JA Finance Park™ offers students personal financial management and career exploration through classroom instruction and active participation in a simulated community. The curriculum is designed as an integrated unit, preparing students for an all-day visit to JA Finance Park™.
Students recognize the role of financial institutions and the various services they provide. Through case study, graphing and other activities, students understand the advantages and disadvantages of saving, investing, and using credit.
• identify services provided by financial institutions and understand when/how the services are used
• explain debit cards and their uses
• define interest and credit
• understand the cost of credit
• explain the advantages and disadvantages of using credit
• list the risks and benefits involved in saving and investing
• identify the impact interest rates have on investment value
read stock quotes and determine stock value
Students discuss the similarities and differences among sales, income and property taxes. Students study the benefits and limitations of Social Security. Using various scenarios, students determine net monthly income (NMI).
• define the differences among sales, income and property taxes and the purpose for each type of tax
• identify the basic principles of Social Security
define NMI and demonstrate how it is calculated
Students learn the importance of creating and maintaining a personal budget. Students create their own personal budgets and evaluate other budgets through case study analysis
• understand who uses a budget and why
• identify the components of a successful budget
• evaluate the effectiveness of sample budgets
develop spending plans and practice making budget decisions
Students prepare for their visit to JA Finance Park by defining their schedule, conducting pricing research, and assessing investment. They also gain knowledge about budgeting by evaluating hypothetical life situations and prioritizing budget items.
• create a personal budget
• calculate net monthly income
• conduct pricing research
assesses investments
Students spend one day at JA Finance Park where they apply classroom learning by making important spending decisions and maintaining a balanced budget.
• create a typical family budget using hypothetical life situations
• use percentages to calculate minimum and maximum spending allowances
evaluate stock holdings
Students participate in a reflective assessment of their accomplishments during their visit to JA Finance Park that includes feedback from parents
• demonstrate integration of classroom instruction to the simulation experience
• perform a credit card and investment assessment
conduct self-reflection regarding their visit
Students identify their abilities, interests, work preferences and values. Based on their newly acquired financial knowledge, students consider the type of lifestyle they would like and what goals they must set to achieve this lifestyle. Students determine the training they will need to achieve these goals.
• differentiate among abilities, interests, work preferences and values
• identify their personal characteristics
• rate their abilities, interests and work preferences
• identify their career interests
• perform career choice research
write a letter of application to a prospective employer
Analysis • Applying information • Budgeting • Cause and effect • Critical thinking • Computation • Data collection • Decision making • Filling out forms • Following directions • Graphing • Interpersonal communication • Interpreting data • Listening • Negotiation • Observation • Planning • Problem solving • Reading • Research • Role playing • Taking responsibility • Teamwork
Banking • Budgets • Buying • Careers • Choices • Consumers • Credit • Debt • Exchange • Expenses • Income • Interest rates • Investments • Money • Opportunity costs • Saving • Scarcity • Spending • Social security • Standards of living • Taxes