Building block activities resource list

Resource from the Department of Labor

Use this tool to search thousands of scholarships, fellowships, grants, loans, and other financial aid award opportunities.

Resource from the College Board

This webpage offers basic information about types of colleges, such as the differences between a college and a university and between public and private colleges.

Resource from the Department of Education

The Federal Student Aid Estimator is a simple eligibility estimator tool that can help you plan when it comes to paying for college. This tool gives you a free estimate of your eligibility for federal student aid. You must use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form to apply for aid once you’ve decided to apply for admission and attend college.

Website from the Department of Education

Get information about preparing for college, types of federal aid, how to apply for aid using the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA); and your loan repayment options.

Resource from the Department of Education

This webpage lists student aid options including grants, work-study, loans, and scholarships.

Video from the Department of Education

If you need help paying for college or career school, the Office of Federal Student Aid can assist you with getting the money you need. Check out this video to learn about grants, loans, and work-study jobs and how they can help fund your education.

Video from the Financial Literacy Center (RAND Corp., Dartmouth, Wharton)

This video explains how fast assets and debt grow to help you appreciate the importance of starting to save early—and paying off debt quickly.

Resource from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Use this calculator to determine how much your money can grow using the power of compound interest.

Resource from the Securities and Exchange Commission

This webpage offers resources to help you better understand cryptocurrency and other types of virtual currencies.

Website from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

A site to help investors at all experience levels understand how to invest wisely and avoid fraud.

Resource from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

This webpage offers information on a wide variety of investment products that can help you achieve your financial goals.

Resource managed by the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board

The Thrift Savings Plan is a retirement savings and investment plan for members of the military and federal government employees. They can use this calculator to plan and manage their savings.

Website from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Includes easy-to-read and understand resources for basic money management, credit, scams, and ID theft.

Booklet from the Wyoming Retirement System and the Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement

This booklet tells a story about a young girl who meets future versions of herself and sees how saving pays off throughout her lifetime. The story also is available as a video .

Website from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion

This is the only source to get free credit reports authorized by federal law. This law requires each of the three largest consumer credit reporting agencies to give you a free copy of your credit report every 12 months.

Resource from the Federal Trade Commission

This webpage offers information about what to do if your credit, ATM, or debit card is lost or stolen.

Resource from USA.gov

Find out your rights when it comes to credit cards and how to choose the right one.

Resource from the Federal Trade Commission

This webpage explains what identity theft is and what to do if it happens to you.

Resource from the Federal Trade Commission

An interactive map of fraud reports by state, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Webpage from the Federal Trade Commission

This resource explains what businesses should do if they experience a data breach.

Resources from the Federal Trade Commission

These guides require businesses to let people know if endorsements are paid for by the business and if there’s a connection between the person providing the endorsement and the business.

Article from the Federal Trade Commission

This resource describes ways to block calls from scammers on your cell phone, landline, or phone that makes calls over the internet (VoIP).

Website from the Federal Trade Commission

IdentityTheft.gov is the federal government’s one-stop resource for identity theft victims. The site provides streamlined checklists and sample letters to guide you through the recovery process.

Webpage from the Federal Trade Commission

This resource allows you register your phone number so you can block telemarketing calls.

Video from the Federal Trade Commission

This resource offers tips on buying things and keeping your credit card safe online.

Resource from the Federal Trade Commission

This webpage lists resources to learn about identify theft and what to do if you suspect you are the victim of identity theft.

Webpage from the Federal Trade Commission

You can use this resource to report fraud, scams, and bad business practices.

Webpage from the Federal Trade Commission

This resource explains how the Federal Trade Commission enforces truth-in-advertising laws.

Resource from the Internal Revenue Service

This resource provides guidance on how to detect and report tax-related fraud.

Resource from USA.gov

This webpage explains identity theft and offers information on how to protect yourself against it and report it. It also includes information on medical identity theft.

Website from the Securities and Exchange Commission

A site to help investors at all experience levels understand how to invest wisely and avoid fraud.

Website from the Department of Transportation

DOT is responsible for planning and coordinating federal transportation projects. It also sets safety regulations for all major modes of transportation.

Resource from the Insurance Information Institute

This webpage provides information about teen driving, including related laws and safety issues.

Resource from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

This webpage offers information about keeping your Social Security number and other personal information secure.

