All grades
Project
6 weeks
Cash Quest: Money Management for Future Success
D2.Eco.9.3-5
D2.Eco.10.6-8
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.6-8.7
Self Directed Learning
Academic Mindset
+ 1 more
1-pager
Purpose
This project aims to equip students with essential financial literacy skills that are vital for navigating real-world economic challenges. Through hands-on activities, students will engage in practical experiences like budgeting, saving, and investing, fostering a deeper understanding of money management. By connecting financial concepts to their own lives and communities, students will develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, preparing them to make informed financial decisions now and in the future. Additionally, students will apply Common Core Math Standards by using ratio and rate reasoning to solve financial problems, analyzing data, calculating interest, and understanding percentages in various scenarios, further enhancing their mathematical proficiency. The project will also feature a guest speaker during the entry event to provide expert insights and inspire students in their financial literacy journey.
Learning goals
Students will develop a comprehensive understanding of essential financial concepts, including budgeting, saving, investing, and credit management, aligned with Common Core Math Standards, such as using ratio and rate reasoning to solve real-world and mathematical problems. They will apply these concepts through hands-on activities such as creating personal finance portfolios, participating in budgeting exercises, and conducting interviews to explore diverse financial perspectives. By engaging with community partners, including guest speakers at the project launch, and reflecting on their experiences, students will enhance their critical thinking and problem-solving skills, preparing them to make informed financial decisions in real-world scenarios.
Standards
- [National Council for the Social Studies] D2.Eco.9.3-5 - Describe the role of other financial institutions in an economy.
- [National Council for the Social Studies] D2.Eco.10.6-8 - Explain the influence of changes in interest rates on borrowing and investing.
- [Common Core] CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.6-8.7 - Conduct short research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question), drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration.
Competencies
- Self Directed Learning - Students use teacher and peer feedback and self-reflection to monitor and direct their own learning while building self knowledge both in and out of the classroom.
- Academic Mindset - Students establish a sense of place, identity, and belonging to increase self-efficacy while engaging in critical reflection and action.
- Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.
Products
Students will create a comprehensive personal finance portfolio, documenting their learning journey with detailed budget plans, savings goals, and reflections on future financial decisions, integrating Common Core Math Standards through calculations and data analysis, including ratio and rate reasoning. They will design interactive booths for a classroom financial literacy fair, using games and activities to teach peers and family members about budgeting, saving, and credit, incorporating math concepts like percentages, interest rates, and ratios. Additionally, students will produce a digital financial literacy guidebook featuring videos, infographics, and articles on essential money management skills to share with the school community. Finally, they will launch a simulated investment project, tracking a virtual stock portfolio and presenting their investment strategies and outcomes, applying math skills to analyze market trends and calculate returns.
Launch
Begin the project with a 'Savings Challenge' where students set personal savings goals and track progress over six weeks, incorporating calculations of savings rates and percentages to align with math standards. Launch a 'Budgeting Bootcamp' where students work in teams to plan a budget for a fictional event like a school dance, using a fixed amount of money and applying ratio and rate reasoning for fund allocation and cost analysis. Invite a guest speaker, such as a financial advisor, to share insights on budgeting and saving strategies during the initial session, enhancing students' understanding of real-world financial planning.
Exhibition
Students will host a 'Financial Literacy Fair' where they set up interactive booths to demonstrate various financial concepts learned throughout the project, integrating Common Core Math Standards, including using ratio and rate reasoning to solve real-world problems in activities. Family and community members are invited to participate in engaging activities like budgeting games, savings challenges, and mock investment strategies that incorporate math skills such as calculating interest and understanding percentages. The fair will also feature student presentations of personal finance portfolios, digital stories, and research findings, fostering discussions with local financial experts and attendees. This event will celebrate students' achievements and provide a platform for sharing valuable insights on financial literacy.
