Why Teach Personal Finance in Middle School?

The decisions of today have consequences that lie in the future!

Our middle school students will some day be our teachers, janitors, health care providers, police officers, lawyers, and elected officials.

Empower them now to build wealth and prosper in the future!

Three Valuable Resources

1. Learning, Earning and Investing (2004)2. Gen i Revolution (web based)3. Common Sense Economics (2010)

http://lei.councilforeconed.org/interactives/compound/

Overview

Introduction to the Gen I Revolution (45 seconds)

Player's Guide (1 minute) Mission Guide (2 minutes)

As a Teacher/Administrator

Plug into your students’ fascination with the media

Possibly make learning economics cool Excite students about using some of

their recreational time to play the game

It is easy to get started.

As a Student

Learning economics is fun and exciting. It can be cool. Join your classmates and complete

missions to help you and others build wealth and prosper

Remember, the decisions of today have consequences that lie in the future. Plan your future.

Advice 1/3

Notice that each mission has self-contained points and scoring. Student scores are only kept within missions, not across missions.

Advise students to keep a calculator and notepad handy. Although the game provides a calculator that can be used, the game works better if screens are kept clear. Also, although it’s possible to keep word processor windows open while the game plays to go back and forth, game testers found that a physical notepad was easier.

Advice 2/3:

Testers reported that the 4-1-1 tutorials take up the most time as students play the game, but also provide the most information. Battle questions and mission solution go relatively quickly.

Advice 3/3

Advise students to work with others in a team setting. Rely on the comparative advantages and specialties of others.

By going straight to the Battle questions, since students forgo opportunities to earn points and they have a lower chance of answering questions correctly.

Experienced-based learningopportunities for the F2F classroom

Power of compounding: Put your money to work

How much does it cost to raise a child? Budgeting for life

Power of compounding

Cost of Raising a Child

http://commonsenseeconomics.com/instructor-resources/supplementals/

Theo Gets a Budget Lesson From Dad – Cosby Show

http://lei.councilforeconed.org/interactives/compound/

Theo Gets a Budgeting Lesson from Bill Cosby

Questions?