Career Quest: Crafting Your Financial Future

6th Grade

Project
6 weeks

Career Quest: Crafting Your Financial Future

Ruben Maldonado

Purpose

The purpose of this financial literacy project is to empower students with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed financial decisions as they transition from high school to adulthood. Through engaging activities such as creating a Financial Future Vision Board, participating in a Budgeting Simulation Day, and collaborating in a Financial Literacy Escape Room, students will explore various career paths and educational opportunities, understand the impact of these choices on their financial future, and develop practical budgeting strategies. By reflecting on their learning experiences and sharing insights with peers, students will enhance their financial literacy, critical thinking, and socio-emotional skills, preparing them for real-world financial challenges and fostering a sense of responsibility and independence.

Learning goals

In this project, students will learn to design a comprehensive plan for their lives after high school, exploring various career paths and educational opportunities. They will develop financial literacy skills by preparing and managing a budget, understanding the relationship between everyday decisions and financial outcomes, and researching costs and benefits of different career choices. Through activities like the Financial Literacy Escape Room and Budgeting Simulation Day, students will enhance their critical thinking, collaboration, and decision-making abilities. They will also engage in reflection and peer feedback to improve their financial strategies and socio-emotional growth. The project culminates in creating job booths for a career fair, where students will articulate salary scales, necessary education, and the pros and cons of chosen career paths, effectively communicating why others should consider these options.

Standards

Common Core - CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.RP.A.3: Use ratio and rate reasoning to solve real-world and mathematical problems, which aligns with budgeting and financial decision-making activities.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.7: Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation, which supports the research and comparison of career paths and educational opportunities.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.4: Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience, which is relevant for the career fair presentation and peer review activities.

Products

Students will create a comprehensive post-high school financial plan that includes a detailed budget, career path analysis, and an action plan for achieving their financial goals. They will also develop a 'Financial Future Vision Board' to visually represent their aspirations and financial strategies. Additionally, students will design and present an infographic comparing different career paths and their financial implications. As a culminating project, students will create and host their own job booths at a career fair, where they will present their chosen career paths, including salary scales, educational requirements, and the advantages and disadvantages of each path. This project will help students gain practical financial literacy skills and prepare them for real-world financial decision-making.

Launch

To kick off the financial literacy project, organize a "Financial Literacy Escape Room" challenge. This engaging activity will have students working in teams to solve puzzles and complete tasks related to budgeting, earning, and spending. The escape room will foster collaboration and critical thinking as students unlock the secrets to financial success. This interactive experience will set the stage for the project by immersing students in real-world financial scenarios, sparking curiosity and excitement about the journey ahead.

Exhibition

To effectively exhibit the students' learning and projects, organize a "Financial Literacy and Career Fair." This event will serve as a platform for students to showcase their job booths, where they present their chosen career paths. Each booth should include detailed information on the salary scale, required education, advantages and disadvantages, and persuasive reasons for choosing that career. Invite parents, community members, and local business leaders to attend, allowing students to engage in real-world conversations and receive feedback. Additionally, incorporate interactive elements, such as a presentation of their Financial Future Vision Boards and infographics comparing career paths, to further highlight their understanding and creativity. This exhibition will not only celebrate their learning but also provide valuable networking opportunities and insights into diverse career options.

Week 1	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Activity 1: Introduction to Financial Literacy - Begin with a class discussion on the importance of financial literacy and its relevance to personal and professional life. Introduce the project and its goals.	Activity 2: Financial Literacy Escape Room - Organize and facilitate the escape room challenge where students work in teams to solve puzzles related to budgeting, earning, and spending.	Activity 3: Reflection and Debrief - Conduct a debrief session where students reflect on their escape room experience, discussing what they learned and how it applies to real-world financial scenarios.	Activity 4: Financial Future Vision Board Workshop - Guide students in brainstorming and drafting their Financial Future Vision Boards. Provide templates and examples for inspiration.	Activity 5: Career Path Exploration - Engage students in researching different career paths. Instruct them to identify key details such as required education, salary expectations, and potential career growth.
Deliverables	1. Deliverable 1: Completed Financial Literacy Escape Room reflection and debrief notes. 2. Deliverable 2: Draft of Financial Future Vision Board with initial ideas and plans. 3. Deliverable 3: Initial research notes on at least two career paths, including educational requirements and salary information.
Preparation	1. Teacher Preparation Task 1: Set up and organize the Financial Literacy Escape Room with all necessary materials and instructions. 2. Teacher Preparation Task 2: Prepare a presentation on financial literacy basics and the importance of the project. 3. Teacher Preparation Task 3: Collect and provide resources for the Financial Future Vision Board Workshop, including templates, examples, and art supplies. 4. Teacher Preparation Task 4: Compile a list of resources and databases for students to use in their career path research. 5. Teacher Preparation Task 5: Arrange the classroom for collaborative group work and discussions.

