For ages: 4-8 (TK-2)
Time: 10 mins a day for 7 days
A hands-on and low-barrier activity to teach kids about money
This fun, week-long lesson plan guides parents and teachers through introducing earning, saving, and spending concepts. Through engaging activities, printable play money, and the help of Saver Sam children will learn to identify money denominations, practice making purchases, understand the importance of saving, and differentiate between wallets and bank accounts.
Why?
Build basic money skills early
Show the value of saving for goals
Help understand spending choices
Introduce simple goal-setting
How?
1.
Daily Earning
Each kid gets $1 play allowance each day..
2.
Wallet & Bank
And two envelopes: Wallet (for today's spending) & Bank Account (for saving). A special friend, "Saver Sam" always saves his money in the Bank Account!
3.
Marketplace
Set up a simple posterboard 'store' with enlarged pictures of items and prices (e.g., Pencil set $1, Toy $5). Print and cut out smaller copies to sell
4.
Daily Choice
Kids choose between spending from their Wallet NOW, or putting money in the Bank Account to SAVE for later.
5.
Save for Goals
Encourage saving up daily allowance in the Bank Account to spend on bigger items later.
6.
Track It
Kids use a simple worksheet to track money earned, spent, and saved.
7.
Learn More
Discuss Needs vs. Wants and set savings goals during the week.
Key Learnings
-
Money is earned (like their allowance)
-
Saving helps buy bigger things later
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Wallet money is for spending soon
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Bank Account money is for saving
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When money is spent, it's usually gone!
