Scripture: Numbers 22-24
Learning Objectives:
- Students will learn God expects everyone to obey Him.
- Students will learn God often goes out of His way to remind us to obey Him.
- Students will learn it is wise to not add to or take away from what God has told us to say.
- Students will learn how to make change.
Guiding Question: How can students learn to make change?
Materials: Fake money
Procedure: Review the story of Balaam focusing on his treatment of his donkey and how the donkey saved him by stopping when he saw the angel. Explain that God wanted Ballam to listen to Him and follow His direction but Baalam wants to make the choices himself and follow his own directions. Remind students that God’s direction is the best direction because He knows what is best for us. God expects us to obey Him and follow what He tells us. When we do not follow Him, we can tend to make bad choices and end up with negative consequences. God’s way is the best way for us to have the life He desires and to help grow His Kingdom.
Introduce the activity. Remind students that Balaam was willing to do evil for money. Review money names and amounts and how to count money. Bring in fake money and have the students practice making change without using calculators or paper and pencil.
Additional Questions: How can students practice making change in real-life scenarios?
Supplemental Activity: Give students an example restaurant menu. Have students work in pairs – one as the customer and one as the cashier. The customer tells the cashier what they want and give the cashier fake money. Cashier then has to make change as needed.