A Bank Run is No Fun

Topic: Banking - Strand 4
Time needed: 4 minute video, plus any discussion
Suggested grade level: 7-12
Activity Type: Video
Material: A Bank Run is No Fun Video

Description: Yanely explains the 2023 collapse of the Silicon Valley bank. Concepts also include: FDIC, NCUA, the Federal Reserve (% requirement of banks), Bonds, Economic concepts such as inflation.

Bank vs Credit Union

Topic: Banking - Strand 4
Time needed: 30 minutes
Suggested grade level: 11-12
Activity Type: Videos with Guided Notes
Material: US Treasury Video, Federal Reserve Video, Why don't we print more money Video, Bank vs Credit Union Worksheet

Description: Using the following resources, students complete guided notes explain the Federal Reserve, Banks, and Credit Unions. Resources: US Treasury, Federal Reserve, Bank vs Credit Union. Students also explain why the U.S. can’t just print more money using the Why don't we print more money video.

Bankaroo

Topic: Banking - Strand 4
Time needed: Ongoing
Suggested grade level: 6-8
Activity Type: Banking simulation used for rewards or for classroom management
Material: Bankaroo Website

Description: Teachers use Bankaroo to help the students stay motivated using a positive point system. For example, allocating each student 10 points at the beginning of the week, and then adding or removing points based on behavior. At the end of the week, students can ‘buy’ items (such as office supplies, extra 5 min breaks, and other creative ideas) with the points they have in their account.

Credit Report

Topic: Banking - Strand 4
Time needed: 10-20 minutes
Suggested grade level: 10-12
Activity Type: Website
Material: Free Annual Credit Report

Description: Strand 5, Standard 3 discusses the importance of regularly reviewing one’s credit report and the resource needed to monitor and review one’s credit. This is a free resource and consumer protection right. The website describes the history of the governance that created it. You can spend little, some, or more time on this resource, but it should absolutely be covered as part of the curriculum.

Differences Between FDIC and NCUA Insurance

Topic: Banking - Strand 4
Time needed: 1 Class Period
Suggested grade level: 10-12
Activity Type: Group activity
Material: FDIC / NCUA Activity

Description: This is an activity to teach the need for FDIC/ NCUA using a group activity where students invest money and make a run on banks similar to the great depression. Where more and more are banking with online banks this will help them better choose banks or credit unions. This lesson utilizes sofi.com

Banking Basics

Topic: Banking - Strand 4
Time needed: 75-90 Minutes
Suggested grade level: 11-12
Activity Type: Lesson and Video
Material: EverFi Banking Basics Lesson, Explaining Inflation Video, Pay Yourself First Video

Description: The EverFi lesson is full of useful manipulatives and activities that are excellent for teaching banking basics and banking/ savings products. However, EverFi seems to be missing context on two subjects core to the strands and standards within this curriculum: PYSF, and Inflation. These two videos will help to explain these concepts that are discussed, but not explicitly taught in the Ever-Fi lesson plan.

NGPF Online Bank Simulator

Topic: Banking - Strand 4
Time needed: 60 minutes
Suggested grade level: 11-12
Activity Type: Online Banking Simulation
Material: Worksheet

Description: Using the worksheet, students will complete the NGPF Online Bank Simulator which teaches them how to use a pretend banking app.

Economic Lowdown

Topic: Basic Economics - Strand 1
Time needed: 10-15 minutes per video
Suggested grade level: 7-9
Activity Type: Videos
Material: Economics Lowdown Video Series

Description: The Economic Lowdown video series is produced by the Economic Education department of the St. Louis Fed for high school and college students. The series covers topics in economics, banking and monetary policy. The brief videos use clear, simple language and graphic elements so that students can better visualize the economic concepts presented. In the end, students see how economic principles affect the choices they make in their everyday lives.

Economic Systems

Topic: Basic Economics - Strand 1
Time needed: 10 minute video, suggestion: play at .75 speed, and turn on Spanish subtitles. They talk fast!
Suggested grade level: 7-12
Activity Type: Video
Material: Crash Course Economics, Student Notes Worksheet

Description: Types of economic systems (and economic questions). Fantastic video to teach command, market and mixed economies. It also lends well to a discussion about communism and socialism. For teachers who have limited experience with other economic systems, this is super helpful! Suggestion: notes for students to fill out with the video.

Economics

Topic: Basic Economics - Strand 1
Time needed: 60-80 minutes
Suggested grade level: 7-9
Activity Type: Videos, interactive activities, and lesson plans
Material: PBS LearningMedia-Economics

Description: PBS LearningMedia offers an array of free resources, including videos, interactive activities, and lesson plans that cover a wide range of economic topics. Investigate how the supply and demand for goods and resources are globally intertwined with videos, lesson plans, and interactive games in Economics. Preview a lesson on personal finance using a video on "Digging Out of Debt," practice running a start-up business with an interactive game, or initiate a classroom debate over the use of vouchers for private schools using a pre-developed lesson plan. The Federal Reserve Bank (the Fed), entrepreneurship, and mercantilism are also explored in Economics.

