EngagedLearningProject:

MoneyMattersMakeItCount!
byMeghanLee
TitleofProject:MoneyMatters:MakeItCount!
Subject(s):EnglishLanguageArts,Mathematics,SocialStudies/Economics
GradeLevel(s):6th(easilyadaptedfor4th&5thgradelearningstandards)
Abstract:
Sixthgradestudentswillconductresearchtocompilealistofwaystoreduceexpenses,sharestrategiesfor
budgetingandsavingmoney,aswellasresearchanddevelopabudget&investmentplanbasedonthe
averagesalariesandlivingexpensesfortheirchosencareers.Theseprojectswillbesharedgloballyona
wikiwebsitecreatedbytheclass,titledMoneyMatters:MakeItCount.Studentswillalsoexaminethe
effectsofdebt&interest,andcostsoflivingonthewikiwebsite.Theirbudgetandinvestmentplanswillbe
sharedonlineforpeer,teacher,andcommunityexpert(s)feedback.Studentswillcollaborateinsmall
groupstocreate3minutePrezisonthebenefitsofsavingandwaystosavetopublishtotheWikiand
onlineatYouTube.Finally,theclasswillcompileandpublishanonlineToonDoocomicbookforkids
sharingtheirstrategiesonhowtobudgetandsavemoney.Studentswillusepreapprovedonlinecostof
livingresources,averagesalarystatisticsintheirdesiredcareers,andonlinebudgetingandinvestment
toolsfromreliableonlinesourceswiththeoptiontoextendtheironlineresearchtootherreliablesources
thatthestudentsdiscoverduringtheironlineresearch.Thestudentswillhavetheopportunitytoconsult
communityexpertsinbanking,personalfinance,foodindustry,careercounselors,bookkeepers,
andpossiblyothermoneysavvystakeholders,astimepermits.
LearnerDescription/Context:
ThisprojectwilltakeplaceinaTitleIelementaryschoolwithahighpopulationofEnglishLanguage
Learners.Themajorityofourstudentscomefromlowersocioeconomichouseholds.Financialawarenessis
animportantlifeskilltoteachtodayslearners.Ourstudentsmustunderstandtherolethatmoneyplaysin
securingbasicnecessitiesandthedifferencesbetweenwantsandneeds.Theymustunderstandthe
principlesofdebt,income,andsaving,andhowtoprioritizeexpensesandselectcareersthatwillpay
salaries/wagesthatareadequatefortheirdesiredlivingexpenses.
TimeFrame:Fiveclassperiodsperweekforonemonth.Thisisanextensiveintegratedlearningproject.
StandardsAssessed:
MCC6.NS.5Understandthatpositiveandnegativenumbersareusedtogethertodescribequantitieshaving
oppositedirectionsorvalues(e.g.,temperatureabove/belowzero,elevationabove/belowsealevel,
debits/credits,positive/negativeelectriccharge)usepositiveandnegativenumberstorepresentquantities
inrealworldcontexts,explainingthemeaningof0ineachsituation.
SS6E4.Thestudentwillexplainpersonalmoneymanagementchoicesintermsofincome,
spending,credit,saving,andinvesting.
ELACC6RI7IntegrationofKnowledgeandIdeas:Integrateinformationpresentedindifferentmediaor
formats(e.g.,visually,quantitatively)aswellasinwordstodevelopacoherentunderstandingofatopic.
ELACC6W2TextTypesandPurposes:Writeinformative/explanatorytextstoexamineatopicandconvey
ideas,concepts,andinformationthroughtheselection,organization,andanalysisofrelevantcontent.
ELACC6SL1ComprehensionandCollaboration:Engageeffectivelyinarangeofcollaborativediscussions
(oneonone,ingroups,andteacherled)withdiversepartnersongrade6topics,texts,andissues,building
onothersideasandexpressingtheirownclearly.
ELACC6SL4PresentationofKnowledgeandIdeas:Presentclaimsandfindings,sequencingideaslogically
andusingpertinentdescriptions,facts,anddetailstoaccentuatemainideasorthemesuseappropriate
eyecontact,adequatevolume,andclearpronunciation.
ELACC6SL5PresentationofKnowledgeandIdeas:Includemultimediacomponents(e.g.,graphics,
images,music,sound)andvisualdisplaysinpresentationstoclarifyinformation.
ELACC6L2ConventionsofStandardEnglish:Demonstratecommandoftheconventionsofstandard
Englishcapitalization,punctuation,andspellingwhenwriting.


EngagedLearningProject:

MoneyMattersMakeItCount!
byMeghanLee
ELACC6L1ConventionsofStandardEnglish:Demonstratecommandoftheconventionsofstandard
Englishgrammarandusagewhenwritingorspeaking.

