To enhance the “hands-on” learning provided to youth by their participation in the Economis virtual economy, CFIC has developed a short curriculum of financial life skills lessons to be used by the implementing FBOs in the seven demonstration cities. The curriculum is divided by age group, with lessons for students in grades 1-2, 3-4, 5-8, and 9-12. The lessons are keyed to state academic content standards for Virginia, Florida, California, and Indianapolis.

The curriculum focuses on such topics as saving, investing, interest rates, understanding scarcity and opportunity costs, trade, profit, consumer education, budgeting, and independent living. Each lesson begins with an interest-grabbing introduction, then moves to instruction on the key principles, and some kind of hands-on, interactive activity to reinforce those key learning points.

Some of the content of the lessons was developed by the Powell Center for Economic Literacy. We have also borrowed heavily from available curricular resources developed by such organizations as Planet Orange; the U.S. Mint; the National Endowment for Financial Education; Junior Achievement; Consumer Jungle; and Learning to Give, among others.

The curriculum includes lessons that involve Internet-based activities and lessons that can be taught in a classroom setting without computers or Internet access. Those requiring Internet access are marked with the icon.

The lessons are organized on the website by grade level and include a title and short description. There is also a section on our website of financial literacy games, which can be played as part of the classroom instruction or independently. A “Game Overview” is available for each game, and it describes the game, its target age group, typical time required, and topics covered.

Go to Grades 1-4 Mini-Lessons

Go to Grades 5-8 Mini-Lessons

Go to Grades 9-12 Mini-Lessons

Go to Financial Literacy Games