GDP & Inflation

Topic: Basic Economics - Strand 1
Time needed: 65 min
Suggested grade level: 7-12
Activity Type: Lesson and activity
Material: MOVE: Inflation Over Time

Description: Students will learn about the four components of GDP and then explore how inflation impacts purchasing power over time. While playing an in-class game, students move around the classroom to guess how inflation has impacted a particular scenario.

It's My Money

Topic: Basic Economics - Strand 1
Time needed: 60-80 minutes
Suggested grade level: 7-9
Activity Type: Games and Videos
Material: It's My Money Website

Description: This interactive website from PBS Kids helps students understand the basics of money, budgeting, and saving through games, quizzes, and real-life scenarios. This interactive website is a hands-on platform designed to help students understand fundamental financial principles. Through a series of engaging games, quizzes, and real-life scenarios, students learn about budgeting, saving, and making sound financial decisions. Each activity is manageable in 1-2 class periods, with room for further discussion and reflection. "It's My Money" empowers students to grasp the basics of personal finance in an accessible, interactive, and enjoyable manner, providing essential skills that will serve them well in the real world.

Planet Money

Topic: Basic Economics - Strand 1
Time needed: 60-80 minutes
Suggested grade level: 7-9
Activity Type: Podcast
Material: Planet Money Podcast

Description: Produced by NPR, this podcast tells compelling stories about various economic topics in a way that's accessible and relatable. With each episode running for approximately 20-30 minutes, it's suitable for in-depth class discussions or as homework assignments. By exploring real-world examples and the broader implications of economic concepts, "Planet Money" offers a unique and entertaining perspective on economics. This podcast encourages students to think critically and provides a deeper understanding of how economic forces shape the world around us.

Scarcity

Topic: Basic Economics - Strand 1
Time needed: 30-35 minutes
Suggested grade level: 10-12
Activity Type: Video
Material: One Dollar a Day Missionaries in Haiti Video

Description: Video that teaches Strand One Concepts such as: Scarcity, Opportunity Cost, Factors of production, Economic systems, Wants Vs. Needs. To be clear, the video is a means to larger discussions about what makes some countries wealthy and others poor and the factors that contribute to these outcomes. It can be a powerful tool to help introduce the social science of scarcity-economics on a very relatable level.

SPENT

Topic: Basic Economics - Strand 1
Time needed: 10-30 minutes
Suggested grade level: 10-12
Activity Type: Interactive online game to be played individually or in a group
Material: Spent Game

Description: The antithesis of planning and budgeting. What happens when you go out into the world with no skills, no plan, and a kid. You still have to make rational decisions, a strange concept. This is another great way to introduce the social science of scarcity- Economics and the need to plan and budget to lead the life one most desires.

Supply and Demand

Topic: Basic Economics - Strand 1
Time needed: 10-15 minutes
Suggested grade level: 10-12
Activity Type: Video
Material: Crash Course Supply and Demand Videos

Description: The principal force in economics. This is a simple, easy to use, high school level appropriate video to teach this concept in Strand One.

Supply & Demand Lesson Plan

Topic: Basic Economics - Strand 1
Time needed: 75-90 min
Suggested grade level: 7-12
Activity Type: Video & Activity
Material: In the Chips Activity, In the Chips Video, Supply & Demand Video

Description: Following a teacher-guided lesson on supply and demand, the class will play the "In the Chips" game to show how Supply and Demand works and how the market finds its equilibrium.

The Economics Of - Wall Street Journal Video Series

Topic: Basic Economics - Strand 1
Time needed: 10-15 minutes per video
Suggested grade level: 7-9
Activity Type: Videos
Material: The Economics of - Wall Street Journal Video Series

Description: Each video is usually around 10-15 minutes long, which is perfect for class. It covers topics like supply and demand, fiscal policy, and market structures in a simple and enjoyable way. "CrashCourse Economics" not only makes economics easy to understand.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Topic: Basic Economics - Strand 1
Time needed: 70-90 minutes; one block schedule class period
Suggested grade level: 9-12
Activity Type: Game and Reflection Worksheet
Material: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Movie and Worksheet

Description: Use the 1971 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as an allegory for economics vocabulary lesson. This is the perfect resource to teach concepts such as: Economics (Macro and Micro); Opportunity Cost; Resources; Factors of Production, Scarcity, and much, much more.

EverFi: Budgeting Module

Topic: Budgeting - Strand 5
Time needed: 30 minutes
Suggested grade level: 11-12
Activity Type: Online learning module
Material: EverFi - Budgeting Module – student account required (free)

Description: Each EverFi learning module contains a pre-assessment and post-assessment. The budgeting module contains these core concepts: budget intro, setting up a budget, budgeting tools, tracking spending, and emergency expenses.

