Find financial literacy activities
Find activities that can help you teach and nurture the building blocks of financial capability across the curriculum.
These classroom activities can be completed within a single class period. Each activity comes with a teacher guide and supporting student material, so it’s easy to implement whether you’re an experienced personal finance teacher, integrating financial literacy into another subject area, or supplementing your existing financial education curriculum.
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Banking basics card game
Ideal for: High school (9-10), High school (11-12)
Students play a game to learn about common banking products and services and to consider which ones they might use now and in the future.
Creating a buying plan
Ideal for: High school (9-10), High school (11-12)
Students practice creating a buying plan and apply this strategy to provide buying advice to others.
Reflecting on needs versus wants
Ideal for: High school (9-10), High school (11-12)
By thinking about their own expenses, students explore how differentiating between needs and wants can inform daily financial decisions and rules to live by.
Spending scenarios
Ideal for: High school (9-10), High school (11-12)
Students consider everyday spending decisions by working through real-world scenarios.
Choosing the best cell phone plan for you
Ideal for: High school (9-10), High school (11-12)
Students research the features and costs of cell phones and cell phone plans and use a decision matrix to compare options and determine the best one for their needs, wants, and budget.
Understanding redlining
Ideal for: High school (9-10), High school (11-12)
Students read a handout about the practice of redlining and answer questions about its impact on individuals and communities.
Including giving in your budget
Ideal for: High school (9-10), High school (11-12)
Students explore how creating a budgeting rule can help people include giving in their monthly budgets.
Playing a saving and spending game
Ideal for: High school (9-10), High school (11-12)
Students discuss the importance of emergency savings and play a game to explore connections between saving, spending, and unexpected expenses.
Getting banked
Ideal for: High school (9-10), High school (11-12)
Students select a local bank or credit union to research to learn about what to consider when choosing a financial institution.
Budgeting for fun in a rural setting
Ideal for: High school (9-10), High school (11-12)
Students practice budgeting by planning for a fun overnight trip to a rural area.