Summary
Billions in free college aid go unclaimed every year over a 12-minute form. This lesson demystifies the FAFSA and helps students build a realistic plan to fund education beyond high school.
Bellringer: The 12-Minute $4,000
- Pose the free-money scenario and ask how much time students would sacrifice.
- Surface why so many people skip the FAFSA despite the payoff.
Instruction
- Define FAFSA and the aid it unlocks across grants, work-study, and loans.
- Bust the five common myths in rapid succession.
- Walk the FAFSA website screenshot, emphasizing the 12-minute estimate.
Discussion: Ranking What Matters
- Students privately rank GPA, test scores, deadlines, area of study, and cost.
- Cold-call the list; students defend or brainstorm why each item matters.
- Stress that missed deadlines can't be recovered.
Activity: Paying for College
- Launch the Paying for College activity using each student's COA from earlier.
- Circulate to help students apply gift aid, savings, and job income.
Wrap-Up & Assessment
- What does FAFSA stand for?
- How long is it going to take you to fill out your FAFSA application?
| Est. Time | Activity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 7 min | Bellringer: The 12-Minute $4,000 |
|
| 10 min | Instruction |
|
| 10 min | Discussion: Ranking What Matters |
|
| 13 min | Activity: Paying for College |
|
| 5 min | Wrap-Up & Assessment |
|
Lesson Prep
Paying for College
Students navigate the FAFSA, grants, scholarships, and student loans.
Paying for College Pretest
Assess student knowledge before the Paying for College unit.
Class Presentation
Includes a 13-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
Unit 11: Planning for College
Savings Vehicles
A tuition gift card isn't just generous—it's a tax-advantaged savings vehicle in disguise. Explore how 529 and 529A accounts turn education savings into a smarter, tax-free strategy.
FAFSA
Billions in free college aid go unclaimed every year over a 12-minute form. This lesson demystifies the FAFSA and helps students build a realistic plan to fund education beyond high school.
Scholarships & Grants
College money isn't just loans—billions in scholarships and grants go unclaimed every year. This lesson breaks down the difference between scholarships and grants and helps students build a personal strategy to claim their share of free money.
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