salt
Start thinking: what do these things have in common?
grain
shells
cattle
Session 2: Where did money come from?
They were all used as money.
Salt, grain, shells and cattle all once bought real things.
So why don’t we use them any more?
VS
Even modern money has weaknesses - what could go wrong?
Paper money
What problems can you think of?
Discuss for 1 minute
Digital money
What problems can you think of?
Today’s Big Question:
Why did humans invent money and how did it change the world?
PATHWAY 1
From Goats to Gold:
The First 4,000 Years of Money
10 mins
PATHWAY 2
From Paper to Pixels:
The Modern Money Revolution
10 mins
Why did humans invent money and how did it �change the world?
Fact or fiction?
Objective | Rules | After |
Decide: is each statement FACT or FICTION? | A statement appears. I will read it aloud and count down from 5… then say “SHOW ME”. Hands up for FACT. Hands down for FICTION. | How did you know? What does each answer remind us about money? |
Every statement comes from Session 1 - What is Money?
Saving is beneficial because it can help with emergency or unexpected costs. |
Fact or fiction?
Savings are your safety net. Unexpected costs, a broken phone, a lost bus pass, an emergency at home, can arrive at any time.
What other emergency or unexpected costs can you think of?
FACT
Fact or fiction?
1 in 10 teenagers have no savings at all. |
The real figure is closer to 1 in 3. That is why building the savings habit early matters so much.
Does that number surprise you?
FICTION
Fact or fiction?
The ideal split for the ‘Money Rule of 3’ is 60% spend, 40% save, 0% grow. |
Financial advisors often recommend roughly 50% spend, 30% save, 20% grow. It is a recommendation, not a fixed rule - the right split depends on your circumstances.
Why is ‘grow’ worth more than 0%?
FICTION
Fact or fiction?
The problems with trade are convenience, timing, and value. |
Timing: barter locks value in the present. Convenience: the ‘double coincidence of wants’. Value: nothing agreed = every trade is a negotiation.
Which of these three would frustrate you the most?
FACT
Fact or fiction?
Money is used as a medium of exchange only. |
Money has three functions:
Can you name something that fails one of these tests?
FICTION
WE HAVE COVERED:
Learner Journal
Part 1: Three Things I Learnt Today
Open your Learner Journal. Write down three things you learnt. These can be facts, ideas, or things that surprised you.
What is the most important thing you learnt about the history of money today and why does it matter to you?
Write your response in your Learner Journal, then finish sections 3-5.
Learner Journal
Part 2: Reflective Question
“Money is not a material reality; it is a psychological construct. It works by converting matter into mind... Money is thus the most universal and most efficient system of mutual trust ever invented.” Yuval Noah Harari, author (2014)
Money works because society collectively agrees to trust it. Now that you understand the 4,000-year story of how that trust was built, you can navigate the financial system you are a part of.
Lock-In Quote
Extension Activities
Extension 1
Extension 2
Why Does The Mediterranean Have So Much Salt?
How Can Camels Be Worth More Than Gold?