December · Month 4 of the money year

Giving

“What's the kindest way to give — and how do you give wisely?”

By the end of the month, pupils can contribute in useful ways that need no money, decide a fair 'share' portion to give, match a gift to what someone actually needs, check a giving request before acting, and help plan a safe, inclusive class act of giving.

Ages 8–11 · 4 lessons + a mission · 45 min each

🖨️ Print the pupil workbook Browse in the Lesson Finder

📖 Also in the printable year workbook (PDF), pupil pp. 56–68

The month's teaching plan

Four 45-minute lessons in this order, then the classroom mission.

Giving is more than coins

Goldie · 45 min

Goal: Identify useful ways to contribute that do not require money.

givingtimeskillkindness

You need: cards showing reading to a younger pupil, repairing a shelf with an adult, donating a book, paying for supplies.

Lesson plan (45 min) + what pupils do+

Scenario

A younger pupil wants a reading partner. A shelf needs repair with an adult. A school requests used books. A project requests money for supplies. Which offers time, skill, goods or money? Ask the recipient what is useful.

45-minute flow

5m ask whether a zero-euro action can help; 8m model time, skill, goods and money as different contributions; 20m teams choose a helpful action for a fictional reading corner and explain who benefits; 8m discuss consent and whether the help matches the need; 4m exit: one useful action without money.

What pupils do

Sort four cards into money / time / goods / skill.
A library needs books shelved, not more decorations. Which offer helps most?
Write one question to ask before helping.
Draw a zero-euro class contribution.

The share portion

Goldie · 45 min

Goal: Decide a small "share" portion of a fictional amount to give, seeing giving as a planned choice rather than a rule.

shareportionchooseplan

You need: a €10 token per group, three jars labelled spend / save / share, cause cards.

Lesson plan (45 min) + what pupils do+

Scenario

You have €10 and three jars: spend, save, share. Choose a share amount (it may be €0), work out what is left, and pick a fictional cause it could help.

45-minute flow

5m show €10 and three jars and ask whether any must go to share; 8m model that a share portion is a personal choice — some choose €1, some €0, and all are respected; 20m groups choose a share amount and a fictional cause and explain; 8m discuss why giving is a free choice and no amount is "right"; 4m exit: write the share amount you chose and why.

What pupils do

You have €10 and three jars. Choose an amount for share (it may be €0).
How much is left for spend and save together?
Pick a fictional cause your share could help.
Why should giving be a choice, not a rule?

Match the gift to the need

Penny · 45 min

Goal: Choose a gift that fits what the recipient actually needs, by asking first.

needmatchusefulask

You need: need cards (a class needs book labels; a shelter needs blankets; a garden needs seeds) and gift-option cards (money, labels, blankets, toys, seeds).

Lesson plan (45 min) + what pupils do+

Scenario

Needs: a class needs book labels; a shelter needs blankets; a garden needs seeds. Gifts: money, labels, blankets, toys, seeds. Match each need to the most useful gift and find the one mismatch.

45-minute flow

5m show a "needs blankets" card beside a pile of toys and ask whether toys help; 8m model matching a gift to a stated need by asking first; 20m groups match three needs to the most useful gifts and mark one mismatch; 8m discuss why an unwanted gift can create work rather than help; 4m exit: write one question to ask before giving.

What pupils do

Match each need to the most useful gift.
Which gift does NOT match the "needs blankets" case?
Why can an unwanted gift be unhelpful?
Write one question to ask a recipient before giving.

A kind request, a careful check

Byte · 45 min

Goal: Evaluate a fictional donation request before acting.

causeevidenceverifyprivacy

You need: two fictional posters: A names a school book drive, date and teacher contact; B says “Urgent! Send money to this personal account now!”

Lesson plan (45 min) + what pupils do+

Scenario

Poster A: “School book drive, Friday; ask the named teacher what titles are needed.” Poster B: “Urgent! Send money to this personal account now or children miss out.” Decide what can be checked independently. Do not send details.

