Readin', Writin' & Savin'- April is Financial Literacy Month

It has never been more important for our children to have a firm grasp of economics and financial literacy.“The challenging times everyone faces today provide a tremendous teachable moment that opens the door for educators to help students gain the skills needed to make wise financial decisions in the future."
Patrick Gaston- Verizon Foundation President

Along with reading, writing, and arithmetic, financial literacy is being included in state standards and expectations. This month is a great time to explore opportunities to strengthen our students financial literacy skills. Check out these ready-to-use, time-saving lesson plans to get you started:

Kudos to great folks at Verizon's Thinkfinity for putting together a fantastic collection of free lesson plans, videos, photos and student activities to support Financial Literacy instruction. Included in the collection are the following materials: 

1. Compound Interest Calculator – Simulator with examples of consistent monthly savings to teach students learn the power of compound interest.

2. Exploring Cost and Savings Using Children’s Literature - Students read and discuss and explore the concept of saving for specific purposes. 

3. You’re Going to College  – Students learn about the true costs of attending college, its benefits and its impact on potential lifetime earnings in this interactive game.
4. Predicting Your Financial Future  – Students use their knowledge of exponents to determine an investment’s worth, using a formula and a compound interest simulator.
5. Rates and Taxes  – Students learn how to determine the amount of tax a family will pay, based on a certain income
6. http://edsitement.neh.gov/Spotlights/spotlight-hardtimes.asp lets students see, via several video clips of FDR’s speeches, how America dealt with hard financial times during the Depression.
7. http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=172 displays compound interest calculator suitable for students as young as in the third grade.
8. Playing this fun you’re going to college game, players get information about different ways of funding college.

Brainpop -.Explore movies on banking, mortgages, and more as Financial literacy is the Spotlight feature at Brainpop. You’ll will also find content covering everything from the stock market and taxes to comparing prices and credit cards. BrainPOP Jr. topics deal with dollars and cents, needs and wants, counting coins, and goods and services. Good stuff here.

BizWorld supports educators in teaching the basics of business, entrepreneurship, and money management. Lots of great ideas on how we can promote teamwork and leadership in the classroom.

Practical Money Skills is as educator-developed and educator-approved site designed to help students practice better money management for life. In addition to the lessons and resources provided,Visa has created free classroom material that educators can use to teach personal finance.

Photo on Flickr by Nikkonoguer