be introduced to the concepts of costs and benefits The students will discuss the choice and opportunity cost based on a decision made by a book character Virginia Standards of Learning History and Social Science K 3 1h K 9 1 2 1 7 1 8 1 9 2 10 3 10 The student will demonstrate skills for historical thinking geographical analysis economic decision making and responsible citizenship by using a decision making model to make informed decisions The student will a recognize that people make choices because they cannot have everything they want and b explain that people work to earn money to buy the things they want The student will explain that people make choices because they cannot have everything they want The student will explain the difference between goods and services and describe how people are consumers and producers of goods and services The student will explain that people make choices because they cannot have everything they want The student will recognize that people save money for the future to purchase goods and services The student will explain that scarcity limited resources requires people to make choices about producing and consuming goods and services The student will identify examples of making an economic choice and will explain the idea of opportunity cost what is given up when making a choice Procedure 1 Prepare and collect materials prior to class 2 Introduce the lesson telling the students that the story in today s lesson takes place in the African nation of Tanzania Show them this location on a globe or a map Explain that the main character in this book Saruni is a boy who must make an important decision 3 Read the book My Rows and Piles of Coins to the class A YouTube read along link can be found here https www youtube com watch v kU_II4Jo0kM 4 Display Visual 1 and tell the students that knowledge of these words will help them complete a class activity Review the listed economic concepts by relating each term to its connection to the story 5 Explain all decisions have costs and benefits and that Saruni gave up spending his money when he decided to save it 6 Display Visual 2 Solicit suggestions from the students concerning the costs and benefits of these making and selling lemonade and record them on the Cost Benefit Decision Grid visual Accept all reasonable suggestions Lynne Farrell Stover James Madison University Center for Economic Education J2

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Reading Makes Cents 2016 2017 My Rows and Piles of Coins 7 Solicit suggestions from the students concerning the costs and benefits of Saruni s alternatives and record them on the visual Accept all reasonable suggestions Remind students that opportunity cost is the next best choice that is given up when you make a decision A possible responses document is provided on page six 8 Distribute the activity sheet and writing tools Instruct the students to create a cost benefit decision grid based on some real life situations that require choices be made Possible topics could include what book to check out whether to pack lunch or buy the school lunch which movie to attend or what activities to do over the weekend Students may work in small groups 9 Conclude the lesson by reminding the students that choices have costs and benefits Extension Activities Saruni saved his coins in a box Ask the students if they think this was a good idea Brainstorm a class list of places to save money Piggy banks credit unions banks savings bonds etc As time went on Saruni s coins added up to an impressive total Have the students research local charities and pick one they consider to have merit Provide a large jar and encourage the students to put their extra coins in it When the jar is full count the coins and donate the total to the selected charity For Discussion What are some differences and similarities of the marketplace in Tanzania and a supermarket in Virginia Visual 1 My Rows and Piles of Coins Economic Concepts Lynne Farrell Stover James Madison University Center for Economic Education J3

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