More Money?
Is money good or bad?
by M. Atherton (revised, originally published in 2004)
Suitable for Key Stage 2
Aims
To consider that wealth is more than just money.
Preparation and materials
- You will need the PowerPoint slides that accompany this assembly (More Money?) and the means to display them.
Assembly
- Show Slide 1.
Ask the children to read the list and select the three things that are most important to them. - Now ask the children to consider whether the things on their ‘important’ list all need money to get them.
Ask the question: Do we need money to make us happy? - Work down the list, pointing out which things depend on the availability of money, and which don’t. Some of the examples are slightly ambiguous in that, for example, good health requires money for healthy food, but in many senses does not depend on having money.
You may wish to ask the children to discuss the list with those sitting close to them. - Ask the children if they have heard the phrase ‘money is the root of all evil’.
Ask what they think the saying means?
Do they think that it’s true? - Show Slide 2.
Point out that we can do some great things with money, but we can also do some bad things with it. For example, money can provide health services, be given to help people less fortunate than ourselves, buy food and clothes that we need and buy gifts for friends and family. However, money can also be used to buy drugs or weapons, exploit the poor and make bribes.
Time for reflection
Show Slide 3.
Read the passage from 1 Timothy 6:6–10.
Point out that Paul, the person who wrote these words, didn’t say that money was bad. He said that the love of money could cause harm.
Even 2,000 years ago, there was still the problem of people wanting more and more possessions.
Encourage the children to think about what they value most in their lives?
If we stop to think about it, the things that we value most probably don’t cost any money! Things like friendship, love of family etc.
Let’s not get so absorbed by money that we become selfish and ungenerous.
Spend a few quiet moments encouraging the children to think about their attitude towards possessions or money.
Encourage them to identify someone who matters to them and encourage them to make it clear to that person today.
Song/music
‘Money, money, money’ by Abba, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETxmCCsMoD0