Hit the Road

Topic: Budgeting - Strand 5
Time needed: 90 min
Suggested grade level: 6-8
Activity Type: Game 
Material: Hit the Road

Description: "Hit the Road" is an engaging financial adventure game geared towards teaching young people the essentials of responsible financial habits. In this virtual road trip across the country, students embark on a journey to discover the significance of budgeting, responsible spending, saving, and effective debt management. Through immersive gameplay, "Hit the Road" equips players with practical skills for making wise financial decisions, setting them on a path towards financial responsibility and success.

Make it. Save it. Grow it.

Topic: Budgeting - Strand 5
Time needed: Ongoing
Suggested grade level: 6-10
Activity Type: Online curriculum course and activity
Material: BizKid$ - Get Financially Literate

Description: Learn the secrets of millionaires at your own pace! Each chapter includes hilarious videos, animation, and real-life stories of young entrepreneurs guaranteed to entertain and inspire.

Money Magic

Topic: Budgeting - Strand 5
Time needed: 90 Minutes
Suggested grade level: 6-8
Activity Type: A game that is simulator a little like the Organ Trail. It helps with budgeting and debt management. 
Material: Money Magic Game, Worksheet

Description: "Money Magic" is an interactive online game that offers players an opportunity to explore and develop their financial literacy skills. In this game, players embark on a virtual financial journey, making choices related to saving, investing, and spending money. They navigate through different life stages, facing various financial challenges and opportunities, with the aim of achieving financial success and security. "Money Magic" provides an engaging and educational experience, promoting a better understanding of personal finance and money management. Original source NGPF Arcade.

Benefits for Students:

• Financial Literacy: "Money Magic" equips students with essential financial knowledge, teaching them about budgeting, saving, investing, and making informed financial decisions.

• Practical Skills: Students can practice managing money in a risk-free virtual environment, allowing them to develop practical financial skills that can benefit them in real life.

• Future Preparedness: The game prepares students for real-world financial challenges and helps them make more informed decisions about their personal finances, setting them on a path to financial success.

Benefits for Teachers:

• Engaging Teaching Tool: "Money Magic" serves as a dynamic teaching tool that makes financial education more engaging and interactive, encouraging active participation in the classroom.

• Fosters Financial Discussions: The game fosters classroom discussions about personal finance, investments, and economic principles, enabling teachers to delve deeper into important financial topics.

• Life Skills Development: Teachers can use "Money Magic" to help students develop crucial life skills related to financial responsibility, fostering a more financially literate and empowered generation.

NGPF - Budget Frenzy Game

Topic: Budgeting - Strand 5
Time needed: 45-60 Minutes
Suggested grade level: 10-12
Activity Type: Game
Material: NGPF Budget Frenzy Game

Description: Budget Frenzy is a game where students try to use a budget and then unexpected expenses come into play. We assign a budget based on the amount of letters in the students last name to make it quick and easy.

Roommate Agreement

Topic: Budgeting - Strand 5
Time needed: One Class
Suggested grade level: 11-12
Activity Type: Video & Worksheet example
Materials: Roommate Agreement Video Big Bang Theory Video Clip, Roommate Agreement worksheet example

Description: Watch the video clip to prompt discussion of roommates and how to create a productive environment financially and mentally. The students use the roommate agreement to read and as an example and then erase and recreate that situation they will face shortly.

Stukent MPF simulation

Topic: Budgeting - Strand 5
Time needed: ongoing- throughout semester
Suggested grade level: 11-12
Activity Type: budgeting simulation
Material: Stukent MPF simulation, How to incorporate into your classroom.

Description: Cyprus Credit Union has paid for all teachers in Utah to use the MPF simulation for the school years 2023-24 through 2028-29. Students tell me this is one of their favorite parts of the class, and it definitely gives them a chance to feel that paying bills and saving for a mortgage are more relevant to them today. The link above shows weekly assignments in Stukent for an entire semester. 

The Uber Game

Topic: Budgeting - Strand 5
Time needed: 30 min
Suggested grade level: 7-9
Activity Type: Game 
Material: The Uber Game, worksheet

Description: The "Uber Game" is an online simulation where you can experience life as an Uber driver. You make choices and face challenges in the gig economy, managing your time, expenses, and customer ratings to earn a living. It's a game that sheds light on the realities of gig work. Original source NGPF Arcade.

Benefits for Students:

• Real-World Understanding: The "Uber Game" provides students with a practical understanding of the gig economy, teaching them about income, expenses, and customer service in a hands-on way.

• Critical Thinking: By making decisions in the game, students can develop critical thinking skills as they weigh options and assess consequences.

• Financial Literacy: Playing the game can help students become more financially literate, as they learn about budgeting and managing income and expenses.

Benefits for Teachers:

• Engaging Learning Tool: The "Uber Game" offers teachers an engaging educational tool that can make lessons about economics, financial literacy, and work-related topics more interesting and relatable.

• Promotes Discussion: It encourages classroom discussions about the gig economy, work ethics, and the challenges faced by gig workers, making lessons more interactive and thought-provoking.

• Practical Application: Teachers can use the game to help students apply theoretical concepts to real-life situations, enhancing the practical relevance of their lessons.