Resource from the Social Security Administration

This webpage provides educators with a toolkit full of the information and resources to develop engaging and informative lessons on Social Security and the importance of planning for the future.

Website from the Federal Trade Commission

Consumer.gov includes easy-to-read and understand resources for basic money management, credit, scams, and ID theft.

Website from the Federal Trade Commission

The FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection stops unfair, deceptive and fraudulent business practices by collecting complaints and conducting investigations, suing companies and people that break the law, developing rules to maintain a fair marketplace, and educating consumers and businesses about their rights and responsibilities.

Website from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

The FDIC is an independent agency created by Congress to secure public confidence in U.S. financial systems. They do this by insuring bank deposits, monitoring and managing risks, and limiting the impact of bank failure on the economy.

Website from the Federal Emergency Management Agency

FEMA’s mission is to help people before, during, and after disasters. FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made.

Website from the National Credit Union Administration

NCUA is an independent federal agency that insures deposits at federally insured credit unions, protects the members who own credit unions, and charters and regulates federal credit unions.

Resource from the Department of Labor

This webpage includes links to resources covering the minimum wage and wage laws.

Resource from the U.S. Energy Information Administration

This table lists average monthly electricity prices by region and state.

Resource from Fair Isaac Corporation

This tool lets you get an estimated credit score for free by answering questions.

Resources from Intuit

These activities and simulations help students with money management skills such as budgeting, saving, analyzing spending habits, and comparing credit cards.

Resource from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

This resource provides instructions and a template for building a straw rocket. NASA also offers a video on building the rocket and modifying it to make it fly farther.

Resource from the Department of Labor

Use this tool to search thousands of scholarships, fellowships, grants, loans, and other financial aid award opportunities.

Website from The College Board

The College Board offers a range of resources for planning and paying for college.

Resource from the College Board

This webpage offers basic information about types of colleges, such as the differences between a college and a university and between public and private colleges.

Website from the Department of Education

The College Scorecard lets you research and compare colleges, universities, and training institutions based on location, field of study, average annual costs, graduation rates, and a range of other factors.

Resource from the Department of Education

This form is designed to simplify the information that prospective students receive about costs and financial aid.

Resource from the Department of Education

The Federal Student Aid Estimator is a simple eligibility estimator tool that can help you plan when it comes to paying for college. This tool gives you a free estimate of your eligibility for federal student aid. You must use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form to apply for aid once you’ve decided to apply for admission and attend college.

Website from the Department of Education

Get information about preparing for college, types of federal aid, how to apply for aid using the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA); and your loan repayment options.

Resource from the Department of Education

Learn about the grant programs that are available from the U.S. Department of Education.

Resource from the Department of Education

The Loan Simulator is a tool to help you make decisions about your student loans. Use it to find a repayment plan that meets your needs and goals or to decide whether to consolidate.

Resource from the Department of Education

This webpage lists student aid options including grants, work-study, loans, and scholarships.

Resource from FinAid: The SmartStudent guide to financial aid

This calculator computes an estimate of the size of your monthly loan payments and the annual salary required to manage them without too much financial difficulty.

Resource from FinAid: The SmartStudent guide to financial aid

This calculator shows the impact of making regular extra payments on a loan. It shows the interest savings and the number of payments saved from the repayment schedule as compared with a regular loan that has no prepayment.

Resource from the Department of the Treasury

This webpage lists the exchange rates of U.S. dollars for various foreign currencies. The page is updated quarterly.

Resource from Charity Navigator

This search tool provides information and ratings on charities.

Resource from CharityWatch

This search tool provides information and ratings on charities.

Website from the Office of Personnel Management

This resource helps people find information about charities based on the type of charity, location, and other criteria.

Resource from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

The CPI Inflation Calculator uses the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) U.S. city average series for all items, not seasonally adjusted. This data represents changes in the prices of all goods and services purchased for consumption by urban households.

Video from the Federal Reserve

This video covers what inflation is and how the Federal Reserve evaluates changes in the rate of inflation.

Resource from the Federal Reserve

This webpage explains what inflation is and how the Federal Reserve evaluates changes in the rate of inflation.

Resource from the Social Security Administration

This webpage lists ways organizations can protect Social Security numbers and links to resources for preventing theft of Social Security numbers.

Resource from the Social Security Administration

This webpage hosts downloadable PSAs that educate the public about Social Security, including Social Security scams.

Resources from Intuit

These activities and real-life simulations give students hands-on experience with taxes.

