Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B

Worksheet No.1: Vocabulary Exercises – Lines 1-27

1. Match the words in A to their meanings in B. Write the letter of

the correct meaning in the box.

A B

1. envelope a. ‫מרכז העיר مركز (وسط) ألبلد‬

b. )‫חשבון בנק حساب بنك (مصرف‬
2. landlord
c. ‫מעטפה غالف‬
3. downtown
d. ‫הרגשת בטחוןألشعورباالمان‬
4. secure feeling
e. ‫בעל בית صاحب ألمنزل‬
5. bank account
f. ‫בעל מכולת بقّال‬
6. piles g. ‫מטבעות قطع عمله معدنيه‬
7. grocer h. ‫ערמות أكوام‬
8. coins
2. Who / What am I?
 I sell bread and milk. ____________
 I take money from people who want to live in a house I own.
______________
 I am the center of town. ____________
 People put a letter in me. ___________

3. Fill in the blanks. Use the words below.

landlord / secure / piles / bank / coins / grocer

Katrin always remembered Mama sitting in the kitchen on Saturday nights. Papa
gave her money in an envelope. Mama took out the _________ and put them in
_____________ on the table. There was a pile for the ___________and a
pile for the ____________. The family always had a _____________
feeling, because they knew that if they didn’t have enough money, they could
take it from the __________.

Now reread the paragraph above and answer the following questions:

1. What were the piles for? _____________________________

2. How did Katrin feel? _________________________________
 Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B

Worksheet No.1: Answers

1. Match the words in A to their meanings in B. Write the letter of the

correct meaning in the box.

A B

1. c envelope a. ‫מרכז העיר مركز (وسط) ألبلد‬

b. )‫חשבון בנק حساب بنك (مصرف‬
2. e landlord
c. ‫מעטפה غالف‬
3. a downtown
d. ‫הרגשת בטחוןألشعورباالمان‬
4. d secure feeling
e. ‫בעל בית صاحب ألمنزل‬
5. b bank account
f. ‫בעל מכולת بقّال‬
6. h piles g. ‫מטבעות قطع عمله معدنيه‬
7. f grocer h. ‫ערמות أكوام‬
8. g coins

2. Who / What am I?

 I sell bread and milk. grocer

 I take money from people who want to live in a house I own. landlord
 I am the center of town. downtown
 People put a letter in me. envelope

3. Fill in the blanks. Use the words below.

landlord / secure / piles / bank / coins / grocer

Katrin always remembered Mama sitting in the kitchen on Saturday nights.

Papa gave her money in an envelope. Mama took out the coins and put them in
piles on the table. There was a pile for the landlord and a pile for the grocer.
The family always had a secure feeling, because they knew that if they didn’t
have enough money, they could take it from the bank.

Now reread the paragraph above and answer the following

questions:
1. What were the piles for? The piles were used to pay for the family's
needs/expenses, food, rent, etc.

2. How did Katrin feel? Katrin felt secure/safe.

 Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B

Worksheet No.2: Vocabulary Exercises – Lines 28-58

Circle the correct meaning of the underlined word.

1. Papa was pleased.

a. happy
b. unhappy
2. I took down the painted box.
a. a wooden box
b. a colorful box
3. The Little Bank was used for sudden emergencies.
a. things that are planned.
b. things that aren't planned.
4. Nels volunteered to work in the grocery store.
a. offered
b. didn't want
5. "I will look after the Elvington children."
a. not play with
b. babysit for
6. "I give up tobacco."
a. continue using
b. stop using
7. "We don't have to go downtown and draw money."
a. take money from the bank
b. put money in the bank
8. Mama looked at the figures.
a. numbers
b. letters
9. We have to pay for carfare.
a. food
b. a bus ticket
10. Papa went to buy medicine.
a. something that makes us sick
b. something that makes us healthy
 Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B

Worksheet No.2: Answers

Circle the correct meaning of the underlined word.