Career & Education Plan

Topic: College / Career Prep - Strand 3
Time needed: One class period
Suggested grade level: 11-12
Activity Type: Web Research
Material: Career Plan, Education Plan, Resume

Description: Students will complete a worksheet by conducting online research to choose 2 career options and 3 options of where to attend post-high training. Next, students will learn the vocab associated with paying for college and play the “Payback” game from NGPF. The final page of the worksheet can be used to guide students through the process of creating a personal resume.

Claim Your Future

Topic: College / Career Prep - Strand 3
Time needed: 20 minutes
Suggested grade level: 7-12
Activity Type: Career planning
Material: Claim Your Future

Description: "Claim Your Future" is an interactive online learning game that helps users connect their current educational choices with future careers and financial stability. Through engaging modules, it promotes conversations about goals, teaches the distinction between wants and needs, and imparts essential financial skills such as prioritization, saving, and understanding the impact of long-term debt. This game empowers individuals to make informed decisions, fostering a path to a successful future.

How to Pay For School

Topic: College / Career Prep - Strand 3
Time needed: 45 Minutes
Suggested grade level: 7-12
Activity Type: Web Search & Worksheet
Material: How to Pay For School, Why Fill Out the FAFSA, College Money Matters, Types of Financial Aid

Description: Students will learn about the FAFSA and the potential outcomes of completing the form.

Income and benefits

Topic: College / Career Prep - Strand 3
Time needed: 30-45 minutes
Suggested grade level: 11-12
Activity Type: Video
Material: Khan Academy Income and Benefits Videos

Description: There are 3 videos on this link to the Khan Academy website that are excellent tools for teaching the anatomy of a paycheck and the concepts of taxes and tax forms.

Keys to Success

Topic: College / Career Prep - Strand 3
Time needed: 1-2 Class Periods
Suggested grade level: 10-12
Activity Type: Career Interest Inventories, Interest Profiler, Career Launch, Resume Builder
Material: Keys to Success Website

Description: Keys to Success is a website that has many college and career activities. Students will need to create an account but can quickly access the different tools. Teachers can track or have students screenshot completed activities for grades. If you do not plan to use the site more than once you can have students enter as guest and do an activity. Here are resources that are available.

Payback

Topic: College / Career Prep - Strand 3
Time needed: One class period
Suggested grade level: 11-12
Activity Type: Game and Reflection Worksheet
Material: NGPF Payback game and Reflection Worksheet

Description: Students will complete a game where the goal is to try and make it to graduation and beyond with a reasonable amount of debt to pay back after you graduate. During the game, students will try not to get burnt out along the way by getting poor grades, not making enough social connections, or running out of happiness (displayed as 3 bars at the bottom of the screen as you play the game).

Career Research using YouScience

Topic: College / Career Prep - Strand 3
Time needed: 90 minutes for brain games (over 3+ class periods), then time to evaluate results (approx. 60 minutes)
Suggested grade level: 9-12
Activity Type: Web Research
Material: YouScience “Brightpath” career discovery website

Description: Helps students discover their interests and talents, and matches these to potential careers. Requires some preparation to find out who in your school or district has administrative privileges on this site. They will need to generate emails to the students in your classes so they can create accounts linked to your class. Once students finish the brain games (suggestion: run the report for your class after each class period to make sure the students are using the time you give them), students need to spend some time exploring their results.

Analyze Amortization Table

Topic: Credit - Strand 5
Time needed: 40 minutes
Suggested grade level: 11-12
Activity Type: Analyze Table & Worksheet
Material: Amortization Tables, Worksheet

Description: This activity blends a complete 2-year amortization table, a Bankrate.com online loan calculator, and some good old pen and paper math to attack amortization from all sides and make sure your students understand how a fixed term loan's repayment works. The activity has quite a few questions, which allow the students to change different variables -- the monthly payment, the loan term -- and see the impact; however, the activity is still quite strong even if you assign only a small portion of it. So, cut and trim to fit your time constraints or the depth of content you're trying to teach.

Credit Clash

Topic: Credit - Strand 5
Time needed: 20-30 minutes - play the game twice, and have students fill out worksheet
Suggested grade level: 11-12
Activity Type: Online Game
Material:  Credit Clash Game, Worksheet

Description: Compete against “the computer” for the best credit score. Both the student and the computer start with a credit score of 550. Each turn, both players draw cards equal to the number of lines of credit (starting with just a credit card). Students must draw enough green payment cards to pay for their loans at the end of 3 turns (1 round). Students can also open additional lines of credit (gives them an extra card per round.) They can also draw purple “credit clash” cards to gain additional benefits, or to play negative consequences on their opponent. The goal is to get your credit score to 850, or drop your opponents to 300. Original source NGPF Arcade

Credit-Score Game

Topic: Credit - Strand 5
Time needed: 30 minutes
Suggested grade level: 7-12
Activity Type: Simulation
Material: The Credit-Score Game

Description: The financial decisions we make every day impact our credit scores, which help lenders decide whether to give us credit cards, auto loans and mortgages—and how much those loans will cost us. Some moves hurt, some moves help. Let's see how good you are at predicting the outcome.

