JA Our Neighbors
A new virtual learning experience
About the Program
JA Our Neighbors is a video series that introduces K-5 students to careers, entrepreneurship, and an understanding of money through the involvement of guest hosts and at-home activities. This virtual program is designed to build a foundation of key terms and concepts, so students are better prepared to engage with the Junior Achievement neighborhood of elementary and middle school programs.
The program includes four units of content with five video lessons in each unit. On average, each session (including the video and the discussion guide) lasts approximately 30-40 minutes. All materials are available on this site with instructions for at-home activities.
The program is categorized into two grade bands: Kindergarten-2nd Grade and 3rd-5th Grade. Educators can access the lessons based on the grade level they teach.
Learning Outcomes
Following participation in this program, students will be able to:
Understand the importance of needs and wants within a family structure.
Identify a variety of careers and what it means to be part of a community.
Explain how businesses and people earn and spend money and the importance of economic exchange within a city.
Describe entrepreneurship and how entrepreneurs rely on resources from around the world to create their products and/or provide their services.
Getting Started
Review the corresponding discussion guide prior to starting each lesson. Most lessons include an activity that requires different materials (most of which can be found at home). Students can complete the activity during or after the video.
If students are learning in-person, then teachers can provide the materials listed on the guide or ask students to bring them to class.
If students are learning virtually, then teachers will need to provide the list of materials to students, so they can prepare in advance.
Decide how to project the video for students. You can share your screen for virtual learners or use a smart screen/projector for in-person learners.
Use the discussion guide to facilitate conversations around the video topics after watching the video. There may be additional resources that students can use to learn more about a specific subject.
Share your feedback at the end of the program. We are continuously looking for ways to improve our programs to meet the needs of students.
Program Design FAQs
In what classroom setting can the program be used?
JA Our Neighbors is designed for a variety of classroom settings, including in-person and virtual.
How is the program formatted?
The program consists of twenty educational lessons for elementary students. There are separate versions of each lesson that correspond to students in grades K-2 and grades 3-5. The program is flexible in design, so educators can implement the content in any way that best meets the needs of students.
What is the cost of the program?
This program is no cost to education partners. For more details, please contact your JA office.
Questions?
Contact your local JA staff member.