My Money

My Money

Curriculum:


Type: Middle School

Recommended for grades 5-8


Through a variety of activities and tools designed to support different learning styles, students develop economic concepts, better understand the role of money in society, consumption and saving, learn how to be more responsible and properly manage their resources, while making rational decisions about their money.


PROGRAM OBJECTIVE

JA's My Money economic and financial education national program aims to develop the skills students need to better understand the relationship between what they learn in school and their active participation in an evolving global economy.
Students are encouraged to be creative as they develop economic concepts or money management skills, understand the workings of society and identify their career aspirations. The program follows the grades 5-8 curriculum and emphasizes social science content while focusing on math, reading and writing skills.


EDUCATIONAL CONTENT

My Money uses a learning by doing approach and is delivered as a classroom course, based on a kit which includes:

  • teacher's guide;
  • student’s workbook;
  • activity sheets.

There are six main topics in the module, which students work through under the guidance of their teachers and volunteers from the banking sector.


SKILLS DEVELOPED

• Research • Ranking • Comparison • Argumentation • Analytical thinking • Interpreting data • Decision-making • Teamwork • Processing and using information • Self-motivation


ACTIVITY LIST

  1. Money in the bank
    What role does money play in everyday life? What are the benefits of a bank account? Students learn different aspects of how to manage a bank account. They take part in the "Community Game" to improve their money management skills and better understand the role and importance of money in their lives.
  2. The value of money
    What is a positive work ethic and what is the difference between working for yourself and working for someone else? Students identify the types of businesses they can start or jobs they can take to earn money. The lesson activities focus on ethics and also on a better understanding of the role of money in people's lives.
  3. The balance of payments
    How do you identify personal skills and interests and match them with possible opportunities to start a business? Students practice financial decision-making and money management skills by identifying ways to share, save and spend. Moreover, students work in teams to learn about different aspects of market research and play the final round of the "Community Game".
  4. Building a business
    What are the basic steps of planning and starting a business? What are the operating costs and revenues of a small business? Students explore their own skills and the types of businesses they are interested in and identify the basic steps of starting and running a small business. Using this information, learners create a business plan.
  5. Being a smart consumer
    What makes you a smart consumer? What is the difference between personal and business costs? Students continue to work in teams and practice saving and spending money. Central to this activity are the decisions made from different perspectives. Students work in teams for the first round of "The Business" game.
  6. What's the secret?
    How are businesses promoted through advertising? How do you make the right financial decision? During this activity, students are taught how to recognize which ads are misleading and which are important for developing good business ethics. Continuing to work in teams, they complete "The Business" game and the program.