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Consumer Resource Center

Money Smart for Young People

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FDIC Money Smart for Young People features four free age-appropriate curricula that promote financial understanding and are specifically designed for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade educators. Each curriculum includes:

  • An educator guide, student handouts, and powerpoint slides
  • Multiple lessons that can be taught alone or in combination
  • Standards alignment charts
  • Ideas for grade-level modification
  • Real-life exercises and examples
  • Suggestions for optional books or online games/tools that can reinforce student understanding
  • Ideas to integrate into existing academic subjects such as English, Mathematics, and Social Studies

FDIC Money Smart News for Kids was based on the Money Smart for Young People, grades 3-5 curriculum. It includes nine chapters, which introduce basic banking terms to young people, who are perhaps just beginning to learn about finances. Each issue builds upon the next and introduces two characters, Isabella and Noah, who try out different financial concepts along the way. Available at no-cost in English and Spanish language.

Other Youth Resources

teacher and class

Grades PreK-2 contains six lessons with hands-on, cross-curricular activities that engage preschool through second grade students. It explains financial concepts with age appropriate activities such as counting coins and defining needs and wants.

Full Grades PreK - 2 Curriculum

PreK - 2 Standard Alignment Chart

Lesson NumberLesson TitleResourcesThemesLearning Objectives
1Counting CoinsEducator Guide (L1K)
Handouts (L1K)
Slides (L1K)
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
2Learn to EarnEducator Guide (L2K)
Handouts (L2K)
Slides (L2K)
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
3Weighing Needs and WantsEducator Guide (L3K)
Handouts (L3K)
Slides (L3K)
Needs and Wants
  • Define needs and wants
  • Differentiate between needs and wants
  • Compare and prioritize needs and wants
4Ready. Set. Goal.Educator Guide (L4K)
Handouts (L4K)
Slides (L4K)
Setting Goals
  • Describe goal setting and how it relates to financial decisions
  • Name personal goals with support
5Super SaversEducator Guide (L5K)
Handouts (L5K)
Slides (L5K)
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
6Borrowing BillsEducator Guide (L6K)
Handouts (L6K)
Slides (L6K)
Borrowing and Lending
  • Describe borrowing and lending with real-life examples
  • Discuss and illustrate ways to borrow responsibly

Parent/ Caregiver Guides

The Money Smart Parent/ Caregiver Guides summarize key lesson concepts and exists as standalone resources. These guides also offer practical activities and conversation-starters on financial topics such as saving, setting financial goals, prioritizing spending decisions, and staying safe online.

Digital Toolkit

The Digital toolkit consists of a few special activities from the MSYP Lesson plans that have been formatted for use on a computer or smart phone.

The Digital toolkit is available for immediate download (catalog.fdic.gov).

Money Smart for Young People Digital Toolkit >
 

Coloring/ Activity Book

Money Smart for Elementary School Students introduces key personal finance concepts to children ages 5-8. This resource features a coloring/activity book for the students accompanied by a companion manual for use by anyone leading a discussion with a group of youngsters.

The Student Activity Book and Instructor Guide are available for immediate download (catalog.fdic.gov).


The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is prohibited from endorsing any specific organizations. Money Smart users must ensure that their publicity, advertisements, and public statements do not use the FDIC name or logo to imply that FDIC endorses their organization or its products or services.

Last Updated: May 22, 2024