CUR I: Budgeting

This Monday, I visited Independence Elementary in Lewisville, Texas, and introduced budgeting to one class of 30 students. Today, we focused on identifying needs versus wants and discussed the importance of saving. To reiterate these concepts, I incorporated a hands-on activity where students had to make budgeting decisions based on real-life scenarios. Firstly, I brought up each student one at a time and gave each a sticky note as well as an item. Then, I asked them to categorize needs and wants— asking them to categorize expenses into needs and wants. For the next activity, I provided each child $50 of play money and asked them to sort this money into 3 piles of savings, wants, and needs. At the end of class, we reviewed their budgets together, discussing why certain expenses were necessary and how to balance spending on wants. Lastly, I rewarded students who actively participated in discussions by answering questions and making thoughtful budgeting choices.

*CUR— Updated curriculum available on the "Curriculum" page.