1. Papa was pleased.

a. happy
b. unhappy
2. I took down the painted box.
a. a wooden box
b. a colorful box
3. The Little Bank was used for sudden emergencies.
a. things that are planned.
b. things that aren't planned.
4. Nels volunteered to work in the grocery store.
a. offered
b. didn't want
5. "I will look after the Elvington children."
a. not play with
b. babysit for
6. "I give up tobacco."
a. continue using
b. stop using
7. "We don't have to go downtown and draw money."
a. take money from the bank
b. put money in the bank
8. Mama looked at the figures.
a. numbers
b. letters
9. We have to pay for carfare.
a. food
b. a bus ticket
10. Papa went to buy medicine.
a. something that makes us sick
b. something that makes us healthy
 Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B

Worksheet No.3: Vocabulary Exercises - Lines 59-89

Match the words in A to the words in B to form expressions that are in the text.
Write the number of the word that completes the expression.

A B

1. fine ___ background

2. comforting ___ insecure

3. a slip of ___ upon

4. always in the ___ teller

5. to feel ___ straighter

6. to depend ___ uniform

7. to stand ___ knowledge

8. Girl Scout ___ check

9. Bank ___ paper

10. the back of the 1 cheese

Now write and translate the expressions.

Expression Translation

1. Example: fine cheese ‫ גבינה איכותית‬:‫דוגמא‬

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.
 Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B

After reading lines 63-66, circle the correct word according to the story.

During the strike (-).

1. Papa worked in a (creamery / bank).

2. It was (bad / important) to save money.
3. Mama went to work in a (store / bakery).
4. Mama was very proud that she didn't have to (go to the bank / carry bottles).
5. Papa couldn't work in the (store / factory).
6. Mama didn't want the children to feel (happy / insecure).
 Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B

Worksheet No.3: Answers

Match the words in A to the words in B to form expressions that are in the text.
Write the number of the word that completes the expression.

A B

1. fine ___ background

2. comforting ___ insecure

3. a slip of ___ upon

4. always in the ___ teller

5. to feel ___ straighter

6. to depend ___ uniform

7. to stand ___ knowledge

8. Girl Scout ___ check

9. Bank ___ paper

10. the back of the 1 cheese

Now write and translate the expressions.

Expression Translation

1. Example: fine cheese ‫ גבינה איכותית جبنة ذات جودة‬:‫דוגמא‬

2. comforting knowledge ‫معلومات‬/‫معرفة‬ ّ /‫ידע מרגיע مواسِية‬

‫معزية‬

3. a slip of paper )‫פיסת נייר اقصوصة ( قطعة من الورق‬

4. always in the background ‫תמיד ברקע دائما ً في الخلفية‬

5. to feel insecure ‫ الشعور بعدم األمان‬/‫להרגיש חוסר בטחון ان يشعر‬

6. to depend upon ‫לסמוך על ان يعتمد على‬

7. to stand straighter ‫לעמוד יותר זקוף ان يقف اكثراستقامة‬

8. Girl Scout uniform ‫ي للبنات‬ ّ ِ ‫תלבושת של הצופים‬

ّ ‫الزي الكشف‬

9. bank teller ّ
)‫موظفة في المصرف (البنك‬ ّ
/ ‫موظف‬ ‫ה בבנק‬/‫פקיד‬

10. the back of the check ّ ‫הצד האחורי של הצ'ק الجهة الخلفية من ال‬
‫صك النقدي‬
)‫( الشيك‬
 Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B

After reading lines 63-66, circle the correct word according to the story.

During the strike (-).

1. Papa worked in a (creamery / bank).

2. It was (bad / important) to save money.
3. Mama went to work in a (store / bakery).
4. Mama was very proud that she didn't have to (go to the bank / carry bottles).
5. Papa couldn't work in the (store / factory).
6. Mama didn't want the children to feel (happy / insecure).
 Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B

Worksheet No.4: Comprehension Questions

1. What is the setting of the story?

Answer: ___________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________

2. Who are the characters in the story?

Answer: ___________________________________________
__________________________________________________

3. How is everyone related? Fill in the names in the family tree. One name is
given.

Katrin
 Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B

4. What happens every Saturday night?

Number the sentences in the correct order. The first one is done for you.