Financial Football

Topic: Credit - Strand 5
Time needed: Ongoing
Suggested grade level: 6-8
Activity Type: Website
Material: Financial Football Website

Description: A combination of football and finances. Students will learn how to use credit, balance budget, saving, and so forth. The more correct answers they get, the more the better their team does in their match ups.

Leasing vs Buying

Topic: Credit - Strand 5
Time needed: 65-75 min
Suggested grade level: 7-12
Activity Type: Class Discussion & Worksheet
Material: Leasing vs Buying

Description: This lesson compares leasing and buying cars, exploring the advantages and disadvantages of leasing. Participants analyze car lease agreements, understanding costs, usage restrictions, and lease-end scenarios. The module also clarifies the differences in monthly payments between buying and leasing, ensuring individuals make informed decisions about their vehicle choices.

Loan Payments

Topic: Credit - Strand 5
Time needed: 10-30 minutes
Suggested grade level: 11-12
Activity Type: Online Tool
Material: Simple Loan Payment Calculator

Description: Utilizing this tool you can demonstrate how simple interest is calculated and the affect that adding interest to principal has on how affordable it is to purchase things and why one should be thoughtful about using credit wisely. Also, the same link will take you to illustrations on making minimum payments and comparing credit cards that are also relevant to the GFL curriculum.

Shady Sam, insider view of a loan shark

Topic: Credit - Strand 5
Time needed: 10 min for game, up to 15 min additional time for optional worksheet
Suggested grade level: 7-12
Activity Type: Online Game
Material: Shady Sam Game, Optional worksheet

Description: Students play the game in the seat of the loan shark, and the game tallies up how much money they make the company in interest. The game includes things like variable vs. fixed rates, varying the length of the terms of credit, as well as different interest rates and fees. Original source NGPF Arcade.

Understanding Amortization

Topic: Credit - Strand 5
Time needed: 40-60 min
Suggested grade level: 11-12
Activity Type: Worksheet with math applications (NGPF)
Material: Worksheet

Description: Amortization chart, with analysis questions to help students compare interest and principal payment for 2 years of payments. Students use an online loan calculator. Amortization is a difficult concept for students. Having them do the work of filling out an amortization table/chart helps them conceptualize the concept in a more concrete way. Alternatively, if using the Stukent MPF simulation, they can use the amortization tables provided to track their payment progress on loans through the simulation.

US Debt Clock

Topic: Credit - Strand 5
Time needed: 10 minutes – visit the website and have students complete a starter or exit ticket reflecting on the emotions of debt
Suggested grade level: 11-12
Activity Type: Website
Material: U.S. National Debt Clock: Real Time

Description: When teaching Credit, Interest, and Principal this alarming and frankly shocking, real-time, debt clock, can be illuminating. There are so many questions and discussions that can be sparked merely by having the students visit the site and reflect on the macro and micro debt problem we ALL have in this country.

EverFi HS Financial Literacy Course - Insurance Module

Topic: Insurance - Strand 4
Time needed: 30 minutes
Suggested grade level: 11-12
Activity Type: Online learning module
Material: EverFi: Insurance Module – student account required (free)

Description: Studio C sketch “Rebel Alliance HR insurance update”-- Fun for Star Wars Geeks-- Concepts mentioned: Life Insurance (risk assessment), Accidental death and dismemberment coverage, monthly premiums, benefits- paid time off (sick days or vacation days), 401(k) matching.

Mayhem

Topic: Insurance - Strand 4
Time needed: 15-30 Minutes
Suggested grade level: 9-12
Activity Type: Video & Discussion
Material: All State Mayhem Insurance Commercials

Description: Watch the All State Mayhem Insurance Commercials. Introductory activity that leads to discussions on types of insurance.

Rebel Alliance Life Insurance

Topic: Insurance - Strand 4
Time needed: 5 minute video plus discussion of types of insurances (10 min)
Suggested grade level: 9-12
Activity Type: Game and Reflection Worksheet
Material: Rebel Alliance Life Insurance Video

Description: Studio C sketch “Rebel Alliance HR insurance update”-- Fun for Star Wars Geeks-- Concepts mentioned: Life Insurance (risk assessment), Accidental death and dismemberment coverage, monthly premiums, benefits- paid time off (sick days or vacation days), 401(k) matching.

Wheel of Bummers

Topic: Insurance - Strand 4
Time needed: One class period
Suggested grade level: 11-12
Activity Type: Game and Reflection Worksheet
Material: NGPF “Bummer” game and reflection worksheet

Description: In this game, students will spin the Wheel of Bummers to learn about insurance. The game has four rounds - pet, rental, auto, and then all three combined. Students will learn about the relationship between premiums, deductibles, and coverage limits for insurance coverage.

