Help Them Start Out Strong

Help kids learn all about money—where it comes from, how to earn it and use it, and how to keep it safe. And help them figure out the difference between “needs” and “wants.” The Hands on Banking financial education program offers online courses, instructor guides, and lessons you can use alone or as a supplement to your teaching.

Instructor Guide

This comprehensive instructor guide can be used alone or in conjunction with the online Elementary School Course. The four units correspond to the online video lessons: You and Your Money, Budgeting, Savings and Checking Guide, and Credit and You. This guide contains discussion questions and key points, worksheets and activities, and teaching tips.

.pdf Instructor Guide

 

Stand-Alone Lesson Plans

These 20- to 40-minute lessons help students understand important real-world financial concepts. Each lesson plan includes key points and student activities. Some even include a take-home family activity in English and Spanish.

GRADES 1-3

LESSON PLANPOSTER (optional lesson supplement)
Money Basics – 3 lessons (PDF)

  • Recognizing Coins
  • Spending, Saving, and Giving Back
  • Doing Work and Earning Money
Meet the Coins (PDF)
The Principles of Saving (PDF)
Learning to be a Smart Shopper (PDF)

GRADES 4-5

LESSON PLANPOSTER (optional lesson supplement)
Make the Most of Your Money – 3 lessons (PDF)

  • Creating a Budget
  • Savings and Interest
  • Smart Shopping Skills
Make the Most of Your Money (PDF)
Meeting Financial Goals (PDF)
Spending, Saving and Giving Back (PDF)
Understanding Salaries and Wages (PDF)
Other Types of Income (PDF)

More lessons for GRADES 1-5

LESSON PLAN
Elementary School Toolkit – 10 lessons (PDF)

  • The Meaning of Money
  • What Banks Do
  • Earnings
  • Needs and Wants
  • Budgeting
  • Saving and Me
  • Credit and You
  • Planning for a Pet
  • My Financial Plan
  • Be Safe Online

 

Financial Terms Glossary

.pdf Glossary

 

Presentations

PowerPoint presentations for youth audiences are available on the Hands on Banking Practitioner Resources page.

 

Standards Map

Use these handy at-a-glance guides to identify and select lessons that support the following standards:

  • Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy
  • Common Core State Standards1
  • C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards
  • Family and Consumer Sciences National Standards, NASAFACS2
  • Council for Economic Education (CEE) National Standards for Financial Literacy

.pdf Standards Map - Grades 1-3

.pdf Standards Map - Grades 4-5

1The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers are the sole owners and developers of the Common Core State Standards. © Copyright 2010. National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved.

2The National Association of State Administrators of Family and Consumer Sciences (NASAFACS) are the sole owners and developers of the Family and Consumer Sciences National Standards. © Copyright 2018. NASAFACS. All rights reserved.