Website from the Federal Trade Commission

Consumer.gov includes easy-to-read and understand resources for basic money management, credit, scams, and ID theft.

Resource from the Department of Housing and Urban Development

You can use this webpage to report suspected violations of the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal for lenders to discriminate against home buyers based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status, or disability.

Resource managed by the University of Richmond

This resource includes an interactive map and data that illustrate the history and impact of redlining.

Video from the Public Broadcasting System

This short video describes the now-illegal practice of redlining and its ongoing impact.

Resource from the U.S. Mint

This webpage offers kid-friendly information on the parts of each U.S. coin, what the coins are made of, and how they circulate. The resource also includes videos on the U.S. Mint’s coin-making process and on what the U.S. Mint does.

Resource from the U.S. Mint

This digital learning experience lets young audiences discover how currency is used, observe artistic concepts found in currency, learn about how money works, and compare elements of the natural world to the special features found on currency.

Resource from the Department of Labor

Use this tool to search thousands of scholarships, fellowships, grants, loans, and other financial aid award opportunities.

Resource from the College Board

This webpage provides answers to frequently asked questions about community college.

Resource from the College Board

This webpage offers basic information about types of colleges, such as the differences between a college and a university and between public and private colleges.

Website from the Department of Education

Get information about preparing for college, types of federal aid, how to apply for aid using the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA); and your loan repayment options.

Resource from the Department of Education

This webpage lists the eligibility criteria for federal student aid (grants, work-study, and loans).

Resource from the Department of Education

The Federal Student Aid Estimator is a simple eligibility estimator tool that can help you plan when it comes to paying for college. This tool gives you a free estimate of your eligibility for federal student aid. You must use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form to apply for aid once you’ve decided to apply for admission and attend college.

Resource from the Department of Education

Learn about the grant programs that are available from the U.S. Department of Education.

Resource from the Department of Education

The Loan Simulator is a tool to help you make decisions about your student loans. Use it to find a repayment plan that meets your needs and goals or to decide whether to consolidate.

Resource from the Department of Education

This form is designed to simplify the information that prospective students receive about costs and financial aid.

Resource from FinAid: The SmartStudent guide to financial aid

This calculator computes an estimate of the size of your monthly loan payments and the annual salary required to manage them without too much financial difficulty.

Resource from FinAid: The SmartStudent guide to financial aid

This calculator shows the impact of making regular extra payments on a loan. It shows the interest savings and the number of payments saved from the repayment schedule as compared with a regular loan that has no prepayment.

Use this CFPB tool throughout your homebuying process to explore the range of mortgage interest rates you can expect to receive. See how your credit score, loan type, home price, and down payment amount can affect your rate. Knowing your options and what to expect helps ensure that you get a mortgage that is right for you. Check back often -- the rates in the tool are updated every Wednesday and Friday.

Resource from the Federal Trade Commission

This webpage describes what credit is and how to use it.

Resource from Fair Isaac Corporation

This tool lets you get an estimated credit score for free by answering questions.

Resource from the Federal Trade Commission

This blog post explains free credit freezes and how to use them.

Video from the Federal Trade Commission

This video shows what happens when someone makes just the minimum payment on a credit card balance.

Resources from Intuit

These activities and simulations help students with money management skills such as budgeting, saving, analyzing spending habits, and comparing credit cards.

Resource managed by the University of Richmond

This resource includes an interactive map and data that illustrate the history and impact of redlining.

Resource from the National Credit Union Administration

Use this interactive credit card statement to familiarize yourself with the terms and general information commonly included on a real credit card statement.

Video from the Public Broadcasting System

This short video describes the now-illegal practice of redlining and its ongoing impact.

Resource from USA.gov

Find out your rights when it comes to credit cards and how to choose the right one.

Resource from Fair Isaac Corporation

This webpage explains FICO scores and why they are important.

Website from the Federal Trade Commission

Consumer.gov includes easy-to-read and understand resources for basic money management, credit, scams, and ID theft.

Resource from the Department of Housing and Urban Development

You can use this webpage to report suspected violations of the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal for lenders to discriminate against home buyers based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status, or disability.

Website from the National Credit Union Administration

The National Credit Union Administration’s consumer protection website MyCreditUnion.gov and its financial literacy microsite, World of Cents , offer a variety of educational information, resources, and articles designed to help individuals make smarter financial decisions.