This class is intended for students with disabilities who may need material presented at a lower academic level or at a pace that allows for repetition and extended wait times. The academic level of stories and activities approximates the American first through third-grade curriculum.

In this recurring class, we will learn about different personal finance topics through storytelling, real life examples, and hands-on activities. 

CLASS FORMAT
Information is presented in colorful and informative Canva slides and lecture. Stories are either read aloud during class or included as a youtube video. 

All students will be invited to read from the slides, answer questions about the story, and participate in the activity. Some activities may include a printed worksheet where they can fill in the blanks, write phrases or sentences, or even draw their answers. 

While the ongoing class will follow the same format each week, the topics will change weekly as indicated below. These books represent diverse characters, cultures, and situations as recommended by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the Minnesota Council on Economic Education and many have received the Excellence in Financial Literacy Education Award. 

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Money Smart Sequence (September-November, 2024)
3rd-5th grade academic level

Lesson 1: Buying decisions (needs and wants, opportunity cost)
Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens

Lesson 2: Get Set for Goals (short term/long term goals, savings goal)
Save it by Colleen McLeod

Lesson 3: Make a Plan (budgeting, pay yourself first)
A Boy, a Budget, and a Dream by Jasmine Paul

Lesson 4: Save Your Money (banks, savings, interest, risk)
Virtual Field trip to a Bank

Lesson 5: Which Way to Pay (credit, debit, payment methods, identity theft)
Cash, Credit Cards, or Checks by Nancy Loewen

Lesson 6: Get Invested (investing, long term money goals, risk and returns)

Lesson 7: It's Great to Donate (charity, donation)
Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn

Lesson 8: Career Choices (income, earnings, jobs, tax)
When I grow up by Weird Al Yankovic


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Decision Making Sequence
1st-4th grade academic Level

Glo Goes Shopping by Cheryl Willis Hudson (alternatives, decision making, opportunity cost, spending)

Alexander, Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday by Judith Viorst (saving, spending, opportunity cost, decision making)
Alexander makes choices about the money he has received. 

Bunny Money by Rosemary Wells (goods, services, spending, saving)
Ruby and Max go shopping and make many spending decisions. 

Those Shoes by Maribeth Boetlz (needs, wants, preferences, choices)


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Resources Sequence
1st-4th grade academic level

Lemonade for Sale by Stuart Murphy (consumers, producers, resources)

Oxman Cart by Donald Hall (resources, producers, consumers)

Little Nino's Pizzeria by Karen Barbour (natural resources, human resources, capital resources) 

Sweet Potato Pie by Kathleen Lindsey (resources, specialization, division of labor)

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Assorted topics

Supermarket by Katherine Krull (human capital, technology)

Have a Good Day Cafe by Frances Park and Ginger Park (advertising, consumer, fact, opinions, pricing, preferences)

A Chair for My Mother by Vera Williams (savings, human resources)
A family saves money in a jar to buy a chair after their furniture is destroyed in a fire. 

Beatrice's Goat by Page McBrier (income, opportunity cost, savings goal)
A little girl from Uganda receives a goat. 

Clifford and the Big Storm by Norman Bridwell (risk)
Clifford helps reduce the risk of danger during a big storm by taking precautions. 

Earth Day-Hooray by Stuart J. Murphy (incentives, rewards, and penalties)
Students learn about Earth Day and how incentives change people's behavior. 

Four Feet, Two Sandals (scarcity, friendship, sharing)

Curious George Saves his Pennies (saving, savings goal, friendship, sharing)

A Bike like Sergio's (benefits, cost, choice)

Just Saving my Money (savings, banks, choice)