Mama makes piles of coins for the landlord and the grocer.

Mama says, "We do not have to go to the bank."

Mama counts the money and puts it in piles.

Papa says, "Is all?"

1 Mama sits at the kitchen table.

Mama smiles and says "Is good."

5. What was the Little Bank used for?

 ________________________

 ________________________

 ________________________

6. True or False?
a. Every Sunday night the family sat in the kitchen. T / F
b. Mrs. Jensen cried when the family had to leave their house. T / F
c. Nels wanted to continue studying. T / F
d. The family had an account in the bank downtown. T / F
e. Katrin became an author. T / F
 Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B

Worksheet No.4: Answers

1. What is the setting of the story?

Answer: The story takes place in San Francisco, USA at the beginning of the 20th
century. The story takes place in the family's home.

2. Who are the characters in the story?

Answer: The characters in the story are: Mama, Papa, Katrin, Christine, Nels,
Dagmar

3. How is everyone related? Fill in the names in the family tree.

Mama Papa

Katrin Christine Nels Dagmar

 Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B

4. What happens every Saturday night?

Number the sentences in the correct order.

3 Mama makes piles of coins for the landlord and the grocer.

6 Mama says, "We do not have to go to the bank."

2 Mama counts the money and puts it in piles.

4 Papa says, "Is all?"

1 Mama sits at the kitchen table.

5 Mama smiles and says, "Is good."

5. What was the Little Bank used for?

 Christine's costume

 Dagmar's operation

 Katrin's Girl Scout uniform

6. True or False?
a. Every Sunday night the family sat in the kitchen. T / F
b. Mrs. Jensen cried when the family had to leave their house. T / F
c. Nels wanted to continue studying. T / F
d. The family had an account in the bank downtown. T / F
e. Katrin became an author. T / F
 Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B

Worksheet No. 5: Explaining Cause and Effect

1. Katrin says, "I held onto Christine tightly."

CAUSE EFFECT
What makes her feel this way? How did she feel?

________________________ ________________________

________________________ ________________________

________________________

________________________

2. Every Saturday night the family sat at the table and watched how Mama
counted out the money for the week's expenses. After she put the coins into
the piles she would say, "Is good."

a. What effect did that have on the children? How did the children feel?

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

b. What effect did that have on Mama? How did she feel?

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________
 Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B

3. Why did Mama say, "We don't have to go down to the bank."?

Choose the correct answer:

a. Mama wanted her children to worry.

b. Mama didn't have time to go down to the bank.

c. Mama wanted her children to feel secure.

Now complete the diagram with your answer.

CAUSE
Mama said, "We don't have to go down to the bank."

EFFECT

__________________________________________________________

4. "And when I didn't–couldn't-answer…"

Why couldn't Katrin answer?

Circle the correct answer and then complete the sentence.

Katrin was (scared / happy / surprised) because ______________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________
 Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B

5. Fill in the chart.

The strike began.

Papa didn't go to work.

Papa didn't _____________________.

Mama went to _____________ because she wanted to ________________.

Katrin's family was able to get through the difficult time.

 Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B

Worksheet No. 5: Answers

1. Katrin says, "I held onto Christine tightly."

CAUSE EFFECT
What makes her feel this way? How did she feel?

Katrin felt this way because she She was worried / scared.
was worried her family might
lose their house like the
Jensens did.

2. Every Saturday night the family sat at the table and watched how Mama
counted out the money for the week's expenses. After she put the coins into
the piles she would say, "Is good."

a. What effect did that have on the children? How did the children feel?

The children felt proud and secure. It made them feel good about their

situation.

b. What effect did that have on Mama? How did she feel?

Mama felt good that they had enough money for the week. She was glad

they didn't have to go to the bank.

 Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B

3. Why did Mama say, "We don't have to go down to the bank."?

Choose the correct answer.

a. Mama wanted her children to worry.

b. Mama didn't have time to go down to the bank.

c. Mama wanted her children to feel secure.

