Who gave the most?
Children's Activity
Object:
Teachers or Parents: Children, at a very early age, can learn
what sacrificial giving is all about. The Gospel account of the
"widow's mite" gives us a good example of sacrificial giving, and
we can use it to show our children that those who love God will
practice this kind of giving.
*Select three children to participate in a demonstration.
Give them play money in the following amounts. $100 to one, $50
to one, and $25 to the third. Explain to them that you are going
to play a game with the money and if they can keep at least $5 to
the end of the game, they will be able to purchase a candy bar
(or some other prize) with the $5 in play money. Explain that in
the game, you will take some money from them for essentials that
they must pay, but there will be at least one thing they can
decide to pay or not pay. Remind them that the way to win is to
retain at least $5 at the end of the game. Begin by taking ten
percent for taxes ($10, $5, and $2.50). Then take thirty percent
for housing ($30, $15, and $7.50). Next take twenty percent for
food ($20, $10, and $5). This will leave them $40, $20, and $10
respectively. Now tell them about a wonderful entertainment
opportunity that costs only $5 and take $5 from each. This leaves
them $35, $15, and $5. Finally, pass an offering plate for church
and let them put in whatever they want. If the one who has only
$5 puts anything in, he/she will not be able to purchase the
prize, and this will be a wonderful demonstration of sacrificial
giving. If they withhold the money in order to get the prize, it
makes the same point in a negative sense.
Sunday school assembly opening:
*Read the Gospel account of the "widow's mite" and make sure
they realize why Jesus praised her giving. Then ask them to
compare her giving to what they have brought for a Sunday school
offering today. Ask them to consider what they give in relation
to what they have. Are they giving sacrificially or is their
offering just a token they receive from parents?
what sacrificial giving is all about. The Gospel account of the
"widow's mite" gives us a good example of sacrificial giving, and
we can use it to show our children that those who love God will
practice this kind of giving.
*Select three children to participate in a demonstration.
Give them play money in the following amounts. $100 to one, $50
to one, and $25 to the third. Explain to them that you are going
to play a game with the money and if they can keep at least $5 to
the end of the game, they will be able to purchase a candy bar
(or some other prize) with the $5 in play money. Explain that in
the game, you will take some money from them for essentials that
they must pay, but there will be at least one thing they can
decide to pay or not pay. Remind them that the way to win is to
retain at least $5 at the end of the game. Begin by taking ten
percent for taxes ($10, $5, and $2.50). Then take thirty percent
for housing ($30, $15, and $7.50). Next take twenty percent for
food ($20, $10, and $5). This will leave them $40, $20, and $10
respectively. Now tell them about a wonderful entertainment
opportunity that costs only $5 and take $5 from each. This leaves
them $35, $15, and $5. Finally, pass an offering plate for church
and let them put in whatever they want. If the one who has only
$5 puts anything in, he/she will not be able to purchase the
prize, and this will be a wonderful demonstration of sacrificial
giving. If they withhold the money in order to get the prize, it
makes the same point in a negative sense.
Sunday school assembly opening:
*Read the Gospel account of the "widow's mite" and make sure
they realize why Jesus praised her giving. Then ask them to
compare her giving to what they have brought for a Sunday school
offering today. Ask them to consider what they give in relation
to what they have. Are they giving sacrificially or is their
offering just a token they receive from parents?