ISTENETSSTechnologyStandardsforStudents
1.Creativityandinnovation:
Studentsdemonstratecreativethinking,constructknowledge,
anddevelopinnovativeproductsandprocessesusingtechnology.
a.Applyexistingknowledgetogeneratenewideas,products,orprocesses
b.Createoriginalworksasameansofpersonalorgroupexpression
2.Communicationandcollaboration:
Studentsusedigitalmediaandenvironments
tocommunicateandworkcollaboratively,includingatadistance,
tosupportindividuallearningandcontributetothelearningofothers.
a.Interact,collaborate,andpublishwithpeers,
experts,orothersemployingavarietyofdigital
environmentsandmedia
b.Communicateinformationandideaseffectively
tomultipleaudiencesusingavarietyofmedia
andformats
3.Researchandinformationfluency
Studentsapplydigitaltoolstogather,evaluate,anduseinformation.
a.Planstrategiestoguideinquiry
b.Locate,organize,analyze,evaluate,synthesize,
andethicallyuseinformationfromavarietyofsourcesandmedia
4.Criticalthinking,problemsolving,
anddecisionmaking
Studentsusecriticalthinkingskillstoplan
andconductresearch,manageprojects,solve
problems,andmakeinformeddecisionsusing
appropriatedigitaltoolsandresources.
a.Identifyanddefineauthenticproblemsand
significantquestionsforinvestigation
b.Planandmanageactivitiestodevelopasolution
orcompleteaproject

LearnerObjectives:
Studentswillexplaintheusesformoneyandhowpeoplecanearnmoney.
Studentswillexplainthedifferencebetweenawantandaneed.
Studentswilldevelopabasichouseholdbudgetwithasavingsrateof20%ormorethat
basedonaveragesalarystatisticsandcostoflivingestimates.
Studentswillexplainthedifferencesbetweenpositiveandnegativenumbersinfinance.
Studentswillexplainwhatnetworthis,andhowitiscalculated.
Studentswillexplainhowincome,spending,credit,saving,andinvestinginteractto
increaseordecreaseanindividualsnetworth.
Studentswilldevelopabudgetandsavingsspreadsheetthatisbasedonthesalaryand
costoflivingestimatesprovidedbythepreapprovedonlineresources.


EngagedLearningProject:

MoneyMattersMakeItCount!
byMeghanLee

Studentswilldevelopasavingsplanthatensuresbasicnecessitiesareprovidedand
reflectsreducedexpensesinvariableareastoproduceasavingsrateofatleast20%per
year.
Studentswillcollaboratetogethertosynthesizetheirbudgetingandsavingresearchto
createamultimediapresentationtoshareonlinetohelpotherslearnhowtobudgetand
savemoney.
Studentswillsupporttheirpresentationandonlinebookwiththeirfinancialresearch.
StudentswillusetheconventionsofstandardEnglishintheirspeakingandwriting.

ThehookorIntroduction:(pictureofmoneyoninteractivewhiteboard)
Earlierintheweek:Whatjobwouldyouliketohave?Writeitdownwithyournameandputitinthebucket.
DaytheProjectwillbegin:*cueMissionImpossiblemusicandengagingmissionvideofromPowToon*
Explainthemission:MoneyMatters:MakeItCountProjecttothestudents&introducetheexpert(s).
Studentswillmakeawikithatgivespeopleadviceforcareers,debt,budgeting,saving,andinvesting.
TheygettobecomeexpertsonMoneyMatterstohelptheworldlearnaboutmoneymanagement.
IrecommendusingaPowToonmissionvideotemplatetoreallyexcitestudentsabouttheirMoneyMission!
Process:
TheteacheractsastheguideduringthefirstweekoftheMoneyMatters:MakeItCountproject.The
studentsusethefirstweektoaccesstheirpriorknowledgeaboutmoneyandpersonalspending.Asthe
teacherfacilitatestheprocessofapplyingthenewmoneyconceptstorealworldpractices,thestudents
takechargeoftheirlearningastheydeveloparealworldbudgetandinvestmentplanastheyassumethe
roleofanadultthatisjuststartingoutintheircareer.Outsideexpertsinfinancialplanningalongwith
stakeholdersassistthestudentsintheprocessofconstructingasolidbudgetandinvestmentplan.The
teacherandoutsideexpertspointstudentsinthedirectionofinformationthatwillassistthemincompleting
thelearningtaskswhileactingasacoinvestigatorintheprocess.Studentscollaboratewiththeteacherto
developaseriesofguidelines,rubrics,anddailyreflectionblogtopicsthatguidethemthroughthe
processofconstructingtheirfinalsubmissionstotheMoneyMatters:MakeItCountwikiwebsite.Daily
reflectionsrequirestudentstoexplainnewconceptstotheirreadership,includingtheteacher,before
receivingapprovaltoforwardintheirprojectsothatanystudentthatishavingdifficultygraspingthe
conceptsfullywillbeabletobeassisted.Peercollaborationispermittedaslongasstudentsremainon
task,andhelpfulclassbrainstormideasforloweringexpensesanddifferentiatingbetweenwantsandneeds
arepostedtothewikiwebsitepriortobeginningthebudgetingproject.Flippedlessonscanbeusedto
assistintheremediationprocessifanystudentneedsextrapractice,orisabsentduringinstructionaltime.
WEEK1
1.Buildingourfoundationalknowledgeabouttheimportanceofmoney
BasicEconomics:Constructaclassmindmapaboutmoneyposttowiki
2.Examiningspending:whatisawant&whatisaneed&whatisdebt
JumpStartsRealityCheckindividualactivityforgettingarealitycheckaboutspending&income
Debt:Studentscreatealistofsituationsthatinvolvedebt,waystoavoiddebt,andhowtogetoutofdebt
Constructaclasslistthatexplainsanddifferentiatesbetweenwantsandneedsposttowiki
3.BasicsofBudgeting:fixedexpenses,variableexpenses,typesofincome
Listoffixedexpenses,listofvariableexpenses,researchideasforloweringexpensesposttowiki
InPersonorVideoConferencingVisitsfromouroutsideexpertsfrombanking&personalfinance
WEEK2
4.Ourestimatedsalaryperyearforourchosencareer&estimatedcostofliving
Researchstartingannualsalaryforchosencareerandestimatedlivingfixedexpensesfilloutbudget
5.Howcanweadjustourbudgettomakesavingeasierandstillenjoyourlife?
Researchwaystoadjustthebudgettoincreaseoursavingsrateandstillhavefunadjustbudget


