Teaching guide
Money Fundamentals
Start here. You'll learn what money really is, how bank accounts work, how to build a budget you'll actually use, and why compound interest and inflation matter more than almost anything else in personal finance.
- 8 lessons
- 10 class periods of 45 min
- Beginner
By the end of the unit
What students will be able to do
- Explain what money is and why it has value
- Choose between checking and savings accounts — and avoid common fees
- Build a realistic monthly budget from your take-home pay
- Tell the difference between needs, wants, and the gray area in between
- Set an emergency fund goal and a plan to reach it
- Calculate how compound interest and inflation change your money over time
Pacing guide
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
Day 5
Needs vs. Wants
Classify expenses as needs, wants, or a mix of both
Activity: Four Corners: Need, Want, Both, Depends
Day 6
Emergency Savings
Define a true emergency: unexpected, necessary, and urgent
Activity: Emergency or Not?
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Open JeopardyReview day
Play Money Jeopardy with this course's questions, then review what teams missed.
Day 10
Open unit testUnit test
A printable test in short and full versions, with an answer key.
Classroom games
Games that fit this course
- Money JeopardyThe classic review game, built from each course's questions.20–30 min · 2–6 teams
- Four CornersGet students moving: every answer is a corner of the room.10–15 min · Whole class
- Life HappensSix months of paychecks and surprises. Who ends up ahead?20–30 min · 2–6 teams
- Higher or LowerTwo money scenarios. Which number is bigger? The math may surprise you.10–15 min · Whole class