Build your Stax

Topic: Investing & Saving - Strand 4
Time needed: One class period
Suggested grade level: 11-12
Activity Type: Game and Reflection Worksheet
Material: NGPF Stax Game and Reflection Worksheet

Description: During game play, there are 7 different types of investment opportunities that will be explained in the information boxes. Every 6 months (30 seconds in the game), you receive pocket cash to invest. Original source NGPF Arcade

Compound Interest

Topic: Investing & Saving - Strand 4
Time needed: 20 min
Suggested grade level: 7-9
Activity Type: Online tool
Material: Compound interest calculator

Description: The Compound Interest Calculator, available at www.econedlink.org, is a online tool designed to help users understand and calculate the impact of compound interest on their savings or investments. It allows users to input variables like initial principal, interest rate, compounding frequency, and time, and then provides precise calculations of the future value of their investments or loans.

Benefits for Students:

• Financial Literacy: The Compound Interest Calculator is an excellent resource for teaching students about the concept of compound interest, helping them grasp how money grows over time through savings or investments.

• Hands-On Learning: Students can actively experiment with different inputs and see the tangible results of compound interest, fostering a deeper understanding of financial concepts.

• Preparation for Real Life: By using the calculator, students can become better prepared to make informed financial decisions in the future, such as choosing between different savings or investment options.

Benefits for Teachers:

• Interactive Learning Tool: The Compound Interest Calculator can be integrated into financial literacy lessons to make learning more interactive and relatable, helping students grasp the concept more effectively.

Investing for Beginners

Topic: Investing & Saving - Strand 4
Time needed: 60 minutes
Suggested grade level: 9-12
Activity Type: Online Videos
Material: Investing for Beginners Videos by Jeremy Schneider

Description: This is a series of six ten minute videos. Splitting them up into the beginning of a couple classes in your investing section.

Peer 2 Peer Payments

Topic: Investing & Saving - Strand 4
Time needed: 90 minutes
Suggested grade level: 7-12
Activity Type: Article and quiz sub plans
Material: P2P Payments

Description: Students can read and assess what they know about P2P or online payments online.

Retirement Plans

Topic: Investing & Saving - Strand 4
Time needed: One class period
Suggested grade level: 11-12
Activity Type: NGPF Lesson
Material: Options for Retirement Plans

Description: In this lesson, students will learn what a 401(k) plan is and its advantages Explain the options available to them if an employer does not offer a 401(k) plan. Conduct research to compare different types of retirement accounts, including Roth IRAs, traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, and pensions.

Stock Ticker Symbols

Topic: Investing & Saving - Strand 4
Time needed: approx. 30 minutes
Suggested grade level: 11-12
Activity Type: Online article explaining ticker symbols
Material: Stock Symbol (Ticker Symbol) article, Worksheet

Description: Have students read about ticker symbols in the article, then give them a list of stocks with which they may be familiar (Google, Tesla, Disney, Nike, GameStop, etc.) and have students look up ticker symbols and current prices. They may also make notes on which exchange each stock is traded on. Resource borrowed from NEFE.

Banzai

Topic: Productive Substitute Activities
Time needed: Varies, use as much or as little as you’d like
Suggested grade level: 6-12
Activity Type: Online Game
Material: Banzai Curriculum

Description:

Banzai Teen is for grades 6-12. This online game puts students in a position to tackle realistic financial dilemmas as they strive to earn money for college registration. The game guides students through financial basics as well as complicated topics like credit cards, auto loans, and insurance.

Banzai Plus is for grades 9-12. This online game presents students with challenging, real-life financial problems. Students must build and maintain healthy credit, qualify for a mortgage, utilize insurance, and more—all while managing a budget and working toward a savings goal.

Build Your Budget

Topic: Productive Substitute Activities
Time needed: 90 minutes
Suggested grade level: 9-12
Activity Type: Nearpod
Material: Build Your Budget by NPGF

Description: Build Your Budget by NPGF In this Nearpod presentation, users can learn the essential skills and concepts required to develop a practical budget for their personal finances. The content may include information on income sources, expenses, savings, and the importance of budgeting. Users can also participate in activities and quizzes to reinforce their understanding of budgeting principles. The "Build Your Budget Nearpod" is a valuable resource for substitute teachers for several reasons:

• Structured Learning: It provides a structured and pre-designed lesson plan, which can save substitute teachers time and effort in preparing materials and content for the class.

• Engagement: Nearpod's interactive features, such as quizzes, polls, and multimedia content, help keep students engaged and on task during the lesson, making classroom management easier for substitute teachers.

• Self-Guided: The presentation can be relatively self-guided, allowing students to work through the material independently. This is especially helpful when substitute teachers may not be as familiar with the subject matter.

  
  

EverFi Banking Basics

Topic: Productive Substitute Activities
Time needed: 120 minutes
Suggested grade level: 11-12
Activity Type: Video with Guided Notes
Material: Pursuit of Happyness Movie, Guided Notes

Description: Show the movie Pursuit of Happyness. A great movie to teach many basic economic principles and hopefully inspire students. Use the guided notes to go with the movie.

Banzai Online Simulation

Topic: Spending Habits / Behavioral Economics - Strand 2
Time needed: 8 Hours
Suggested grade level: 6-8
Activity Type: Online simulation
Material: Banzai

Description: Personal finance curriculum that teaches high school and middle school students how to prioritize spending decisions through real-life scenarios and choose- your-own adventure role playing.

