
Lesson
Protecting Your Savings
Summary
Making and managing money requires managing risk. This lesson discusses the impact of inflation over time, and goes over the role of diversification in a retirement portfolio.
Bellringer: Inflation Impact
- If a dollar buys a whole gallon of gas in 1970 but only a small cup of gas today, what happened to the value of that dollar?
Instruction
- Explain diversification as an investment strategy
- Explore the relationship between risk and reward
- Define stocks, bonds, and mutual funds
Activity: Retirement Game
- Finish Retirement: The Elephant in the Room Game
- Complete the posttest
Discussion: Post-Game Analysis
- Lead students through a post-game analysis
Wrap-Up & Assessment
- Why is only choosing “safe” investments a risky behavior for a 20-year-old?
- Explain the suitcase analogy for diversification.
| Est. Time | Activity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 5 min | Bellringer: Inflation Impact |
|
| 10 min | Instruction |
|
| 15 min | Activity: Retirement Game |
|
| 10 min | Discussion: Post-Game Analysis |
|
| 5 min | Wrap-Up & Assessment |
|
Lesson Prep

Retirement: The Elephant in the Room
Students practice saving for retirement over 40 years.

Retirement: The Elephant in the Room Posttest
See what students learned in Retirement: The Elephant in the Room.
Class Presentation
Includes an 18-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
Income & Retirement

The Power of Starting Early
When it comes to saving for the future, time is the most important asset. Learn about compound interest and the role of time in your financial success.

Protecting Your Savings
Making and managing money requires managing risk. This lesson discusses the impact of inflation over time, and goes over the role of diversification in a retirement portfolio.

Understanding Your Paycheck
The amount earned at a job isn't the amount available to spend. Learn about gross and net pay and mandatory payroll deductions.
How do Banzai lesson plans work? See the FAQ.