45-minute flow

5m show the two posters; 8m model three checks: purpose, trusted organiser and safe route; 20m pairs annotate both and rewrite B as a question for a trusted adult; 8m discuss that a genuine cause can still use a poor request; 4m exit: name the first check.

What pupils do

What does each poster say the help is for?
Which details can you verify independently?
Should a child send payment details? Explain.
Write a respectful reply that pauses action.

Final mission

Plan a class act of giving

Penny · 45 min · independent, after rehearsal

Goal: Make a small, feasible plan that includes consent, roles and a way to learn whether it helped.

Lesson plan (45 min) + what pupils do+

Scenario

A school reading corner needs clear labels. The class has €6 in project tokens, blank paper and 30 minutes. Plain labels cost €2; decorated labels cost €5. Make a useful plan and ask the librarian if it works.

45-minute flow

5m reveal the request; 8m model asking the teacher/librarian what is needed; 20m groups design a plan with one adult contact, materials, jobs and a €0–€6 budget; 8m compare plans for usefulness and fairness; 4m exit: one measure of success.

What pupils do

Write the need in one sentence.
Choose paper labels costing €2 or decorated labels costing €5; explain.
Assign three roles.
Name one question to ask the recipient afterward.

Optional extensions

Extra lessons for classes that move faster — invitations, not compulsory homework.

Kind and fair

Goldie · 45 min

Give in ways that include everyone and never embarrass anyone, understanding that people can give different amounts.

The gift of time

Penny · 45 min

Recognise time and help as valuable gifts and plan a simple, consented time-gift.

Many small gifts

Goldie · 45 min

See how small optional contributions can add to a useful total, using simple arithmetic.

Did it help?

Penny · 45 min

Close the giving loop by thanking people and checking, respectfully, whether the gift helped.

Practise it — free games & tools

The same ideas as a game or tool a child does themselves — for a station, quiet time or home.

Save · Spend · Share Family challenges Money Hero Academy

For the teacher

Prepare once

Print the giving-plan page and a few fictional 'need' cards (a cold classroom pet, a new pupil, a tired helper) and 'request' cards (one genuine, one too pushy). Have envelopes ready for a pretend collection. Keep everything fictional — no real money is collected.

Adapt for your class

For 6–8, focus on non-money giving (time, kindness, help) and sorting genuine from pushy requests by feel. For 9–12, add a 'share portion' calculation and a consent + roles plan. Make sure no activity pressures a pupil to give or reveals family circumstances.

Assess the mission

In the mission (plan a class act of giving), mark: the plan is feasible and includes consent and roles; the gift matches a real need; and it includes everyone and embarrasses no one. Generosity is never about amount — a thoughtful, inclusive plan is the goal.

The pupil workbook

Print-ready A4 pages: cover, diagnostic, every lesson with writing space, the mission, reflection and cut-out coins. Open and print (or save as PDF).

Open the workbook →

Next month: January — Saving

Education only — not financial advice. All shops, prices and people in the scenarios are fictional.

Giving

“What's the kindest way to give — and how do you give wisely?”

Ages 8–11 · 4 lessons + a mission · 45 min each

📖 Also in the printable year workbook (PDF), pupil pp. 56–68

💝 Giving

The month's teaching plan

Giving is more than coins

The share portion

Match the gift to the need

A kind request, a careful check

Plan a class act of giving

Optional extensions

Kind and fair

The gift of time

Many small gifts

Did it help?

Practise it — free games & tools

For the teacher

Prepare once

Adapt for your class

Assess the mission

The pupil workbook

💝 Giving

The month's teaching plan

Giving is more than coins

The share portion

Match the gift to the need

A kind request, a careful check

Plan a class act of giving

Optional extensions

Kind and fair

The gift of time

Many small gifts

Did it help?

Practise it — free games & tools

For the teacher

Prepare once

Adapt for your class

Assess the mission

The pupil workbook

Giving

Giving