Impact of celebrities

Topic: Spending Habits / Behavioral Economics - Strand 2
Time needed: 5-8 minutes (2-3 minute guessing & read, plus discussion)
Suggested grade level: 7-12
Activity Type: Article
Material: NGPF on Taylor Swift’s impact on Jersey Sales

Description: NGPF’s question of the day gets students “guessing” on the impact of T-Swift’s game attendance. Then shows the numbers-- before and after sales of Travis Kelce’s jersey. Great discussion prompts on the impact of celebrities on fan purchases.

Inflation Over Time

Topic: Spending Habits / Behavioral Economics - Strand 2
Time needed: 60-75 Minutes
Suggested grade level: 7-12
Activity Type: Class Discussion & Worksheet
Material: MOVE: Inflation Over Time

Description: Using guided notes, students will learn what comparison shopping is, how it can help consumers, and when it makes sense to comparison shop.

Living Paycheck to Paycheck

Topic: Spending Habits / Behavioral Economics - Strand 2
Time needed: One class period
Suggested grade level: 11-12
Activity Type: Game and Reflection Worksheet
Material: NGPF Spent Game and Reflection Worksheet

Description: Students will learn about opportunity cost and tradeoffs during the Spent game where they will face tough decisions on a daily basis because they are living paycheck to paycheck. Original source NGPF Arcade

Misadventures in Money Management

Topic: Spending Habits / Behavioral Economics - Strand 2
Time needed: 90 Minutes
Suggested grade level: 6-8
Activity Type: Financial Decision video game
Material: Misadventures in Money Management

Description: MiMM is an online graphic novel-style adventure game where you can choose your own path in a virtual learning experience. It trains both future and current servicemembers and their families on navigating potential financial challenges in a fun and interactive way. The program covers topics such as understanding the importance of building savings and how to avoid impulse purchases.

Identity Theft & Protecting Yourself As a Consumer

Topic: Spending Habits / Behavioral Economics - Strand 2
Time needed: 45-60 min
Suggested grade level: 7-12
Activity Type: Video & Scenario worksheet and link to answers
Material: Protecting Yourself As a Consumer & Identity Theft Video

Description: This is a good 7 minute video about Identity theft. Then a 40-50 minute scenario activity about identity theft that inspires good discussion. Students are given 4 scenarios and asked, as a consumer, if there is anything they can do to protect themselves. They answer Y/N, then are given a website next with information about laws in place to protect consumers (ftc.gov). After researching, they re-answer the same 4 Y/N questions, and explain what they learned."

Renting Vs. Buying

Topic: Spending Habits / Behavioral Economics - Strand 2
Time needed: 15 Minutes
Suggested grade level: 11-12
Activity Type: Website tool and article
Material:  How Much is My House Worth? Zillow Free Home Value Estimator, Pros and Cons Zillow Article

Description: There are 3 big purchases articulated in the spending Strand and Standards of the GFL curriculum. Having students conduct an appraisal on a house, or their house, can be an excellent starting point for discussing the other concepts that are a part of the curriculum, such as: Renting Vs. Buying, Equity, Loan to Value, and Debt to Income Ratio. Also, this article from the same website is a great resource for teaching pros and cons of Renting vs. Buying: The Pros and Cons of Renting vs. Buying a House | Zillow

SPENT

Topic: Spending Habits / Behavioral Economics - Strand 2
Time needed: 10-30 minutes
Suggested grade level: 10-12
Activity Type: Interactive online game to be played individually or in a group
Material: Spent Game, Worksheet

Description: The antithesis of planning and budgeting. What happens when you go out into the world with no skills, no plan, and a kid. You still have to make rational decisions, a strange concept. This is another great way to introduce the social science of scarcity- Economics and the need to plan and budget to lead the life one most desires. Use the worksheet to answer some reflection questions.

Studio C Beanie Baby

Topic: Spending Habits / Behavioral Economics - Strand 2
Time needed: 10 Minutes
Suggested grade level: 7-9
Activity Type: Video
Material: Studio C - Beanie Babies Video

Description: Studio C Beanie Baby video is a useful teaching tool that combines entertainment with education to help students grasp the concept of scarcity in a memorable and engaging way. In the video, characters from the comedy group Studio C are depicted as collectors of Beanie Babies, which were popular collectible plush toys in the 1990s. These collectors are portrayed as having an insatiable desire to acquire rare and valuable Beanie Babies. This intense competition to obtain the rarest Beanie Babies creates a sense of scarcity.

Your Cognitive Biases

Topic: Spending Habits / Behavioral Economics - Strand 2
Time needed: 20 Minutes
Suggested grade level: 8-12
Activity Type: Matching game-- types of cognitive biases
Material: MOVE: Your Cognitive Biases

Description: Print each of the 3 decks of papers linked in the instructions. Then read through the information and match the cards together-- 8 sets of 3 cards-- 8 cognitive biases. See if you can figure out the correct definition (Deck 0) and example (Deck 1) to go with each bias’s name (Deck 2).