Now complete the diagram with your answer.

CAUSE
Mama said, "We don't have to go down to the bank."

EFFECT

Mama wanted her children to feel secure.

4. "And when I didn't–couldn't-answer…"

a. Why couldn't Katrin answer? Circle the correct answer:

a. She was scared

b. She was surprised.

c. She was happy.

b. Circle the correct answer and then complete the sentence.

Katrin was (scared / surprised / happy) because she thought her mother

had a bank account.

 Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B

5. Fill in the chart.

The strike began.

Papa didn't go to work.

Papa didn't get paid.

Mama went to work because she wanted to help out.

Katrin's family was able to get through the difficult time.

 Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B

Worksheet No. 6: Comparing and Contrasting

Complete the chart using the sentences below.

What was different when Katrin gave the check to Mama at the end of the story?
What stayed the same and what changed?

 They were younger.

 They are older.
 Mama counted the money.
 Papa was taller.
 Katrin believed her family had a bank account.
 Papa is shorter.
 Mama has some gray hair.
 Katrin gives money to Mama.

Twenty Years Ago Now

Example: Mama had blond hair

Katrin believes her family has a bank account.

 Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B

Worksheet No. 6: Answers

Complete the chart using the sentences below.

What was different when Katrin gave the check to Mama at the end of the story?
What stayed the same and what changed?

 They were younger.

 They are older.
 Mama counted the money.
 Papa was taller.
 Katrin believed her family had a bank account.
 Papa is shorter.
 Mama has some gray hair.
 Katrin gives money to Mama.

Twenty Years Ago Now

Example: Mama had blond hair Mama has some gray hair.

They were younger. They are older.

Katrin believed her family had a Katrin believes her family has a bank account.
bank account.

Mama counted the money. Katrin gives money to Mama.

Papa was taller. Papa is shorter.

 Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B

Worksheet No. 7: Bridging Text and Context

Look at the following photos. Then do the following things:

1. Choose at least two of the photos.

2. Describe the photo in one or two sentences.
3. How does the photo connect to the story?
4.
Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B
Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B
 Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B

Worksheet No. 7: Answers

Enrichment
Read the following information to understand the connection between the author and
the story.

Kathryn Anderson Forbes was born in 1908 in San

Francisco, USA. Her grandmother came from Norway in
the late 1800's.

Mama's Bank Account, her most famous book, was written

in 1943. Later, a movie and a successful TV show were
made. In the story, "Mama and Her Bank Account",
Kathryn Anderson Forbes writes about her childhood and
some of the difficult times her family had.

Look at the following photos. Then do the following things:

1. Choose at least two of the photos.

2. Describe the photo in one or two sentences.
3. How does the photo connect to the story?

"…Mama would sit down by the scrubbed kitchen table and count out the money..."
 Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B

"Mama would solemnly take a nickel or a dime and set it aside." / "…carefully wrote down a
sum and added…"

"I took down the colorfully painted box that Aunt Sigrid had sent us from Norway."
 Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B

"During the strike when Papa didn't work…"

 Mama and Her Bank Account – Module B

Worksheet No. 8 – Post-Reading Activity

Choose ONE of the following tasks.

1. Draw a comic strip showing the conversation that takes place in the kitchen
between the mother, father and the children at the family's Saturday night
meeting. You can use this site to help you.
http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix/ or http://www.toondoo.com/
Prepare a strip of at least four boxes using the think balloons and talk balloons.

2a. What do you do to help your family? Write five sentences. You may use the
examples below:

 I take…
 I help with…
 I help my…
 I play…
 I try to…
 I give…
 I go…
 I visit…
 I work…

b. Who in the story does something similar to what you do? _____________
Write a note from this character in the story explaining what he/she did to help.

Dear _________,
I want to tell you what I did to help at home.
First, _________________________________________________
Then I ________________________________________________
My (mother/father) was happy because ________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
I will write again soon.
Love ____________

3. Make a collage (a collection of words and pictures) of two different scenes in

the story. Write 2-3 sentences in your own words that describe the scenes.