Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

A Penny Saved

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
A penny saved is a penny earned! Scholars research the different ways to save money over a lifetime. They investigate the Rule of 72, compound interest, and sub-prime loans to gain an understanding of how banks aid in the saving process....
Lesson Plan
Federal Reserve Bank

Something Special For Me

For Teachers 1st - 3rd Standards
People often save money, but what are the benefits and drawbacks of that action? Youngsters learn about saving, savings, and opportunity cost through the lens of a short book, called Something Special for Me.
Lesson Plan
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Practical Money Skills

Saving and Investing

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learn the difference between saving money and investing money, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each. Kids review banking and personal finance terms before studying the different ways that people can reach their financial...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scarcity and Choice

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
After reading the book A Bargain for Frances, young economists discuss how money is exchanged for goods or services. They demonstrate effective financial decision-making by listing ways to save money for a product they would like to buy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Bernstein Bear's Trouble with Money: Financial and Academic Literacy

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
What do figures of speech have to do with financial literacy? Take an interdisciplinary look at The Berenstain Bears' Trouble with Money to find out. Young analysts read about the cubs' spendthrift ways and how Mama and Papa Bear...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Berenstain Bears Trouble with Money

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students will explore good and services, income and saving listening to the story The B. Bears Trouble With Money.  For this early economic lesson, students discuss what it means to earn money doing services and save money to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Saving and Investing

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders participate in activities to promote understanding of investing and saving. In this saving and investing lesson, 5th graders design a portfolio, play a card game and write a skit about the importance of investing.
Lesson Plan
Visa

Saving and Investing

For Teachers 7th - 8th Standards
Impress upon your young adults the importance of saving and investing, and give them a foundational vocabulary from which they can continue to build their financial literacy. This lesson plan covers short- and long-term budget goals,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cyber Currency, Currently

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars explore the value of currency and how to save and earn interest. In a key lesson, kids even get to purchase items in their classroom's general store. It's a fun way to learn the importance of being financially literate!
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Hundred Penny Box

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students compare how people save money in financial institutions, after reading the story, The Hundred Penny Box. They analyze the advantages of regular saving and how savings grow with compounding.
Lesson Plan
Federal Reserve Bank

Beatrice’s Goat: A Lesson on Savings Goals

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Youngsters learn the meaning of saving and how to reach savings goals by first reading a story of a young Ugandan girl who is gifted a goat, and then discovering the opportunity costs of savings decisions made by her and her family.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Having a Savings Plan

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students discover the importance of saving and spending. In this finance lesson, students read the book Kermit the Hermit and discuss the differences between needs and wants. The students complete worksheets concerning money in their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thinking About Money

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students evaluate various approaches to spending money.In this spending money literacy lesson, students broaden their financial goals by reading "Alexander Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday" and "A Chair for My Mother."Students use a Venn...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Do People Save?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify ways in which they can save and spend their money. They discover why people save money and calculate simple interest. They discuss the costs and benefits of saving.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Money Management Part III: Savings Accounts and Cash vs. Credit

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Help your class understand the importance of saving and managing their money. Here is part three to a unit on credit, cash, and savings. Learners discuss savings accounts and the idea that a budget plan can help them avoid costly credit...
Handout
Federal Reserve Bank

Wait, Is Saving Good or Bad? The Paradox of Thrift

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Could saving really harm the economy? Discover the paradox of thrift and how decreases in consumption can affect economic recovery and various markets and industries.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inflation and Money

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the relationship between inflation and money. Defining key terms, they define money in terms of its functions and give examples of money. They discover what happens when inflation occurs unexpectedly. They also examine...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Currency and the Fed

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students take a closer look at money. In this federal reserve lesson plan, students complete the provided handouts that require them to examine Federal reserve notes and discover details about the role of the Federal Reserve in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Borrowing and Lending

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate the advantages and disadvantages of borrowing money. In this financial awareness instructional activity, 4th graders read the book Ben and Me and create a table displaying the advantages and disadvantages of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investing Money

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders participate in an simulated investment activity. They examine the purpose of different types of investments before they predict which will be the most successful. Finally, they simulate investing $1,000 in stocks, $1,000 in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Lesson to Accompany "Benjamin Franklin and the Birth of a Paper Money Economy"

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Students examine the role of money in the colonial economy by participating in a trading activity. In this colonial economy lesson, students complete an activity to learn about colonial trade and what happens when there is a lack of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating a Savings Chart

For Teachers 3rd
Student create a savings chart given a set allowance per week. They explain how people in the local community make choices about using goods, services, and productive resources, and how they compare costs and benefits in economic...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Describe How Money Barter, and Credit Were Used in Colonial Virginia

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders listen as the teacher lectures about bartering. They work in small groups to define and create a skit about one term related to bartering. Students create an Economic Terms booklet. They review that tobacco was a cash crop...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spend, Save or Donate

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners identify the difference between spending, saving, and donating. They brainstorm reasons to give and options to donate. They sing a song about donating to charity.