1040 Form

Topic: Taxes - Strand 3
Time needed: 60 minutes
Suggested grade level: 11-12
Activity Type: Complete a 1040 form
Material: Tax instructions for Marcus Roberts, 1040 Tax Return Form, Tax Charts

Description: You will complete a tax return for a fake person named Marcus Roberts. View all of the tax instructions for Marcus. Complete a tax return for your own W-2 form in Mimic. Use the 1040 form and the tax charts.

1040 Form - Stukent's MPF Simulation

Topic: Taxes - Strand 3
Time needed: 2 Class periods
Suggested grade level: 11-12
Activity Type: Simulation
Material: W-2 forms in Stukent, 2022 1040 form instructions

Description: Stukent’s MPF simulation pays students weekly, and simulates a monthly pay check. While students start with the same pay, over the course of the semester, utilizing performance reviews and in-class jobs, students’ salaries can change. Towards the end of the semester, students can generate a W-2 form that identifies how much they paid in taxes during the simulation. Most students get refunds of $4000 or more-- teachers call this “incentive”. Instead of copying the teacher’s fake person’s W-2 form to fill out the 1040, every student’s information is different. If students follow the steps to complete their 1040, you can refund or transfer a 1 time bonus to their Stukent account the amount of their tax refund. Note - you will want to update the 1040 form and tax tables to the most recent year.

EverFi Financial Literacy Course - Income & Employment Module

Topic: Taxes - Strand 3
Time needed: 30 minutes
Suggested grade level: 11-12
Activity Type: Online learning module
Material: EverFi: Income & Employment Module – student account required (free)

Description: Each EverFi learning module contains a pre-assessment and post-assessment. The income & employment module contains these core concepts: Impact of Education on Career Earnings, Tax Withholding, Analyzing a Paycheck, Other Sources of Income, Filing Taxes, Benefits.

Taxes and Paychecks

Topic: Taxes - Strand 3
Time needed: 30 minutes
Suggested grade level: 7-12
Activity Type: Video & Article
Material: Guided Notes, Here's How to Read a Pay Stub, Article

Description: Students complete this worksheet as guided notes while the teacher presents the following concepts: I9, W4, Income Taxes, FICA taxes, Pre-tax deductions, Employer Contributions, and Tax Receipts for your State.

W4, W2, & Tax Simulation

Topic: Taxes - Strand 3
Time needed: One class period
Suggested grade level: 11-12
Activity Type: Tax Simulation
Material: Tax Simulation

Description: This is a tax simulation off of slides where students can see a w2, 1040 and information needed to do your taxes. The students can use the simulation and you can make it an assignment. Students use the tax simulator to see how to do taxes.

FDIC Money Smart

Topic: Multiple Topics
Time needed: Varies
Suggested grade level: 7-12
Activity Type: Online Lessons
Material: FDIC Money Smart Website

Description: Games and resources organized into the following topics: Borrowing Basics, Build financial future, buying a home, credit reports, disasters, housing decisions, managing debt, protecting your identity, credit cards, bank on it, income and expenses, money values, savings, spending and saving.

Fin Cap Fridays

Topic: Multiple Topics
Time needed: 4 minute video plus discussion
Suggested grade level: 9-12
Activity Type: Bellringer / Quick Discussions
Material: Fin Cap Fridays

Description: FinCap Fridays combine a 5-question quiz with a short video to energize classrooms and engage students through current events.

Hands-On Banking

Topic: Multiple Topics
Time needed: Varies
Suggested grade level: 7-12
Activity Type: Online Lessons
Material: Hands On Banking Website

Description: The Hands on Banking® / El futuro en tus manos® program is a free, engaging, and noncommercial financial education program offered as a public service by Wells Fargo. Available in both English and Spanish, the Hands on Banking program teaches people in all stages of life about the basics of responsible money management, including how to create a budget, save and invest, borrow responsibly, buy a home, and establish a small business.

Question of the Day

Topic: Multiple Topics
Time needed: 5 minutes
Suggested grade level: 9-12
Activity Type: Bellringer / Quick Discussions
Material: Question of the Day

Description: The Question of the Day is the perfect way to warm up your students before a lesson or introduce a new topic. These questions are designed to spark curiosity for better student engagement! Ready-to-go slides for many of the Questions of the Day are included.

Take Charge Today

Topic: Multiple Topics
Time needed: Varies
Suggested grade level: 7-12
Activity Type: Lesson & Unit plans
Material: Take Charge Today

Description: 100+ lesson plans-- searchable and on every financial related topic. Each lesson plan gives grade level, and time. Each comes with a Slide presentation, student note handout, and google doc with talking points for teachers, and a vocab list. Most of the lessons have more info that you'd want to share in a class period. However many teachers like to use pieces of activities from the full lesson plans. The plans are specific about what preparation materials are needed. Each is loaded with additional links! Some lessons come with multiple choice assessments. The lessons are very detailed-- perhaps good for a sub (but you may have to trim it down).