In this post for Financial Literacy Month, we’ll take a look at the second of the four FUTURES: Financially Literate Kids for a Financially Literate Society™ strands—economics. What better way to help kids learn to better handle and manage money than by understanding how the system behind it works?
Easy-to-Grasp Economics, Anyone?
This program’s in-depth Economics strand covers a wealth of topics:
Consumers and Producers
Currency and Federal Reserve
Goods and Services
Scarcity
Opportunity Cost
Federal Government Taxes and Role of Government
Productive Resources
Specialization and Division of Labor
In this part of the program, a variety of section resources introduce kids to economics concepts using fun activities and familiar real-world scenarios. For example, students can examine a city council budget, consider the fairness of a trade, or look at how advancements in musical technology have impacted consumers.
Through leveled resources, students will learn the roles of consumers and producers, look at how money is used as a medium of exchange, and examine the trading process from various angles as well as gain an understanding of how goods and services are produced, consumed and exchanged.
Let’s Get Focused
As with the other strands, each section is organized around an engaging Focus Question and divided into five parts, providing a spiraled, progressive presentation of the topic. Five levels of instruction move from a basic to advanced understanding of economics topics, helping teachers “meet their students where they are.” And supplemental activities help students make cross-curricular connections with other subject areas—including math, art, writing, science, and social studies.
In and Out of the Classroom
FUTURES: Financially Literate Kids for a Financially Literate Society™ is a highly adaptable and agile financial literacy program that works well in schools, classrooms, clubs, community centers and even around the dinner table. Want your kids to know more and become well-versed on economic topics in fun and easy-to-infuse ways? Just download any/all sections that appeal and pick and choose activities that connect to everyday topics in your class, group, or household. You don’t need to be a seasoned teacher to effectively incorporate these ideas in conversations, fun family exchanges, and to generally raise awareness about the power of economics.
Visit Us Every Day in April
Check back tomorrow on Day 12 of Financial Literacy Month as we look at a fun and familiar example of the four types of economic resources as we look “behind the bricks” in the classic story of The Three Little Pigs. We’ll help kids learn how to consider which resource was most important in building a strong and safe, wolf-resistant house.
For more information about FUTURES: Financially Literate Kids for a Financially Literate Society™ for students in kindergarten through eighth grade or to download any of the 29 sections of the program, please click below.