Week 2	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Activity 1: Budgeting Basics Workshop - Conduct a workshop on the fundamentals of budgeting, including creating a budget, tracking expenses, and understanding income versus expenses.	Activity 2: Budgeting Simulation Day - Organize a simulation where students are assigned different life scenarios and must create and manage a budget based on their scenario.	Activity 3: Guest Speaker Session - Invite a financial advisor or expert to speak to the class about real-world budgeting and financial management strategies.	Activity 4: Peer Review Session - Facilitate a session where students present their Financial Future Vision Boards and receive feedback from peers.	Activity 5: Reflection and Goal Setting - Guide students in reflecting on what they've learned about budgeting and setting personal financial goals for the project.
Deliverables	1. Deliverable 1: Completed budget from the Budgeting Simulation Day, including a breakdown of expenses and income. 2. Deliverable 2: Revised Financial Future Vision Board incorporating peer feedback. 3. Deliverable 3: Personal financial goals document, outlining short-term and long-term financial objectives.
Preparation	1. Teacher Preparation Task 1: Prepare materials and resources for the Budgeting Basics Workshop, including budget templates and examples. 2. Teacher Preparation Task 2: Organize and set up the Budgeting Simulation Day, assigning life scenarios to each student or group. 3. Teacher Preparation Task 3: Coordinate with and schedule the guest speaker, ensuring their presentation aligns with the week's learning goals. 4. Teacher Preparation Task 4: Prepare guidelines and rubrics for the peer review session to ensure constructive feedback. 5. Teacher Preparation Task 5: Create a reflection and goal-setting worksheet to help students articulate their learning and financial ambitions.

Week 3	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Activity 1: Career Path Analysis Workshop - Guide students in a deep dive into analyzing the career paths they researched. This includes understanding the financial implications of each path, such as average salary, job stability, and potential for advancement.	Activity 2: Educational Opportunities Exploration - Facilitate a session where students explore various educational pathways required for their chosen careers, including colleges, trade schools, online courses, and certifications.	Activity 3: Cost-Benefit Analysis Exercise - Conduct an exercise where students perform a cost-benefit analysis of the educational opportunities they are considering, factoring in tuition costs, potential earnings, and return on investment.	Activity 4: Guest Panel Discussion - Host a panel of professionals from diverse fields who can share insights and experiences related to their career paths and education choices.	Activity 5: Reflection and Peer Feedback - Organize a session for students to reflect on their career and education analyses and provide feedback on each other's findings.
Deliverables	1. Deliverable 1: Detailed Career Path Analysis Report, including financial implications and growth potential. 2. Deliverable 2: Educational Opportunities Comparison Chart, highlighting costs, benefits, and return on investment for different educational paths. 3. Deliverable 3: Reflection Document summarizing personal insights and peer feedback on career and education choices.
Preparation	1. Teacher Preparation Task 1: Prepare materials and resources for the Career Path Analysis Workshop, including data on salary scales and job growth statistics. 2. Teacher Preparation Task 2: Compile a list of educational resources and institutions for students to research during the Educational Opportunities Exploration session. 3. Teacher Preparation Task 3: Develop a cost-benefit analysis template for students to use in their exercises. 4. Teacher Preparation Task 4: Coordinate and schedule professionals for the Guest Panel Discussion, ensuring a diverse range of careers and educational backgrounds are represented. 5. Teacher Preparation Task 5: Create reflection and peer feedback guidelines to help students effectively articulate their findings and insights.

