Lesson

10 of 10 in Unit 3: Post-Secondary Pathways & Funding

Repayment, Forgiveness & Loan ROI

9-12th Grades

45 min

Summary

Six months of missed payments doesn't just mean a scary letter. It can mean wage garnishment and a credit score that takes years to recover. This lesson walks students through repayment plans, deferment vs. forbearance, and the real return on investment of student debt so they can borrow (and repay) with a plan.

Activities

Bellringer: The 6-Month Missed Payment

Display the scenario: "I lost my job and didn't pay my student loans for 6+ months. What happens?"
Have students jot down 2-3 guesses before revealing consequences

5 min

Instruction

Walk through grace periods, Standard vs. Tiered vs. RAP repayment plans, and PSLF
Cap direct instruction at 10 minutes — use the danger-zone slides (delinquency, default, deferment, forbearance) to keep pace brisk

10 min

Discussion: Love the Job or Love the Paycheck?

Pose the passion vs. income tension from the slides
Ask students to identify warning signs they're leaning too far in one direction
Cold-call 3-4 students for their personal balancing point

8 min

Activity: Repaying Student Loans & Portfolio Artifact #3

Students read the Repaying Student Loans article
Provide proof of outreach to a post-secondary professional for Portfolio Artifact #3
Synthesize interview and findings, and evaluate whether the institute is still a good fit

17 min

Wrap-Up & Assessment

Would you rather have deferred loans or loans in forbearance? Why?
List 3 jobs that may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

5 min

Est. Time	Activity	Description
5 min	Bellringer: The 6-Month Missed Payment	Display the scenario: "I lost my job and didn't pay my student loans for 6+ months. What happens?" Have students jot down 2-3 guesses before revealing consequences
10 min	Instruction	Walk through grace periods, Standard vs. Tiered vs. RAP repayment plans, and PSLF Cap direct instruction at 10 minutes — use the danger-zone slides (delinquency, default, deferment, forbearance) to keep pace brisk
8 min	Discussion: Love the Job or Love the Paycheck?	Pose the passion vs. income tension from the slides Ask students to identify warning signs they're leaning too far in one direction Cold-call 3-4 students for their personal balancing point
17 min	Activity: Repaying Student Loans & Portfolio Artifact #3	Students read the Repaying Student Loans article Provide proof of outreach to a post-secondary professional for Portfolio Artifact #3 Synthesize interview and findings, and evaluate whether the institute is still a good fit
5 min	Wrap-Up & Assessment	Would you rather have deferred loans or loans in forbearance? Why? List 3 jobs that may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Lesson Prep

Repaying Student Loans Article

Students can read about how to pay back student loans including various repayment options.

Repaying Student Loans Article

Students can read about how to pay back student loans including various repayment options.

Article

7 min

Class Presentation

Includes a 25-slide deck with teacher notes. Present from Banzai, download a PDF, or copy it to Google Slides.

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Teacher NotesSlide-by-slide guidance, printable as one handout

Unit 3: Post-Secondary Pathways & Funding

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.

9-12th Grades

45 Min

Student Loans 101

A student loan isn't free money — it's a bet on your future income that follows you for decades. This lesson explores subsidized vs. unsubsidized loans, federal vs. private options, and the 1x rule for borrowing within your means.

11-12th Grades

45 Min

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