Coins for Kids

If you came through the main gate at arrival on Friday, NOV 18, you would have seen a large handpainted rongoli* in the entry plaza on the eastern edge of the playgrounds. (Rongolis are an Indian art form in which patterns are created on the ground inside or outside of homes.) You couldn’t miss it. There was a crowd assembled at the site. Forsyth first graders sat around the perimeter of the rongoli with trays of coins at their sides. They placed the silver and copper coins on the silver and copper pattern of the rongoli. Coins for kids.

>> Pictures tell the story.

Coins for Kids is a Grade 1 service project to collect coins for their Indian pen pals. The coins that covered the rongoli were dropped off for nearly an hour as Forsyth kids of all ages arrived at school. This curriculum-based community service project developed through a connection with the not-for-profit group New Creation International. As part of their study of India, Forsyth first graders write letters to first- and second-grade children at Sri Aurobindo School in the Indian village of Gaddipalli. The funds raised through Coins for Kids will go to this school to purchase materials for their classrooms.

Forsyth first graders made posters to advertise Coins for Kids around school, they sorted and placed the coins on the rongoli, and after their teachers cleared the rongoli of all coins, first graders sorted, counted, and put the money into coin roll wrappers–no small feat: they collected nearly $700 in coins! This money will be donated to Sri Aurobindo School to purchase books, educational materials, and school supplies.

Coins for Kids combines a cross-cultural perspective, meaningful activity that 6- and 7-year olds can relate to, the involvement of the whole school, and lots of math. After Winter Break, first grade kids can look forward to receiving letters from their Indian pen pals with photos showing the supplies purchased for their school with Coins for Kids funds. Forsyth first graders will understand the impact of their community service.

*Note: Grade 1 teacher Donna Militello painted that beautiful rongoli.