Budgeting is the most basic and most important tool in anyone’s financial toolbox. With this resource, students are given the hands-on opportunity to create budgets for fictional “Regan” during her sophomore year in nursing school, and as a recent graduate with an apartment and a new car. Using either excel or Google docs, the students download our budgeting tool with space for their own budget, as well as the examples they created by establishing Regan’s budget.

NOTE: This resource is set up differently than previous modules. The students have to complete the entire module before you will see progress in the progress bar. This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

Capital markets connect businesses seeking funds with individuals to earn income by investing in stocks and bonds. Capital markets include the stock market and the bond market. In this module, students will learn how capital markets help keep the economy moving and provide opportunities for businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors to achieve their goals. This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

Cards, Cars and Currency is a curriculum unit that challenges students to become involved in three specific areas of personal finance: credit cards, debit cards and purchasing a car.

The unit is divided into five lesson plans. The activities in each lesson plan are designed to address problem-solving, critical-thinking and higher levels of learning, using real-world scenarios. With a focus on responsibility for personal financial decisions, students will be able to identify the bottom line of financial decision making: income kept or lost.

All of the lessons are correlated with the national Personal Finance Standards and the National Standards in Economics. (See the Lesson Correlation section for more information.) This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

In this lesson, students play a game to test their current level of financial knowledge. Students explain the importance of financial literacy and explain the importance of taking responsibility for personal financial decisions. This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

In this lesson, students play a game to test their current level of financial knowledge. Students explain the importance of financial literacy and explain the importance of taking responsibility for personal financial decisions. This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

In this lesson, students learn about credit card usage and credit card consumer protection laws. By the end of the lesson students will be able to analyze the terms of credit cards and recognize what it means to use credit cards responsibly. They will understand the cost of credit and be able to analyze credit card disclosures and credit card statements. This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

In this lesson, students learn about credit card usage and credit card consumer protection laws. By the end of the lesson students will be able to analyze the terms of credit cards and recognize what it means to use credit cards responsibly. They will understand the cost of credit and be able to analyze credit card disclosures and credit card statements. This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

In this lesson, students learn the importance of taking responsibility for personal finances, describe advantages and disadvantages of standard overdraft services, analyze the consequences of not being responsible in keeping a current bank account balance, explain the importance of maintaining records of deposits, withdrawals and payments from bank accounts and compare the advantages and disadvantages of different card-payment methods This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

In this lesson, students learn the importance of taking responsibility for personal finances, describe advantages and disadvantages of standard overdraft services, analyze the consequences of not being responsible in keeping a current bank account balance, explain the importance of maintaining records of deposits, withdrawals and payments from bank accounts and compare the advantages and disadvantages of different card-payment methods This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

In this lesson, students analyze the price of consumer credit; identify the factors that affect the total price for a car including the interest rate, the length of a contract and the size of a down payment. They learn to evaluate the costs and benefits of car purchase options, and analyze a car contract. This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

In this lesson, students analyze the price of consumer credit; identify the factors that affect the total price for a car including the interest rate, the length of a contract and the size of a down payment. They learn to evaluate the costs and benefits of car purchase options, and analyze a car contract. This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

In this lesson, students learn the difference between gross and net pay, evaluate their financial literacy skills, explain the importance of financial literacy and explain the importance of taking responsibility for personal financial decisions This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

In this lesson, students learn the difference between gross and net pay, evaluate their financial literacy skills, explain the importance of financial literacy and explain the importance of taking responsibility for personal financial decisions This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

In this module, you will meet Jack Of All Trades, a most awesome superhero. In all tasks, Jack can do everything better and faster (he has absolute advantage), but does that mean he must do everything while the rest of the people stand around helplessly? Find out if justice is served when a formerly idle citizen, Andy, wades through the depths of opportunity cost and the benefits of comparative advantage. This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

What are some of the consequences of unemployment, both socially and otherwise? Students will get the answer to this question in the short module, Consequences of Unemployment. This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

Credit can be a powerful tool in your financial toolbox if you understand how to use it wisely. In this module, you’ll learn about different types of credit and the costs associated with using credit. You’ll learn the importance of building strong credit by borrowing wisely and paying promptly, arranging credit for making major purchases like a car or home, avoiding common credit mistakes, and monitoring your own credit. You’ll also learn about credit reports, your credit score, and steps you can— and should— take to build your own credit cred! This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

The Currency Academy, brought to you by the U.S. Currency Education Program, is created especially for a young audience. Your students will discover how currency is used, observe artistic concepts found in currency, learn about how money works, and compare elements of the natural world to the special features found on currency. This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

The Currency Academy, brought to you by the U.S. Currency Education Program, is created especially for a young audience. Your students will discover how currency is used, observe artistic concepts found in currency, learn about how money works, and compare elements of the natural world to the special features found on currency. This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

As if Andy hasn’t had enough of Jack, now Jack’s tagging along on Andy’s vacation. At times, it’s a little stressful having Jack as a traveling companion, but in the end, Andy is glad to have had Jack’s expertise, if not his company. Jack helps Andy maintain his travel budget by helping him figure out exchange rates between US dollars and pesos, yen, euros and pounds as they travel to Colombia, Japan, and several European countries. This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

In this module, students learn about demand. Prices for most goods and services are determined in markets by what economists call supply and demand. Both sides – demand and supply – are needed to determine prices. This short module will use a fictitious chocolate market to help you better understand the demand side of market.

Prices for most goods and services are determined in markets by what economists call supply and demand. Both sides – demand and supply – are needed to determine prices.

This short module will use a fictitious chocolate market to help you better understand the demand side of market. This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.