Kids get real about moving out and living on their own. They review landlord/tenant laws, discuss housing options and then check the classified ads. Individually or in pairs, they research housing options and discuss topics such as...

Kids never think about the cost of medical expenses, because they never think they'll get hurt. To better understand personal financial planning, learners research common medical procedures and their costs. They use a worksheet and the...

The first time you sit down to sign a rental agreement is quite an experience. Prepare your class for that inevitable moment with a lesson plan on rental agreement lingo. They read a rental agreement, fill out a lingo worksheet, and then...

No one said it was going to be easy to move out and live on your own. Kids find out through personal interview what life is like when one is out on his own. They interview a parent, ask for advice, and discuss common themes with the...

After conjuring up images of the ideal lifestyle, young adults are given a reality check. They take an online quiz and complete an activity that requires them to put their dream lifestyle in a real-world context. They determine how...

Many teens conjure up images of how great their first apartment will be, but they lack a solid understanding of what it will cost to make it look that way. To gain an appreciation for the cost of furnishings, they create a collage of a...

Living on your own is hard, especially when you have to live with roommates. Discuss the importance of shared living situations and how to make them as good as possible with your class. They brainstorm what makes a good roommate, ways to...

This is part of a larger unit on cars (financing, insurance, budget, etc.). Before comparison shopping for their ideal car, teens fill out a survey on their transportation preferences. In related lessons, they consider financing,...

You're in high school and you just got the coolest car ever! But, now you need to start thinking about car insurance. Luckily, your teacher prepared you by engaging you in a life skills lesson like this one. The class actually calls...

What teenager wouldn't want a car? But before they make that big purchase, this exercise helps them to understand the costs involved. It includes a worksheet to calculate expenses like taxes and fees, maintenance, gas and insurance, as...

The message that buying things brings happiness is everywhere. Teenagers are not immune to this marketing strategy and benefit from reflecting on the relentless pressure to spend. This exercise invites young adults to consider the value...

Young people often get themselves into trouble with credit cards because they don't fully understand interest rates, fees, etc. This activity requires teens to research and record information on three different credit cards in order to...

Before teens head off to college or the workforce, they need to understand the world of credit. Here, they look online at credit card agreements to find hidden fees and rates. The online activity guides them through and even assesses...

Remember all those credit card tables lined up on your college campus? So alluring and dangerous, if you don't know what you're doing. Prepare your pre-college attendees for life by offering a lesson plan on credit management. They...

How cool, an interactive personal finance game! Young consumers play a real-life scenario game to practice making credit decisions. They play the game then discuss good and bad credit choices. The scenarios revolve around the use of a...

Are there benefits to comparison shopping? Yes, even with cell phones. It's important to know which carrier is best and why. Learners interview a family member about his choice in cell phone carriers, and compare that person's choice to...

Some ads really make products look great, and even better than they really are! Kids get into small groups to research and compare marketing used by various cell phone companies. They analyze advertisements, carrier options, and cell...

Good consumer practices such as price comparison can make or break a budget. Youngsters research five different cell phone carriers and the plans they offer. They compile their data and determine which plan offers the best value. They...

Young adults are so eager to get that first cell phone. And, cell phones have so many cool extras! Learners conduct real-life research to determine which cell phone carrier offers the best deals on things like wall paper, ringtones, and...

Learning to be a savvy shopper can make or break the bank. Upper graders research five different cell phone carriers to see if they'll have enough money in their imaginary budget for a dream phone or a basic phone. They create either a...

Playing with matches (unlit, of course) becomes an engaging learning experience in this fun instructional unit. Teach pupils how to apply properties of exponential functions to solve problems. They differentiate between quadratic and...

Examine ratios and proportions in several real-world scenarios. Children will calculate unit rates, work with proportions and percentages as they plan a party, purchase produce, and take a tally. This lesson plan recommends five...

What a wonderful way to explore this topic! Learners take an imaginary trip to Asia, take a visual tour, and formulate questions for a research project. As a final project, they create a travel brochure.

"How might multiple perspectives of standardized testing impact me as a student?" is an example of an essential question that a researcher might use as a basis for this lesson plan on how to research and present a written stance on a...