Link(s) to the Saskatchewan English Language Arts Curriculum:

• View and demonstrate comprehension and interpretation of visual and multimedia texts with specific features (e.g., circle graphs) and complex ideas including the visual components of media such as magazines, newspapers, websites, reference books, graphic novels, broadcast media, videos, and promotional materials.
• Read independently and demonstrate comprehension of a variety of specialized information texts including non-fiction books, grade-level instructional materials, articles, reports, reference materials, instructions, advertising and promotional materials, and websites.
• Create various visual, oral, written, and multimedia (including digital) texts that explore identity (e.g., Exploring Thoughts, Feelings, and Ideas), social responsibility (e.g., Taking Action), and efficacy (e.g., Building a Better World).

Brief Overview of the Lesson:

The activity involves reading and completing an Internet brochure called “A Kids Guide to Money.” The students will complete a sample budget worksheet. They will learn about several money topics: earning, spending, saving, needs and wants.

Estimated Time Required for Implementation:

One class period

Materials Needed:

Computers

Suggested Implementation Strategy:

• Ask the students what they know about money concepts. Do they know what “opportunity cost” means?
• Tell the students that today they will learn what opportunity cost is and learn about several other money concepts.
• Tell them to open the following website and instruct them to read this brochure and complete the activities.
  https://www.clevelandfed.org/learningcenter/great-minds-think.aspx

Options for Consideration:

• The teacher may want to put the students in groups to do this activity.
• If computers are not available, a smart board could be used to make this a whole class activity.

Extended Learning Opportunities:

• Let the students learn more about money and how an economy works by watching the “Hands on Banking” program for teens at:
  http://www.handsonbanking.org/htdocs/en/t/#/en/t/ym/3.html

Articles:

• http://learningtogive.org/lessons/unit398/
  A unit containing 4 lessons called “Money Smart Teens”