Children’s learning resources
Download teaching resources
Explore our free teaching and learning resources, which are developed to introduce global issues – linked to the mission of Mary’s Meals – to the classroom.
We have a variety of resources available for use in primary and secondary schools, ready for you to download and include in your lesson plans.
View resources for:
Resources for children at Primary School
Learning resources
5 to 8 years - Meals Make A Difference
Meals Make A Difference is a cross-curricular learning resource for teachers to use with pupils between five and eight years old. The resource will support the curriculum objectives of developing your pupils as successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.
The sessions are infused with opportunities for pupils to develop cross-curricular skills for life, learning and work. The activities will also link to learning about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, helping pupils understand how children around the world are impacted by issues such as rights and development.
8 to 11 years - Hunger To Hope
Hunger to Hope is a cross-curricular learning resource for teachers to use with pupils between eight and 11 years old. The resource will support the curriculum objectives of developing your pupils as ethical and informed citizens, creative contributors and confident individuals.
The sessions are infused with opportunities for pupils to develop cross-curricular skills, thinking skills and personal capabilities. The activities will also link to learning about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, helping pupils understand how children like them around the world are impacted by issues such as rights and development.
Religious Education Directory (RED) resources - Walking Together
Walking Together is Mary’s Meals learning resource that aims to support schools in delivering To Know you more clearly, The RE Directory for Catholic Schools, Academies and Colleges. These planned and well-resourced lessons for every year group from EYFS to Year 9, as well as a resource for Sixth Form groups, explore Knowledge Lens Content, whilst focussing on putting Catholic Social Teaching into action. This allows pupils and students to learn more about the lives of other children around the world and the difference they can make in promoting the Common Good.
Assembly and presentations
Mary’s Meals have created school assembly presentations which are ready for teachers to pick up and use in their own school.
Please find PowerPoint presentations and accompanying notes below.
Presentation for 4 to 7 year olds
Presentation for 7 to 11 year olds
Fun and educational fundraising campaigns
Pocket Money for Porridge
World Porridge Day
Sponsor A School - Help Feed Children
Activities for young children
Design your Christmas Tree of Hope
Mary’s Meals serves school meals to children around the world to help them come to school and have the food they need to learn and play. These meals bring hope to children and their families. Design a tree that makes you feel hopeful and happy – you can choose the shape of your tree, use bright colours and decorations.
The Mary's Meals Nativity
Download our wonderful free Nativity kit for primary schools by authors Denise and Frank Cottrell-Boyce.
Frank, who wrote best-selling book Millions, and his wife Denise, have created two easy to memorise rhyming scripts for primary school children – complete with handy hints on filming, costumes and editing.
Mary's Meals Superheroes
Hear what some young superheroes have to say about the power of porridge!
This range of engaging resources for primary school children includes games, a ‘make your own superhero mask’ activity, colouring-in sheets and a video that you can watch here.
Fill Mugs To Fight Hunger
Many of the children who eat Mary’s Meals consider their feeding mug to be a cherished item. This kit helps children to turn a household mug into a collection cup, complete with decorative labels, to raise funds and fight hunger.
Amazing Grace
Explore how poverty can prevent children around the world from getting an education through Grace’s story.
This inspiring educational pack for primary school children includes worksheets, drawing activities and a video that you can watch here.
Resources for children at Secondary School
Learning resources
Little Acts Make A Big Difference
Little Acts Make A Big Difference helps secondary school students learn about the lives of children around the world and see the huge difference a school meal makes to young people living in poverty.
You can pick and choose from six sessions, with the option of a tailored session for Catholic schools (download here). There is also a handy curriculum guide to help teachers integrate these sessions into their lesson plans (download here).
Religious Education Directory (RED) resources - Walking Together
Walking Together is Mary’s Meals learning resource that aims to support schools in delivering To Know you more clearly, The RE Directory for Catholic Schools, Academies and Colleges. These planned and well-resourced lessons for every year group from EYFS to Year 9, as well as a resource for Sixth Form groups, explore Knowledge Lens Content, whilst focussing on putting Catholic Social Teaching into action. This allows pupils and students to learn more about the lives of other children around the world and the difference they can make in promoting the Common Good.
The Shed That Fed A Million Children
These short excerpts from the book The Shed That Fed A Million Children, written by our founder, take children from the Highlands of Scotland to the heart of Africa. The pack includes questions for reflection and discussion. You can also watch videos of our founder Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow reading the excerpts here.
Educational and fundraising activities for Secondary Schools
The Mary’s Meals Schools Award
Sponsor A School - Help Feed Children
World Porridge Day
