Links to Alberta English Language Arts Curriculum Outcomes:

• 1.1 Discover and Explore
  • extend understanding of ideas and information by finding and exploring oral, print and other media texts on related topics and themes
  • express personal understandings of ideas and information based on prior knowledge, experiences with others and a variety of oral, print and other media texts
• 3.1 Plan and Focus
  • plan and organize data collection based on instructions, explanations and pre-established parameters
• 3.2 Select and Process
  • scan to locate specific information quickly; summarize and record information useful for research purposes
• 4.3 Present and Share
  • present ideas and opinions confidently, but without dominating the discussion, during small group activities and short, whole class sessions
• 5.2 Work Within a Group
  • contribute collaboratively in group situations, by asking questions and building on the ideas of others
  • contribute ideas, knowledge and questions to establish an information base for research or investigations

Brief Overview of the Lesson:

Students will discover ways to invest money and understand the risks and rewards of each kind of investment. Students need to understand the terms: acronyms, investments.

Estimated Time Required for Implementation:

One class period

Materials Needed:

Computers

Suggested Implementation Strategy:

• Ask the class if they have heard the term “Money doesn’t grow on trees.”
  • Do they know where a person can put money to make it grow?
  • Do they have any money saved? What kind of investment is it?
  • Explain that today they will research different kinds of investments that people can buy to make their money grow.
• Divide the class into 6 groups.
• Each group will be researching a financial investment.
• Assign one kind of investment to each group. TFSA, GIC, RRSP, RESP, Bank Saving Account, Stock Market
• They are to use the internet to research and report back to the class:
  • what the acronym represents
  • where to buy this kind of investment
  • what the advantages and disadvantages are of putting money into this kind of investment
• The groups share their findings with the class, discussing what was learned about each kind of investment.

Options for Consideration:

• For homework, the students are to pretend they have $100 to invest. They are to use the knowledge they learned today and write a paragraph explaining why they chose this way to invest the money.
• Ask the students to share with their family, what they have learned about investing.