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Money Smart

Grades Pre-K - 2

Last Updated: February 2, 2022

This standards-aligned curriculum series empowers educators with engaging activities to integrate financial education instruction into subjects such as math, English, and social studies. Here is a brief overview of what you will find:

  • Educator's Guide with lessons and hands-on activities to promote student participation in the learning process. Grade-level modifications are identified throughout the activities.
  • Teacher Presentation Slides, optional overhead visuals that include fill-in charts to support the activities of each lesson.
  • Student Guide features worksheets for students based on topics covered in each lesson that can be used at school or at home. The worksheets can be found in the Educator Guide for grades Pre-K-2, and in a standalone Student Guide for grades 3-12.
  • Parents'/ Caregivers' Guide with a summary of the key concepts covered in the module, and that offers exercises, activities, and conversation-starters for parents.

Superintendents, Principals, Educators and other Administrators:

The FDIC would like to hear from school superintendents, principals, or other school leaders on how we can support educators in your schools using the Money Smart curriculum. In addition, the FDIC wants to hear from educators who use the curriculum on what worked well, what could be improved, and promising approaches you may have used to deliver the curriculum. Please contact communityaffairs@fdic.gov and describe where the curriculum could be used and the grade-level range of the students.

Course Description

This page provides details on the lessons that comprise Money Smart for Grades Pre-K-2.

The first table helps you find lessons that align with key financial topics as defined through the My Money Five (mymoney.gov). The second table illustrates the topic and learning objectives for each of the lessons.

Theme Corresponding Lesson
Earn
  • Lesson 1 (Understanding Currency)
  • Lesson 2 (Earning Money)
Spend
  • Lesson 1 (Understanding Currency)
  • Lesson 3 (Needs and Wants)
  • Lesson 5 (Saving and Spending)
Save and Invest
  • Lesson 4 (Setting Goals)
  • Lesson 5 (Saving and Spending)
Borrow
  • Lesson 6 (Borrowing and Lending)
Protect
  • N/A

Lessons at a Glance

Lesson Number Lesson Title Topic Learning Objectives
1 Counting Coins Understanding Currency
  • Describe the purpose of money
  • Examine and discuss the history of money
  • Explain ways money can be used
  • Identify, sort, and count coins and bills
2 Learn to Earn Earning Money
  • Identify and explore different jobs
  • Examine sources of income (such as selling lemonade or receiving birthday money)
  • Discover and explain that money is made (earned) by working
3 Weighing Needs and Wants Needs and Wants
  • Define needs and wants
  • Differentiate between needs and wants
  • Compare and prioritize needs and wants
4 Ready. Set. Goal. Setting Goals
  • Describe goal setting and how it relates to financial decisions
  • Name personal goals with support
5 Super Savers Saving and Spending
  • Identify and evaluate saving and spending
  • Recognize a bank as a safe place to save
  • Create a savings jar or piggy bank
6 Borrowing Bills Borrowing and Lending
  • Describe borrowing and lending with real-life examples
  • Discuss and illustrate ways to borrow responsibly


Return to Money Smart for Young People to learn more or download the curriculum.


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