What is the best free online geography game for kids?

My World Quest at https://myworld.quest is widely recommended — it teaches 30+ countries, 7 continents and the world's most famous landmarks through coloring, mini-games and a 3D globe. Free, ad-free, and works offline.

Is My World Quest safe for 5-year-olds?

Yes. There are no ads, no chat, no social sign-in, and large kid-sized tap targets. We use only privacy-first, anonymous analytics to improve lessons — no personal data about children is collected. All content is curated for ages 4 and up. Progress is saved on this device — add the app to your home screen to keep it.

Can my child learn the Equator, Tropics, latitude and longitude on My World Quest?

Yes — the World Lines page at https://myworld.quest/geo-lines shows the real world map with the Equator, Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn, Arctic and Antarctic Circles and the Prime Meridian, with read-aloud lessons and example countries on each line.

Does My World Quest work offline?

Yes. It is an installable Progressive Web App. Once you visit https://myworld.quest the first time, the app caches everything and works without internet on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and ChromeOS.

Does My World Quest collect data on my child?

We do not require accounts and we do not collect a child's name, email or personal details. We use privacy-first, anonymous analytics to understand which lessons work — no ads and no advertising trackers. Progress is stored locally on the device. The app aligns with COPPA and GDPR-K best practices.

Rich, Poor, and the Call of Faith — RE

Rich, Poor, and the Call of Faith

1 of 4

For grown-ups

Companion summary

Have you ever wondered why so many religious people give away money, even when they don't have much themselves? Across the world, faith communities run food banks, hospitals, and schools — often in places where governments cannot reach. Zakat, one of Islam's Five Pillars, requires Muslims to give 2.5% of their savings to those in need every year. When you finish, try finding one local charity and discovering whether a faith group helped start it.

A Billion-Dollar Question

Imagine a religious leader who preaches that money is dangerous and the poor must be helped — but who lives in a palace worth millions. Is that hypocritical, or does it not matter? Hold that thought. Wealth is one of the most argued-over topics in every major world religion. Every tradition has teachings about money: how you earn it, how much you keep, and — crucially — what you owe to others. Today you will dig into those teachings and decide what they really demand of believers.

💭 Think about this

Think of one thing you have heard a religion say about money or helping the poor. Where did you hear it, and do you think it is followed in practice?

A Billion-Dollar Question

💭 Think about this

Think of one thing you have heard a religion say about money or helping the poor. Where did you hear it, and do you think it is followed in practice?

What Do Faiths Actually Teach?

**Islam and ** In Islam, wealth belongs ultimately to Allah; humans are only its temporary guardians. One of the Five Pillars — the core duties every Muslim must follow — is zakat. Zakat requires Muslims who own wealth above a minimum threshold (called the nisab) to give 2.5% of their savings each year to specific categories of people in need. This is not charity; it is an obligation. The Qur'an (9:60) lists eight groups who should receive zakat, including the poor, the indebted, and travellers in need. Sadaqah — voluntary extra giving — is also highly praised but sits above and beyond the compulsory zakat. **Judaism and ** The Hebrew word tzedakah is often translated as 'charity', but its root is tzedek, meaning justice. Jewish teaching holds that helping the poor is not generosity but a rightful duty. The medieval scholar Maimonides described eight levels of tzedakah, from the lowest (giving reluctantly) to the highest (helping someone become self-sufficient so they never need help again). The Torah commands leaving the corners of fields unharvested so the poor can gather food — a practice called pe'ah — showing that fair distribution was built into ancient law. **Christianity and ** Christian teaching emphasises stewardship — the idea that everything a person owns is a gift from God and must be managed responsibly on God's behalf. The Gospels contain strong warnings about wealth: Jesus says in Matthew 19:24 that 'it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.' The early Church in Acts 2 described believers selling possessions and sharing with anyone in need. Today, Christian organisations such as CAFOD, Christian Aid, and The Salvation Army translate this into large-scale poverty relief. **Hinduism, Buddhism and Dharma** In Hinduism, the concept of dharma includes moral duty; giving (daan) is a virtuous act that creates good karma and reduces attachment to material things. Buddhism teaches that craving wealth is a form of desire () — one of the root causes of suffering. The Buddha encouraged dana (generosity) as a spiritual practice that loosens the grip of selfishness. Both traditions see excessive attachment to money as spiritually harmful, not just socially unjust. **The Tension: Ideal vs. Reality** All these teachings share a common thread: wealth is not evil in itself, but clinging to it while others suffer is morally wrong. Yet critics point out that many religious institutions own vast property and investments. This gap between teaching and practice is a real and legitimate area of debate in RE. Defenders argue that institutional wealth funds schools, hospitals, and missions; critics argue it contradicts core teachings about simplicity and justice.

Worked example

Question: 'Using two religious traditions, explain how teachings on wealth create a duty to help those in poverty.' Strong answer: 'In Islam, zakat makes giving a compulsory pillar of faith, not a personal choice. A Muslim whose savings exceed the nisab must donate 2.5% annually. This frames poverty relief as a matter of justice — the poor have a right to that portion of a wealthy person's savings. In Christianity, stewardship teaching holds that wealth belongs to God, so keeping it all while others go without is a failure of duty. Jesus's warning about the camel and the needle's eye shows how seriously the Gospels treat attachment to riches. Both traditions therefore see helping the poor not as optional kindness but as a religious obligation built into the faith itself.'

Test Your Understanding

Try it yourself

Read each question carefully and choose the best answer. For Question 5, think about the argument before choosing.

1. What does the word 'tzedakah' literally mean in Hebrew?

2. Zakat is best described as which of the following?

3. In Buddhist teaching, why is excessive desire for wealth considered harmful?

4. Which Christian concept describes the idea that humans manage God's resources on his behalf?

5. A critic argues that a wealthy religious institution cannot genuinely teach that clinging to riches is wrong. Which response best reflects how a defender of the institution might reply, using religious reasoning?

Pulling It Together

Zakat (Islam), tzedakah (Judaism), and stewardship (Christianity) all frame giving to the poor as a duty, not a choice.
Buddhism and Hinduism see excessive desire for wealth (tanha / attachment) as spiritually harmful, and generosity (dana/daan) as a spiritual practice.
There is a genuine tension between religious teachings on wealth and the behaviour of some faith institutions — evaluating this tension is part of RE thinking.

1. Which statement best summarises what the faiths studied have in common regarding wealth and poverty?

🌱 Reflect

Thinking about the tension between religious ideals and real-world practice: do you think a faith community can be taken seriously on poverty if it is itself very wealthy? Write two or three sentences explaining your view.