Lesson plans that reinforce numerous financial topics and provide opportunities for outreach projects to peers, family members and communities.
Service Learning
Full Service Learning Lessons
Gaining with Goals
Service Type: Advocacy
Lesson Plan Integration
Introductory level: Go for the Goal!
Advanced level: Setting Financial Goals
Introductory level: Go for the Goal!
Advanced level: Setting Financial Goals
Description:
Participants create posters or videos to help others learn the importance of setting goals and how to use the SMART goals process.
Saver’s Challenge
Service Type: Indirect
Lesson Plan Integration
Introductory level: Pay Yourself First
Advanced level: Choose to Save, and Saving Tools
Introductory level: Pay Yourself First
Advanced level: Choose to Save, and Saving Tools
Description:
Students will propose a Savers Challenge to elementary age students. Elementary students will be challenged to bring in loose change or a portion of money they have saved to donate to a charitable organization.
Get a Job Peer Clinic
Service Type: Direct
Description:
Students deliver a week-long in-school or after-school drop-in workshop to help peers prepare resumes, fill out job applications, draft cover letters and practice interviewing skills. Students prepare a promotional campaign to advertise the free walk-in clinics and then take turns conducting the event.
Let’s Invest with Lawn Boy
Service Type: Direct
Lesson Plan Integration
Introductory level: Investing with Lawn Boy
Advanced level: Investing with Lawn Boy
Introductory level: Investing with Lawn Boy
Advanced level: Investing with Lawn Boy
Description:
Introduces the concepts of investing and introductory economic principles using the novel Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen. High school students will partner with a class or classes from a nearby middle school or elementary school to conduct their direct service project. Students will create teachable lessons and design a presentation to deliver in person to younger students after reading the novel.
Lessons with Service Learning Idea Opportunities
- Responsible Internet Use
- Depository Institutions
- Paying Taxes
- Planning Estates
- Drives & Giving Campaigns
Responsible Internet Use
Introductory Level:
Digital Citizenship
Advanced Level:
Protecting Yourself Against Fraud
Ideas:
- Advocacy or direct service project with elementary or middle grades to promote being a good digital citizen and safe habits to use online.
- Direct service activity to help older Americans be aware of fraud and other dangers when online.
Depository Institutions
Lesson Plan:
Introduction to Depository Institutions
Ideas:
- Develop an advocacy campaign on “Getting Banked” and increasing public awareness about the benefits of having access to traditional banking services.
- Research and analyze the financial fees, additional costs, and economic challenges faced by individuals who are considered “unbanked” or “underbanked”.
Paying Taxes
Lesson Plan:
Paying Your Income Taxes
Ideas:
- Students stage walk-in clinic hours to help their peers file income taxes.
- Student volunteers complete the TCT lesson “Paying Your Income Taxes” and demonstrate skills for correctly filing tax forms.
- Teacher secures VITA brochures as resources to help students work with peers to file income taxes.
Planning Estates
Lesson Plan:
Estate Planning
Ideas:
- Indirect service project where high school students create brochures, informational pamphlets or media presentations about the importance of writing a will, having a letter of last instruction, etc.
- Arrange to share the promotional literature at local senior citizen centers, nursing homes, or similar community spaces.
Drives & Giving Campaigns
Lesson Plan:
The Lorax Active Learning Tool
Ideas:
- Students can make an impact in their community by conducting a “Teens for Jeans” campaign or a “Comeback Clothes” campaign by donating items to a shelter or local organization
Lessons For Motivating Students to Serve
Giving to Others
Lesson Plan:
Giving to Others
Ideas:
- Can Money Buy Happiness? worksheet
- Giving Quotes — set up as QR codes; students consider which quote appeals to them most
- Pay it Forward planning sheet
Live Well, Do Good Things
Lesson Plan:
Live Well, Do Good Things Assesment
Ideas:
- Links to stories about the power of philanthropy from celebrity donors and ordinary people who do extraordinary things.
- Remember. Honor. Teach. The story of the entrepreneur from Maine who started “Wreaths Across America.”
Help from the Community
Lesson Plan:
Receiving from Family, Friends, and Non-Profits
Ideas:
- Use the 3-page Information Sheet to help students understand being part of a community and how, in times of need, that network can be a source of giving and receiving.
Motivational Video Clips and Websites
Can Money Buy Happiness?
Video explains psychology of giving to others.
TOMS Shoe Founder
Young teen interviews Blake Mycoskie on why he started this company.
Pay It Forward Day
Annual day celebrated worldwide in April. Ideas available on this webpage. #FinLit Month
30 Ways to Give to Others
Article that shares 30 ways to give back without donating money.
Believe in Good
Video showing a man giving to others every day and feeling happiness.
Kindness 101 with Steve Hartman
Educator group with stories of kindness and examples of how others are using them in classrooms.
