Teaching guide
Investing
Investing is how money can grow faster than inflation over long periods — but it comes with real risk. This course explains how investments work so you can understand them. It doesn't recommend what to buy, and it isn't about trading.
8 lessons10 class periods of 45 minIntermediate
What students will be able to do
- Explain the difference between saving and investing
- Describe how stocks, bonds, ETFs, and index funds work
- Explain diversification and why it reduces certain risks
- Match investment choices to time horizons in general terms
- Explain why fees and time matter so much over decades
10 days, one lesson per class
Every lesson comes with a 45-minute plan, projector-ready slides, and a printable worksheet with an answer key.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Funds, ETFs, and Index Funds
Explain how mutual funds and ETFs pool investors' money
Activity: Fee Face-Off
Day 5
Diversification
Explain diversification and why it reduces single-company risk
Activity: Basket Challenge
Day 6
Risk and Time Horizon
Define volatility, time horizon, and risk tolerance
Activity: Ride the Roller Coaster
Day 7
Compound Growth in Investing
Explain how reinvested returns compound
Activity: The Ten-Year Head Start
Day 8
Day 9
Review day
Play Money Jeopardy with this course's questions, then review what teams missed.
Day 10
Unit test
A printable test in short and full versions, with an answer key.