Reading about federal financial aid

Updated Aug 11, 2022

By analyzing a text about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), students learn about the most common process for applying for financial aid to help pay for higher education.

Big idea

The FAFSA is a financial aid tool that will help students find funding sources to help them pay for their post-secondary education.

Essential questions

How can the FAFSA help you and your family pay for higher education?
How does your family’s financial situation affect the amount of federal financial aid you may receive?

Objectives

Understand the basics of federal financial aid
Describe what FAFSA is and how it helps you obtain financial aid

What students will do

Read and analyze a text about federal financial aid and the FAFSA.
Answer reading comprehension questions.
Discuss the reading to deepen their understanding of federal financial aid.

Download activity

Teacher guide

cfpb_building_block_activities_reading-about-federal-financial-aid_guide.pdf

Student materials

cfpb_building_block_activities_reading-about-federal-financial-aid_worksheet.pdf

cfpb_building_block_activities_all-about-FAFSA_handout.pdf

Note: Please remember to consider your students’ accommodations and special needs to ensure that all students are able to participate in a meaningful way.

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Key information for this activity

Building block

(What are the building blocks?)

Financial knowledge and decision-making skills

Topic

Save and invest (Saving for college), Spend (Paying for college), Borrow (Getting loans)

School subject

CTE (Career and technical education), English or language arts, Math, Social studies or history

Audience

Grade level: High school (9-10), High school (11-12)

Age range: 13-15, 16-19

Student characteristics: English language learners, Special education, Low income, Rural, Urban

Activity characteristics

Activity type: Individual, Small group

Teaching strategy: Direct instruction

Bloom’s Taxonomy level: Understand, Apply

Activity duration: 45-60 minutes

National standards

(What are the national standards? )

Standards: I. Earning income, II. Spending, V. Managing credit

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