Financial literacy activities for the classroom

Teaching kids financial literacy has several benefits, it helps them to learn the value of money, how to create a personal budget, set up a savings account and about money management. Teaching kids’ financial literacy in class may not be the easiest thing, but there are fun interactive activities that you can use to introduce financial literacy concepts to young kids in the classroom. Here are a few classroom activities that can be used:

Money Toss

This is a fun activity that kids will definitely enjoy. You can start by dividing the students into about four groups. Then give each group a bag containing paper, coins, pencil, a piece of tape and a plastic tray. Then instruct the students to stick the tape firmly to the floor, take five steps back and then place the tray on the floor. Then select the “tosser” who will stand behind the tape and the “counter” who will sit by the bowl. To play students take turns throwing coins into the plastic tray. If the coin falls into the tray, the counter adds the value to their count. Each player has five or ten goes.

Money Sort

This is another fun-filled activity that kids will definitely enjoy. Place a divided tray with a circle in the middle. Each section on the tray should be labeled nickel, penny, dime, quarter. Then place all the coins in the middle circle and instruct students to sort the money into the appropriate sections on the tray. Time the students if you want to make it more competitive.

Buying and Selling

Students can be instructed to bring in some items that they would like to part with. Then decide the price for each of the items and have students design price tags to place on the items. After labeling and tagging the items, set up a pretend cash register and let the classroom sale begin. Students can be given some amount of play money to shop with and then allowed to take turns shopping for an item. One of the students can be designated to be at the cash register. This is an excellent activity to teach kids the value of money.

Math Coupon

You can come in with a variety of coupons for pupils to search through and clip out. Have students write out a creative math problem on the coupon. It could be about a shopping trip to the grocery store, including the price of the items, the overall money spent and amount saved with the coupon.

Counting coins

Kids love collecting and playing with money. So it is a good way to teach students about the value of money. You can come in with some change and empty food jars. First have your students sort money into piles (pennies, nickels, and quarters in different piles). You can also spend a little time creating patterns with the money. (I.e. nickel, penny, nickel, penny?). The students will have fun guessing the one that will come next. Then count out all the coins i.e. 80 pennies, 20 nickels, 8 dimes and 6 quarters, and keep them in the labeled jars. It is a great way to help kids {visually} understand the value of money.

These are just some fun activities to teaching kids about money in a fun and engaging way. Don’t underestimate the ability of kids to grasp vital concept financial matters especially about spending and saving. Finding creative ways to teach money management to kids offers them the opportunity to learn priceless skills that will serve them well in the future