Students learn to manage a bank account. They play the Community Game to reinforce their money-management skills and to better understand the role and importance of money in their lives.

• identify the role of money in everyday life.

• explain the benefits of a personal banking account.

• practice making sound financial choices.

• manage a personal bank account by making deposits and withdrawals.

Students identify businesses they can start
or jobs they can perform to earn money. Activities focus on developing a positive work ethic. Students continue playing the Community Game to further understand the role of money in their lives.

• identify several characteristics of a positive work ethic.

• distinguish between working for someone and self-employment.

• identify ways to earn income through jobs or a small business.

• practice personal money-management skills through business and ethical decision-making.

Students identify personal skills and interests and connect them with possible business opportunities. Working in groups, students learn about market research and play the final round of the Community Game.

• match personal skills with jobs and self-employment.

• understand market research.

• identify three to five ways to share, save, and spend personal income.

Students explore their jobs skills and the types of businesses in which they are interested. They identify the basic steps for starting and operating a small business. Using this information, students develop a business plan.

• define the basic steps in planning and starting a business.

• calculate operating expenses and income for a small business.

• develop a basic business plan based on their job skills and interests.

Students continue to practice saving and spending as business teams. The concept of making SMART consumer decisions is introduced through role-playing. Students work as teams to play Round One of the Business Game.

• practice using the SMART system to make consumer decisions.

• identify the difference between personal and business spending.

• manage money by making SMART business and consumer decisions.

• apply the problem-solving steps needed to own and operate a small business.

During the final session, students learn to recognize deceptive advertising and the importance of ethical business practices. Continuing to work as business teams, students conclude the program by playing Round Two of the Business Game.

• recognize deceptive advertising.

• apply money-management skills in a simulated business.

• record and track financial gains and losses in a simulated business.

• promote business through advertising.

• practice making sound financial choices and using cooperative decision-making skills.

• apply the steps necessary to own and operate a small business.