Lesson
Budgeting Basics
Summary
A budget is a spending plan. This lesson discusses choosing between needs and wants, and making tradeoffs. Students begin the Life Scenarios pretest and game.
Bellringer: First Month Reality
- Separate needs from wants when money is tight
Instruction
- Define a budget
- Understand needs vs. wants
Discussion: When Money Runs Short
- Name budget expenses that are flexible vs. fixed
- Discuss how different priorities apply when money is short
Activity: Life Scenarios Game
- Take the Life Scenarios pretest
- Start playing the Life Scenarios game
Wrap-Up & Assessment
- Name one budget trade off you made during the Life Scenarios game.
- Why did you make that decision?
| Est. Time | Activity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 5 min | Bellringer: First Month Reality |
|
| 5 min | Instruction |
|
| 5 min | Discussion: When Money Runs Short |
|
| 25 min | Activity: Life Scenarios Game |
|
| 5 min | Wrap-Up & Assessment |
|
Lesson Prep
Life Scenarios Pretest
Find out how much students know about managing money before beginning the Life Scenarios game.
Life Scenarios
Explore real-life financial scenarios without the real-life consequences.
Class Presentation
Includes a 15-slide deck with teacher notes. Present from Banzai, download a PDF, or copy it to Google Slides.
Presentations, Ready to Go
- Built-in PresentationPresent full screen, straight from Banzai
- Copy to Google SlidesMake an editable copy for your class
- Download or PrintSave as a PDF or print
- Teacher NotesSlide-by-slide guidance, printable as one handout
Financial Essentials
Earning Income
Income is more than a paycheck. This lesson defines gross and net income, explains mandatory deductions, like federal and FICA taxes, and utilizes a Form W-4 activity to demonstrate withholding.
Budgeting Basics
A budget is a spending plan. This lesson discusses choosing between needs and wants, and making tradeoffs. Students begin the Life Scenarios pretest and game.
Banking
Banking is the system used to track and protect money. Learn about account types, deposit insurance, fees, and the difference between credit and debit cards. Students continue the Life Scenarios game.
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