Resources for Educators
Ohio Law and Financial Literacy in Schools
Ohio requires high schools to provide instruction in economics and financial literacy in a stand-alone course or within another course such as social studies or mathematics. In 2012, the State Board of Education approved Ohio’s Learning Standards in financial literacy to assist Ohio districts in fulfilling this requirement. These standards include 27 content statements that define essential knowledge and skills.
Since the adoption of these standards, Ohio educators worked with the Department to develop model curriculum to assist schools in including financial literacy in high school, as well as earlier grades. How and when districts integrate instruction based on the standards remains a local decision.
Credit unions can help schools in their communities with free lessons and programs provided at MoneyAndStuff.info.
Read more about Ohio’s Financial Literacy Learning Standards
BizKid$
BizKid$ is a great source for hundreds of financial education videos created for kids and teens. The resources include fun professionally-produced videos, lesson plans, and fun online games.
The short videos are broadcast on select PBS stations. BizKid$ is funded in part by America’s Credit Unions.
Classroom Activities
Fun activities and games to teach money concepts to younger children using common items and simple concepts.
MoneyAndStuff.info Classroom Lessons
The MoneyAndStuff.info experts have compiled these comprehensive lesson plans for use in classrooms at no cost to educators. Select from three levels for each topic: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. Select lessons are available in Spanish.
Lesson 1: Money Matters
Lesson 2: Savings & Budgeting
Lesson 3: Credit Concepts
Lesson 4: Future Goals
Lesson 5: Investing
Credit Union volunteers may be available in your area to teach a session. For more information on partnering with a credit union near you, visit the partner page or contact the Ohio Credit Union League via email or at 1-800-486-2917.
Play the Finances 101 Online Game
Finances 101 is a free online ‘Sim’ game that teaches high school students about the financial demands of the real world. Created by the experts at Ohio’s Credit Unions, it is a fun and engaging way to practice “real-life” lessons in an online world!
Print free coloring & activity pages
Young students can use their free time to learn about money in a fun and creative way with our free coloring pages. Each one includes a simple financial lesson.
Go to Coloring and Activity Pages
Budget Worksheets & Lesson Plans
Free budget worksheets and Lesson Plans are available for kids, teens and adults on our Budget Worksheets Page.
Use MoneyAndStuff.info online money videos
Kids can watch these videos anytime and learn fun games and tips while they learn about responsible money management.
High School Financial Planning Program
NEFE’s High School Financial Planning Program® (HSFPP) is a free turnkey financial literacy program specifically focused on basic personal finance skills that are relevant to the lives of teens in Grades 8-12. Presented by the National Endowment for Financial Education®.
Register to immediately download the curriculum or place an order for printed materials. The components for this program include:
- Six student guide booklets
- Teacher lesson plans and PowerPoint presentations
- Activities, handouts and performance-based assessments
- Online student practice quizzes, polls and more
High School Financial Planning Program (NEFE)
Order the Biz Kid$ textbook Banking & Financial Systems
A high school text book on Banking and Financial Systems is available from the experts who produce the Biz Kid$ TV episodes for children.
Banking & Financial Systems provides an overview of banking basics, the Federal Reserve System, customer services, and bank operations. Banking careers and workplace skills are also explored. Included activities support college and career standards for reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Event Prep activities help students prepare for competitive contests.
The Goodheart-Willcox publishing company asked Biz Kid$ producers to author the high school textbook. This is the first children’s series to author a textbook and is also the first textbook to receive the Jump$tart Coalition’s seal of approval.
The textbook retails for $90.00. It is available to educators at a discounted price of $67.50. Online text and a six-year classroom subscription is also available at the same prices.
The entire book is branded with the Biz Kid$ look and logo and QR codes are contained in each chapter for students to connect to corresponding Biz Kid$ episode clips via mobile phones. The online and DVD version of the textbook also includes chapter on in-school credit union branches that was authored by Cathy Brorson, Outreach Coordinator at Kitsap FCU in Washington state.
Use the online FoolProof curriculum
Use up to 22 hours of online, video-driven, self-grading financial literacy instruction. Young people do all the teaching in friendly peer-to-peer instruction. You can use one module or the entire curriculum. Free registration is required to access materials. Visit www.FoolProofTeacher.com
Partner with a local credit union
Credit unions exist to improve their members’ lives with financial services. In step with their motto of People Helping People, credit unions across Ohio provide volunteers to visit classrooms and teach financial lessons using the MoneyAndStuff.info Education Toolkit. For more information on partnering with a credit union near you, contact the Ohio Credit Union League via email or at 1-800-486-2917.
Open a student-run credit union in your school
The program consists of opening a fully functioning credit union branch inside your school. Students are instructed on how to run the branch, which includes performing all duties – from accepting membership applications to processing deposits.
Benefits of a student-run credit union
- Provides students with hands-on experience in a financial setting.
- Creates a new generation of savers.
- Teaches lifelong employment skills.
- Provides excellent experience for college applications, scholarships, and resumes
- Expands upon the curriculum, i.e. math and business classes.
- Establishes a mutual partnership between two community organizations, credit unions and the school district.
- Contributes to the educational system.
- Establishes innovative financial products and services for youth.
Learn more and watch videos about real Student-Run Credit Unions