Syllabus 2025-2026
Program: Finance Course Title: ECONOMICS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES
Instructor: Emma Constant
Stanhope Elmore High School
4300 Main Street
Millbrook, AL 36054 Phone: (334) 285-4263 Fax: (334)285-4575
E-mail address: emma.constant@elmoreco.com
Course Fee: $15
Course Description:
Economics and Financial Services presents basic topics in economics, including the principles and practices of banking, credit, and consumer lending in the United States. Additional emphasis is placed on money management, economic growth and stability, and characteristics of different economic systems and financial institutions. The course includes the major functions of banks and other financial intermediaries, central banking and the Federal Reserve System, and current trends in the finance industry, credit functions, principles of credit risk evaluation, loan creation, debt collection, and stocks and bonds.
Course Goals
The primary objective of this course is to introduce students to the concepts of economic systems, market systems, discover how profits affect decision making, business methods of raising capital, exchange rates, supply and demand, and impact of trade and trade barriers, banking and investments, Monetary Policy and Federal Reserve, Consumer Economics, ethical skills, and cost-benefit analysis marketing strategies.
Career and Technical Student Organization – Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
FBLA Dues: $30
Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda, Inc. (FBLA-PBL) is a co-curricular component of the business program. This student organization enhances classroom instruction, develops leadership skills, and provides opportunities for professional growth and service. Business Technology students are strongly encouraged to be active FBLA members in order to participate in district, state, and national competitions and conferences. Professional Membership is available. Receive perks for such as hotel, restaurant and rental discounts.
A membership fee of $30.00 is required (National Dues $10, State Dues -$4, Local $6, T-shirt-$10).
Curriculum Materials: The curriculum materials/software to be used in this course include:
The Stock Market Game - www.stockmarketgame.org
http://financeintheclassroom.org/
http://nextgenpersonalfinance.org/curriculum/
https://frbatlanta.org/education/lessons/high-school.aspx
https://apps.irs.gov/app/understandingTaxes/student/simulations.jsp
http://www.mymoney.gov/Pages/default.aspx
https://myclassroomeconomy.org/
https://us.abalancingact.com/2022-federal-budget
https://www.newyorkfed.org/outreach-and-education/comic-books
Communication/Cloud Resources:
Parentsquare.com Mysehs.com Google Classroom
Supplies needed:
· Headphones or Earbuds for Chromebook
· Charged Chromebook/plug
· PENS/PENCILS
· Calculator
Culminating Product/Professional Credentials:
The Alabama State Department of Education requires all Career and Technical programs to provide students with an opportunity to receive a business and industry recognized credential.
· Microsoft Office Specialist 2019-365 –Must have two of the following (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
· A.S.K. Institute—Concepts of Finance
· IC3 Global Standard 6 (or higher)
· Intuit QuickBooks Certified User
· Microsoft Office Expert 2019-365 Word
· Microsoft Office Expert 2019-365 Excel
· Certified Guest Services Professional
Procedures/Requirements: Teaching strategies include lecture, questions and answers, PowerPoint presentations, student’s presentations, projects, videos, speakers
Students enrolled in Personal Finance are required to:
Organize and manage classroom handouts, notes, study questions, projects and tests.
Bring materials need for daily class activity completion.
Maintain classroom behavior that provides themselves and other students with an environment in which optimum learning can take place.
Arrive to class on time. Class will start when the tardy bell rings.
Assessment/Student Evaluation: Periodic class discussions will be held to emphasize key points, check student understanding, and prevent gaps in overall progress. Students will be evaluated throughout the semester using course activities, quizzes/tests, and production projects. This is a weighted average evaluation system and will measure summative as well as formative aspects of student performance.
Grading Guidelines:
All grades earned during the 9-week grading period will be added and averaged according to the percentages earned. Progress reports will be sent home after the 4th week of each grading period. Grades will be determined by the following guidelines:
Points for assignments: · Tests/Projects – 65% · Daily assignments – 35%
Grading Scale:
A = 90-100 B = 80-89 C = 70-79 D = 60-69 F = Below 60
Makeup Policy – There will be a class assignment every day. If a student is absent an assignment will be missed. The student will have 5 school days from the day he/she returned to school to make up this missed assignment. It is the student’s responsibility to ask for make-up work. It is the student’s responsibility to make this request within 3 days after the absence.
COURSE OUTLINE (includes but not limited to):
UNIT 1: Foundational Skills
UNIT 2: Economic Systems
UNIT 3: Market Systems
UNIT 4: Profit
UNIT 5: Capital
UNIT 6: Trade
UNIT 7: Banking and Investing
UNIT 8: Monetary Policy and Federal Reserve
UNIT 9: Consumer Economics
UNIT 10: Ethics
UNIT 11: Cost-benefit analysis
****NOTE**** There is not textbook for this course. Therefore we will utilize online resources, other printed/digital materials, PowerPoints, virtual fieldtrips, etc. to achieve our objectives.
Embedded Literacy
Students will complete technical reading in the form of articles, projects, or presentations related to unit as a real-world connection to “When am I ever going to use this?” Projects will be outlined throughout the course and graded by accompanying rubric and directions. Students will evaluate types of financial institutions, services offered, research investment opportunities, complete research on the federal reserve bank and complete a personal banking plan.
Embedded Numeracy
Students will maintain a checkbook register, balance a checking/savings account, read credit card statements and determine balance information, apply for credit with a financial institution, calculate simple and compound interest, complete and amortization schedule, calculate savings using the Rule of 72, play the stock market game, complete simulations to balance the national debt, and apply basic mathematical operations used in consumer mathematics.
ANCHOR ASSIGMENT
Students will use knowledge gained from completing course content to develop a presentation by groups and assigned subject (See below). Students may use Flip Grid and create a skit, PowerPoint presentation or
o Group 1 – Research and prepare a presentation on reasons for corporate acquisitions and mergers with actual events as illustrations.
o Group 2 – Investigate and prepare a presentation on the four basic levels of international business activities: (domestic, international, multinational, and global.
o Group 3 – Research and prepare a presentation on how profit drives decisions in a capitalist economic system.
o Group 4 – Research the methods and sources to corporations for raising capital (bank loans, fundraisers, venture capitalists, internet sites, savings, friends, family members).
o Group 5 – Research advantages and disadvantages of importing and exporting goods and it’s effect on the US economy with illustrations.
o Group 6 – Research Banking services provided in the American financial system.
o Group 7 – Investigate monetary policy and the Federal Reserve system?
o Group 8 – Investigate The impact of consumer debt on the economy as a whole. (Good debt and bad debt, the effects of debt on credit scores.
Presentations will be graded by peer review and teacher review rubric.
DISCIPLINE POLICY
Students are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct and School Safety Guidelines. Offenses will be result in a step on the Classroom management form or a referral to administrator.
Classroom Management Steps
First Offense …………………………………………………..…. Warning
Second Offense ……………….……. Parental Contact/Detention
Third Offense ……………………………………. Discipline Referral
CTE PROGRAM COMPLETERS
Students are eligible to receive an endorsement on their diploma by completing three CTE courses in any ONE pathway. For example, in Finance, you must complete three courses offered in the Finance pathway. It is recommended to complete Personal Finance as a pre-requisite course.
Sample Pathway for Accounting/Finance
Year 1—Personal Finance
Year 2—Economic and Financial Services
Year 3—Accounting