Plan
| Week 1 |
Day 1
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Day 2
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Day 3
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Day 4
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Day 5
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase |
Project Activities
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| Activities |
Introduction to Financial Literacy
Activity (Deprecated)
Personal Finance Self-Assessment
Activity (Deprecated)
Savings Challenge Kickoff
Activity (Deprecated)
|
Understanding Budgets
Activity (Deprecated)
Budgeting Bootcamp Part 1
Activity (Deprecated)
|
Exploring Income and Expenses
Activity (Deprecated)
Budgeting Bootcamp Part 2
Activity (Deprecated)
|
Introduction to Credit
Activity (Deprecated)
Credit Quest Game
Activity (Deprecated)
|
Reflection Circle
Activity (Deprecated)
Financial Literacy Journal Entry
Activity (Deprecated)
Peer Feedback Session
Activity (Deprecated)
|
| Preparation | |||||
| Week 2 |
Day 6
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Day 7
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Day 8
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Day 9
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Day 10
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase |
Project Activities
|
||||
| Activities |
Introduction to Budgeting
Activity (Deprecated)
Creating a Personal Budget
Activity (Deprecated)
|
Budget Reflection and Feedback
Activity (Deprecated)
Exploring Needs vs. Wants
Activity (Deprecated)
|
Understanding Savings
Activity (Deprecated)
Savings Strategies
Activity (Deprecated)
|
Role of Financial Institutions
Activity (Deprecated)
Banking Simulation
Activity (Deprecated)
|
Mid-Week Reflection
Activity (Deprecated)
Interactive Budgeting Game
Activity (Deprecated)
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| Preparation | |||||
| Week 3 |
Day 11
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Day 12
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Day 13
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Day 14
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Day 15
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase |
Project Activities
|
||||
| Activities |
Understanding Interest Rates
Activity (Deprecated)
Interest Calculation Workshop
Activity (Deprecated)
|
Exploring Different Types of Interest
Activity (Deprecated)
Compound Interest Simulation
Activity (Deprecated)
|
Credit and Loans Deep Dive
Activity (Deprecated)
Credit Scenario Role-Play
Activity (Deprecated)
|
Interview Preparation
Activity (Deprecated)
Conducting Interviews
Activity (Deprecated)
|
Reflection Circle
Activity (Deprecated)
Financial Literacy Journal Entry
Activity (Deprecated)
Peer Feedback Session
Activity (Deprecated)
|
| Preparation | |||||
| Week 4 |
Day 16
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Day 17
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Day 18
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Day 19
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Day 20
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase |
Project Activities
|
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| Activities |
Exploring Interest Rates
Activity (Deprecated)
Interest Rate Calculation Challenge
Activity (Deprecated)
|
Credit Management Workshop
Activity (Deprecated)
Credit Scenario Analysis
Activity (Deprecated)
|
Investing Basics
Activity (Deprecated)
Virtual Stock Market Simulation
Activity (Deprecated)
|
Community Financial Panel
Activity (Deprecated)
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity (Deprecated)
|
Peer Review and Feedback
Activity (Deprecated)
Personal Finance Portfolio Development
Activity (Deprecated)
|
| Preparation | |||||
| Week 5 |
Day 21
|
Day 22
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Day 23
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Day 24
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Day 25
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase |
Project Activities
|
||||
| Activities |
Investment Strategies Workshop
Activity (Deprecated)
Simulated Investment Project
Activity (Deprecated)
|
Investment Strategy Refinement
Activity (Deprecated)
Personal Finance Portfolio Update
Activity (Deprecated)
|
Peer Teaching Session Preparation
Activity (Deprecated)
Peer Teaching Session
Activity (Deprecated)
|
Community Financial Workshop Planning
Activity (Deprecated)
Feedback and Revision
Activity (Deprecated)
|
Financial Literacy Fair Preparation
Activity (Deprecated)
Reflection and Journal Entry
Activity (Deprecated)
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| Preparation | |||||
| Week 6 |
Day 26
|
Day 27
|
Day 28
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Day 29
|
Day 30
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase |
Project Activities
|
||||
| Activities |
Finalizing Personal Finance Portfolios
Activity (Deprecated)
Peer Review Session
Activity (Deprecated)
|
Exhibition Preparation
Activity (Deprecated)
Exhibition Setup
Activity (Deprecated)
|
Financial Literacy Fair
Activity (Deprecated)
|
Reflection and Feedback
Activity (Deprecated)
Digital Guidebook Development
Activity (Deprecated)
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Final Reflection Circle
Activity (Deprecated)
Celebration of Achievements
Activity (Deprecated)
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| Preparation | |||||