I Want That!

The feeling of jealousy

by Janice Ross

Suitable for Whole School (Pri)

Aims

To consider the far-reaching effects of jealousy.

Preparation and materials

• You will need the YouTube video ‘Sesame Street: Jealous (Word on the Street Podcast)’. It is 5.51 minutes long and is available at: https://youtu.be/zDKpk2X53kQ
• You will need to have pre-arranged for three volunteers to read the three scenarios in the ‘Assembly’, Steps 6 to 8.
• You will also need to have pre-arranged for a volunteer to read Matthew 2.12-20.

Assembly

1. Explain to the children that today, we are going to be thinking about the word ‘jealousy’.
   
   
2. Ask the children whether they know what the word ‘jealous’ means.
   
   Listen to a range of responses.
   
   
3. Show the YouTube video ‘Sesame Street: Jealous (Word on the Street Podcast)’ up to 0.30 minutes.
   
   Ask the children, ‘How did the children in the video describe jealousy?’
   
   Listen to a range of responses.
   
   
4. Show the YouTube video ‘Sesame Street: Jealous (Word on the Street Podcast)’ from 0.30 to 2.16 minutes.
   
   Remind the children that jealousy is a feeling.
   
   Ask the children to make a jealous face.
   
   Identify that jealousy is not a nice feeling.
   
   We might think that we are not jealous people, like Charlize did, but usually, we will all feel jealous at some point.
   
   
5. Explain that some volunteers are going to act out some short scenarios. You would like the children to listen carefully to identify what tells us that the people involved might be feeling jealous.
   
   Invite the pre-arranged volunteers to act out the scenarios.
   
   
6. Scenario 1: my sister got some new clothes this weekend. It’s not fair - she always gets more than I do. I haven’t had any new clothes for ages.
   
   Now ask the children the following questions.
   
   - Did you hear any words that suggested that this person was jealous?
   - Did you see any expressions that suggested that this person was jealous?
   
   Listen to a range of responses.
   
   
7. Scenario 2: Luis has been chosen for the football team again. It’s not fair; it’s only because his dad is the coach.
   
   Now ask the children the same set of questions as before.
   
   Listen to a range of responses.
   
   
8. Scenario 3: it’s not fair. Another of Jane’s stories is on the celebration board. It’s only because she can draw good pictures to go with it.
   
   Now ask the children the same set of questions as before.
   
   Listen to a range of responses.
   
   
9. Identify that in each scenario, someone was comparing their lot with someone else’s.
   
   Explain that jealousy is something that can grow. The more we say, ‘That’s not fair,’ or ‘I want what he’s got,’ or ‘She has more than me,’ the bigger our jealousy can become. Jealousy is an unattractive quality.
   
   
10. Explain that there is a story in the Bible that comes just after the happy story of Christmas. It is a sad story about one man’s jealousy and what it led to.
    
    Remind the children of the wise men who went to find the new Saviour that had been born. First, they went to King Herod because they thought that the baby must have been born in the palace, but he wasn’t there.
    ‘Make sure to come back and tell me where he is,’ Herod said to the three wise men, ‘so that I can come and worship him too.’
    
    But it was a trick. Herod had no intention of bowing down to another king. He was the king and he was jealous to think that there might be another king somewhere.
    
    
11. Ask a volunteer to read Matthew 2.12-20.
    
    Identify the full horror of this man’s jealousy and rage.
    
    Explain that fortunately, God knew what was in Herod’s heart and he protected baby Jesus and his family.

Time for reflection

Ask the children the following questions, pausing to allow time for thought after each one.

- Do you ever feel jealous?
- How does it make you feel?
- What does it make you do?

Sometimes, it is tempting to compare ourselves with others. This is often where feelings of jealousy develop. Learning that we are all different and all special can help us to overcome jealous feelings.

Encourage the children to speak to an adult if they are struggling with feelings of jealousy.

Prayer
Dear God,
You know that we are all capable of feeling jealous.
We know that there are times when we want something that someone else has.
Please help us to choose to be content with who we are and what we have.
Please help us to be thankful.
Amen.