Banzai– https://teachbanzai.com/ – Teach real-world finance and practical life experience using either digital or print resources. Banzai lets students practice managing their money and test their decision making skills. Best of all: it grades itself! Each course includes a pre-test, interactive learning activities and a post-test that tracks students’ progress.
Biz Kids– https://bizkids.com/ – A national financial literacy initiative based on the Emmy Award-winning public television series where kids teach kids about money and business. Using a clever blend of entertainment and education, each episode shows kids how to make and manage money by introducing concepts of financial literacy and entrepreneurship via stories of real-life young entrepreneurs, sketch comedy, and money tips delivered by dynamic young hosts.
Canadian Foundation for Economic Education– https://cfee.org/ – A non-profit organization that works to improve economic, financial, and enterprising capability. Working collaboratively with funding partners, departments of education, school boards, schools, educators, and teacher associations to develop and provide free, non-commercial programs and resources for teachers and students – developed and reviewed by educators.
International Monetary Fund– https://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/center/econed/index.htm – They support economics education and have developed many educational activities and resources to help students understand the history of money, macroeconomics, the importance of international monetary cooperation and the value of global trade.
LifeSmarts– https://lifesmarts.org/ – Covers many important personal finance and consumer topics including your first job, insurance, banking, credit, advertising, making choices, fraud and more. These resources complement classroom curriculum and serve as study guides for LifeSmarts teams.
Money Instructor – https://www.moneyinstructor.com/ – For almost two decades, they have been helping educators and students all over the world learn about money skills, personal finance, money management, saving and investing, business, careers, real life skills and more.
Money Laughs– https://moneylaughs.com/ – A series of short vignettes (by Just For Laughs) focusing on money and highlighting money challenges, along with supporting tips and teaching material.
Money Talks– https://moneytalks.ucanr.edu//index.cfm – A hands-on, interactive, on-line program consisting of colorful learner guides, comprehensive leader’s guides and supplementary multimedia materials for youth/young adults (14-24) by giving them applied experiences that encourage fiscally sound decision-making in marketplace transactions.
NeoK12– https://www.neok12.com/Banking.htm – A collection of pictures, presentations, online videos and lessons providing more information about banking and finances to students in grades 6 & up.
Next Gen Personal Finance – https://www.ngpf.org – Choose from a wide selection of customizable, ready-to-use lessons, and activities to teach personal finance. Offers daily professional development opportunities to cover a wide range of personal finance topics and teaching strategies.
PBS Learning Media – https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/ – PBS and your local station have curated free, standards-aligned videos, interactives, lesson plans, and more for teachers like you. The programming below is geared at financial literacy in particular.
Lights! Camera! Budget!– Students take on the exciting role of movie producer, making important decisions and analyzing its impact on the movie budget, with the goal of creating a blockbuster movie that doesn’t bust the bank.
Market to Market Classroom – Connects the curriculum with stories about the science, technology, culture and business of agriculture.
The Citi Collection for Financial Capability – The 25 resources that comprise the collection conceptually illustrate and practically apply lessons regarding savings, investment, creditworthiness, entrepreneurship, and commerce.
Your Life, Your Money– Find resources, activities and lesson plans to help young adults overcome financial challenges and learn money basics.
Penchecks Financial Future Challenge– https://www.mymoneymyfuturechallenge.ca/ – Launching in April, Financial Literacy Month, and running until the middle of June, students 8 to 14 years old are able to submit their entries for a chance to win prizing that will start them on a pathway to financial success. In the meantime, students can follow Investor Bill in learning about saving, spending, investing and giving.
Practical Money Skills (U.S.)– https://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/ – Visa has developed an award-winning global program that offers interactive tools and educational resources to help individuals and communities build stronger financial futures. There are lots of materials and activities available (a few highlighted below). Also available in Spanish.
Cash Puzzler – put the scrambled pieces of the puzzle back together to complete the image of a dollar bill in Visa’s Cash Puzzler game. Choose between 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollar bill puzzles and learn fun facts about Benjamin Franklin, Ulysses S. Grant and more.
Lessons 3-6: as children get older, they can start to learn about more complex financial topics like saving money, comparison shopping and managing their allowance.
Super Hero Saving Smash– one page worksheets that teaches students about the difference between wants and needs.
Robo Sellers – https://robosellers.ja.org/ – A web-based game, from Junior Achievement, that teaches students some of the basics of running a profitable business. Students play as an astronaut starting their own robot-building company. They have enough savings to buy a ship – but must dig for and trade robot parts first – before having enough to build their own workshop.
Sesame Street in Communities– https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/topics/financial-education/ – When children see people spend money or use the ATM, they are building an understanding of what money is. Guide that understanding with simple activities about making good choices, what has value, and spending, sharing, and saving.
SmartPath– https://www.economicscenter.org/smartpath/ – An innovative, fun and interactive financial and economic education platform created for students of all ages. The curriculum is standards-based, with lessons designed to deliver on state standards for Math, Social Studies, ELA and more for grades 1-8.
Take Charge America– https://www.takechargeamerica.org/financial-education/teaching-resources/ – Provides lesson plans for teachers to use with students from grades one to five. These lesson plans incorporate personal finance skills with children’s books to provide a fun, well-rounded learning experience.
Talk With Our Kids About Money (CFEE)– https://talkwithourkidsaboutmoney.com/ – By designating the third Wednesday in April as the “Talk With Our Kids About Money Day” they want to support teachers in their efforts to integrate financial education into the Canadian school curriculum.
The Stock Market Game– https://www.stockmarketgame.org/index.html – An online simulation of the global capital markets that engages students grades 4-12 in the world of economics, investing and personal finance and that has prepared nearly 20 million students for financially independent futures.
Treasury Direct (Money Math)– https://treasurydirect.gov/research-center/tools/ – A four-lesson curriculum supplement for middle school math classes, teaching grade 7-9 math concepts using real-life examples from personal finance. The 86-page book is a teacher’s guide with lesson plans, reproducible activity pages, and teaching tips.
U.S. Currency Education Program (Currency Academy) – https://www.uscurrency.gov/educational-materials/classrooms/currency-academy – Here at the Currency Academy, our mission is to have fun while learning about U.S. currency. If you haven’t heard of currency before, it’s another word for money. Sometimes people call paper money other things, like banknotes, notes, cash, and bills. Look for information on currency, educational materials, videos and circulation using the other webpages available.
The Seven Denominations – The Federal Reserve Board currently issues $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 notes. Learn more about their design and security features.
U.S. Mint Coin Classroom – https://www.usmint.gov/learn/kids/resources – Browse the U.S. Mint Coin Classroom’s K-6 educational resources to find at-home activities, lesson plans, and more. Use coins to teach kids math and finance concepts, as well as general information about the Mint and coins.
We the Economy– https://wetheeconomy.com/ – A series of short videos about different aspects of the economy with discussion guides and lessons plans available.
World of Cents– https://www.mycreditunion.gov/financial-resources/world-cents – A fun and engaging, kid-friendly game for ages 5 and up designed to help teach the value of money through the concepts of earning, saving and spending money, while incorporating basic math concepts.
Banzai – https://teachbanzai.com/ – Teach real-world finance and practical life experience using either digital or print resources. Banzai lets students practice managing their money and test their decision making skills. Best of all: it grades itself! Each course includes a pre-test, interactive learning activities and a post-test that tracks students’ progress. 