Week 4	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Activity 1: Advanced Budgeting Techniques - Conduct a workshop focusing on advanced budgeting strategies, such as emergency funds, savings plans, and investment basics.	Activity 2: Financial Literacy Escape Room Part 2 - Organize a second escape room challenge with more complex puzzles that integrate advanced financial concepts, encouraging critical thinking and teamwork.	Activity 3: Investment Exploration - Guide students in researching different types of investments, such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and real estate, and their potential impact on personal financial growth.	Activity 4: Group Presentation Preparation - Assign groups to prepare presentations on their chosen career paths and financial plans, integrating budgeting and investment strategies.	Activity 5: Reflection and Strategy Adjustment - Facilitate a session for students to reflect on their learning progress, adjust their financial strategies, and set new objectives.
Deliverables	1. Deliverable 1: Completed advanced budget worksheet, detailing savings plans and emergency funds. 2. Deliverable 2: Investment research report, comparing different investment options and their potential returns. 3. Deliverable 3: Group presentation outline, summarizing career paths, budgeting, and investment strategies.
Preparation	1. Teacher Preparation Task 1: Develop advanced budgeting templates and resources to guide students in creating comprehensive financial plans. 2. Teacher Preparation Task 2: Design and set up the second Financial Literacy Escape Room with new puzzles and challenges. 3. Teacher Preparation Task 3: Gather and provide resources on various investment types, including articles, videos, and expert insights. 4. Teacher Preparation Task 4: Create guidelines and rubrics for group presentations to ensure clarity and coherence in student reports. 5. Teacher Preparation Task 5: Prepare reflection and strategy adjustment worksheets to help students evaluate their learning and set new goals.

Week 5	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Activity 1: Career Fair Booth Development - Students will work in groups to design and develop their career fair booths, incorporating visual aids, infographics, and interactive elements to effectively communicate their chosen career paths.	Activity 2: Presentation Skills Workshop - Conduct a workshop focused on enhancing students' presentation skills, including public speaking techniques, audience engagement, and effective communication strategies.	Activity 3: Peer Review and Feedback Session - Facilitate a session where students present their career fair booth concepts to peers, receiving constructive feedback for improvement.	Activity 4: Final Vision Board and Infographic Refinement - Guide students in refining their Financial Future Vision Boards and infographics, ensuring they align with their career fair presentations.	Activity 5: Reflection and Self-Assessment - Organize a session for students to reflect on their progress, assess their learning, and identify areas for further improvement.
Deliverables	1. Deliverable 1: Draft of career fair booth design, including visual aids and interactive elements. 2. Deliverable 2: Revised Financial Future Vision Board and infographic, incorporating feedback from peer review. 3. Deliverable 3: Personal reflection and self-assessment document, highlighting learning achievements and areas for growth.
Preparation	1. Teacher Preparation Task 1: Provide materials and resources for career fair booth development, including poster boards, art supplies, and digital tools. 2. Teacher Preparation Task 2: Develop a presentation skills workshop outline, focusing on key techniques and strategies for effective communication. 3. Teacher Preparation Task 3: Create guidelines and rubrics for the peer review and feedback session to ensure constructive critique. 4. Teacher Preparation Task 4: Prepare resources and examples to assist students in refining their Financial Future Vision Boards and infographics. 5. Teacher Preparation Task 5: Design a reflection and self-assessment worksheet to guide students in evaluating their learning and progress.

Week 6	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Activity 1: Final Career Fair Booth Setup - Students will finalize the setup of their career fair booths, ensuring all elements are cohesive and visually appealing.	Activity 2: Dress Rehearsal for Career Fair - Conduct a dress rehearsal where students practice presenting their career paths and financial strategies to peers and teachers, receiving last-minute feedback.	Activity 3: Financial Literacy and Career Fair - Host the career fair event, inviting parents, community members, and local business leaders. Students will present their booths and engage in discussions about their career choices and financial plans.	Activity 4: Post-Fair Reflection and Feedback Session - Facilitate a session where students reflect on the career fair experience, discussing what they learned and how they communicated their findings.	Activity 5: Final Project Review and Celebration - Organize a celebration to acknowledge students' hard work and achievements throughout the project. Review the overall project goals and outcomes.
Deliverables	1. Deliverable 1: Finalized career fair booth with all visual and interactive elements. 2. Deliverable 2: Presentation feedback notes from the dress rehearsal and career fair. 3. Deliverable 3: Post-fair reflection document, summarizing key learnings and experiences.
Preparation	1. Teacher Preparation Task 1: Ensure all logistical arrangements are in place for the career fair, including venue setup and invitations to guests. 2. Teacher Preparation Task 2: Provide last-minute support and resources for students to finalize their career fair booths. 3. Teacher Preparation Task 3: Develop a feedback form for guests to provide insights on student presentations during the career fair. 4. Teacher Preparation Task 4: Organize the dress rehearsal schedule and provide guidelines for effective practice sessions. 5. Teacher Preparation Task 5: Prepare a reflection worksheet for the post-fair session to guide students in evaluating their performance and learning.