💡 Invest in the Best 📊

Students will be introduced to the concept of investing and why starting early can lead to greater financial success. They will explore the differences between saving and investing, examining tools like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds alongside traditional savings accounts. Through interactive activities, videos, and comparison calculators, students will analyze the pros and cons of each approach, discover the impact of compound interest, and consider the risks and rewards of various investments. By the end of the lesson, students will be able to justify why investing is important for their future and identify ways they can begin thinking like an investor today—even as middle schoolers.

What is a Company?

In this lesson, students will explore what a company is and the different ways businesses can be organized. They will learn key terms such as company, partnership, corporation, and sole proprietor, and understand the advantages and disadvantages of each type. Through real-world examples like The Hershey Company, students will examine how companies grow and raise money through stocks and investments. They will analyze the responsibilities and risks entrepreneurs face and apply this knowledge by creating their own business plans to present to potential investors. By the end, students will be able to identify different types of companies, describe their characteristics, and understand what it takes to start and run a business.

What is a Stock?

Join Bernie as you dive into the world of stocks! In this lesson, students will learn what stocks are and how owning stock means owning a part of a company. They will explore the differences between private and public companies, and the key types of stocks: common and preferred. Students will discover how dividends and earnings work, and how companies raise money by selling stocks to investors. Through real examples like Nike’s story and current stock profiles, students will investigate companies, understand the risks and rewards of investing, and practice selecting stocks to build their own portfolio. By the end, students will be able to explain what stocks are, understand stock indexes, and feel confident making basic investment decisions.

📈 What is a Bond? 💵

Students will learn about bonds, a safer way to invest money by loaning it to governments or companies in exchange for regular interest payments. They will explore the purpose of bonds, different types such as government bonds, municipal bonds, and corporate bonds, and how bonds help fund public projects and business growth. Through research and reflection, students will evaluate the pros and cons of investing in bonds and consider how bonds fit into a balanced investment strategy.=

📊 Mutual Funds & Indexes 📈

Students will explore mutual funds, investment products that pool money from many investors to buy a mix of stocks, bonds, or other securities. They’ll learn to define mutual funds, differentiate between actively and passively managed funds, and identify major stock market indexes like the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and NASDAQ. Through games and discussion, students will evaluate the benefits of diversification and compare mutual funds, index funds, and ETFs (exchange-traded funds). Finally, students will reflect on the importance of seeking trusted financial advice when starting to invest.

📊 Invest in the Best Review! 🏆

Students will review key investing concepts covered so far, including companies, stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. They will revisit the differences in risk, liquidity, growth potential, and income among these investments, using class notes and activities for reinforcement. Students will play a Blooket review game to strengthen recall, complete a short written review to solidify understanding, and set a performance goal for their assessment. Finally, they will take the Invest in the Best test and write a reflection analyzing their results and identifying strategies for improvement before previewing upcoming lessons.

🏦 What is a Bank? 💵

Students will explore the role of a bank as a financial institution that provides services such as storing money, lending funds, and facilitating payments. They will examine how banks make money through loans and interest, and how these institutions support individuals, businesses, and the overall economy. Students will also learn about different types of banks, including commercial banks, credit unions, and online banks, and compare the benefits and drawbacks of each. Through discussion and research, they will consider how banks fit into their own financial lives and the importance of choosing a banking partner that meets their needs.