Learning about the life of Tololwa Mollel helps students understand the inspiration behind his story. Use online resources to learn more about his life. With your supervision, give the child the opportunity to search for information. After gathering the information, discuss the format for writing a biography. Ensure that each child understands the purpose of the introduction, body and conclusion. If the child has something in common with the author, encourage him to discuss the similarities with you and the other students.
Children can receive a greater understanding of the book by researching Tanzanian culture. In the book, there is a short glossary of Swahili and Maasi terms used throughout the story. Discuss the meanings of the words and work on their pronunciations. The children can also illustrate the English words and their Swahili or Maasi translation. Enhance geographical skills by allowing the children to locate Tanzania on a map or globe. Discuss which hemisphere it is located in and how far it is from the United States. If you are a parent, you can prepare a meal that is indigenous to Africa.
In "My Rows and Piles of Coins," the protagonist saved money to buy a bicycle. Encourage young readers to discuss how they would save money for a bicycle. If they currently save money that is from their parents, have them discuss what chores or activities they do to receive the money. You can also discuss the importance of banks and savings accounts. Understanding how money is made is another activity to increase awareness of money management. The United States Mint website is a resource for information on the production of United States currency.
Some words in "My Rows and Piles of Coins" may be unfamiliar to readers. If you are a teacher, encourage students to write down or underline the words that are difficult to pronounce. After finding the words, they can use the dictionary to research and write down each word's definition. Some students may have words in common. If so, have a student present this word and its definition to the class so everyone can understand it.