This unit in the Career & College Prep course introduces students to the essential concepts of personal finance. Designed to build a strong foundation, the unit covers key topics including consumer skills, budgeting basics, understanding earnings and taxes, introductory banking and investing, credit, and insurance.
Students will gain practical knowledge to help them make informed financial decisions now and in the future, setting the stage for responsible money management as they move toward adulthood.
Unit will take 24 days
SFS.30. Financial Literacy Students will apply financial literacy reasoning in order to make informed, financially responsible decisions. (PFL Standard 1)
SFS.30.01. Examine the need for personal and family financial planning. (PFL Standard 3)
SFS.30.03. Participate in simulations or learning experiences that demonstrate understanding of checking and savings accounts, interest, insurance, taxes, and loan applications. (PFL Standard 4,5,6)
SFS.30.04. describe the risks and responsibilities associated with using credit. (PFL Standard 4)
Introduction into Financial Literacy: 1 day
Define financial literacy and identify ways high school students can begin developing financial skills.
What is financial literacy, & how can I learn it in high school?
Taxes and Tax Forms: 2 days
Explain the purpose of taxes and describe how tax revenue is used to support public services.
What are taxes, and where do they go towards?
Consumer Skills: 1 day
Analyze purchasing behaviors and develop strategies to make informed, cost-effective consumer decisions in the real world.
How do I become a better purchaser in the real world?
Budgeting Skills and Types: 2 days
Define budgeting and demonstrate how effective budgeting can contribute to long-term financial stability.
What is budgeting, and how can it establish financial stability?
Banking and Types of Banks: 2 days
Identify different types of financial institutions (e.g., commercial banks, credit unions) and explain how they can support individual financial goals.
What are banks, and how can I use these types of banks to gain financial stability?
Basics to Financial Literacy Summative: 3 days
List the core components of financial literacy and design instructional strategies for teaching these concepts to others.
What are the major points of financial literacy, and how can I teach the skills to another person?
Unit 4- Lesson 7: Children's Book- Budgeting, Banking, and Basics to Financial Literacy Summative
Credit and Debt: 2 days
Distinguish between credit and debt and evaluate methods for managing both responsibly.
What are credit and debt, and how can I learn how to use them properly?
Investments: 2 days
Define investments and analyze how different investment strategies can support long-term financial planning.
What is an investment, and how can it assist in my plans for the future?
Insurance: 2 days
Describe various types of insurance (e.g., health, auto, home) and assess how insurance contributes to financial protection and stability.
What types of insurance are there, and how can they assist me in future financial stability?
Monopoly Mini-Unit: 5 days
Apply financial literacy skills to simulate wealth-building strategies, including asset acquisition and property management.
How can you use your financial skills to collect the most money & properties?
Film Study Unit Summative: 2 days
Analyze “The Pursuit of Happyness” to identify and evaluate the portrayal of financial literacy concepts. You can even tie it back into unit 1 material in a reteaching moment.
How can financial literacy be observed in the following film?
Unit 4- Lesson 12: Financial Literacy Version: Movie Analysis Summative