EngagedLearningProject:

MoneyMattersMakeItCount!
byMeghanLee
6.Investing:Howcanweuseoursavingstomakemoremoney?(CompoundInterest)
BasicsofInvestingdontputallyoureggsinonebasket,compoundinterestexplained,smartinvesting
7.Developaplanforinvestingthemoneywesavedinourbudget
Writeupaninvestmentplanthatincludescompoundinterestcalculationbasedonhistoricalperformance
DiscussingwithInvestmentExpert,CareerCounselor,&FoodIndustryExpert(inpersonoronline)
WEEK3
7.Publishourbudgetandinvestmentplansforreviewbyourpeers,teachers,community,&expert(s).
Spendtimereviewingtheplanspostedbypeersandprovidingfeedbackpostcommentstowiki
Checkinitialrubricscoresprovidedbytheteacher
8.ReviewingFeedback&Finalizing:Improveourbudget&investmentplanforfinalsubmission.
Finalizebudgetandinvestmentplansusingsuggestionsfrompeers,stakeholders,outsideexperts.
Projectswillbeevaluatedaccordingtotherubricandfinalfeedbackgivenbytheteacher
Projectsreviewedbyoutsideexpertsandsuggestionsareofferedforwaystoimprove
WEEK4
9.PreziSmallgroupadviceforchoosingacareer,creatingabudget,savingmoney,andinvesting
Smallgroupcollaborationonpickingacareer,budgetingbasics,waystosave,andinvestintelligently.
Peerandteacherfeedbackandevaluationbyrubric
PublishhighestscoringPrezistoYouTubeandembedintheWikiwebsitetosharewithothers
10.ToonDooAcomicbooktosharewithkidsallovertheworldaboutbudgetingandsavingmoney
Studentscreateatwopanelcomicontheir#1kidfriendlytipforsmartmoneymanagement.
SaveandsubmittoteachertocompileintoaToonDoobooktopublishontheWikisiteandYouTube.
StudentssharetheirToonDoobookwiththelowergradelevelstoteachthemhowtosavemoney.
Product:
Studentswillcreateawikiwebsitethatincludesaseriesofbudgetandinvestmentplans,Prezitipson
smartmoneymanagement,andakidfriendlycomicbookthatdemonstrateswhymoneymattersandhow
youcanmakeitcount!Peopleofallagescanbenefitfromtheinformationonthiswebsitebecauseit
providesanauthenticglimpseofcertaincareerfieldandwaysindividualsandfamiliescanworktogetherto
saveandinvestmoney.Studentsutilizeaveragestartingsalaryestimatesandcostoflivingapproximations
fromreputableonlinesourcestodevelopanindividualizedbudgetandinvestmentplanthatissharedthrough
thewebsitewiththeglobalcommunity.ThestudentsintegrateCreativeCommonslicensedmediawithfree
onlinetoolstocreatemultimediapresentationsthatarepublishedonYouTubeandembeddedintheirwiki
website.Rubricsareconstructedwithstudentinputandareusedforfinalevaluation.
TechnologyUse:
ThebudgettemplatecanbeusedwithGoogleDocs,MicrosoftExcel,orMicrosoftOffice365.Students
needtohaveindividualizedaccesstoacomputerwithInternetconnectivitytobeabletoconductresearch
online,constructtheirbudgetandinvestmentplan,publishtheirplans,providepeerfeedbackand
collaboratewiththeirpeersandstakeholders.Interactivewhiteboardsarerecommendedformodelingthe
processoffillingoutthebudgetingtemplateandnavigatingotheronlineresourcesandtools.Anonlineclass
wikiandintroductoryPowToonvideowillneedtobecreatedpriortoimplementingthelessonwiththe
preapprovedwebsiteslinkedonthewikiforstudentstouseduringtheresearchprocess.Eachstudent
needsasectiononthewikitoposttheirbudgetandinvestmentplan.Separatesectionsshouldbeincluded
forthesmallgroupPrezisandasectionforthekidfriendlyToonDoobookcompletedattheend.Please
ensurethatthewikihasaspaceforcommentsandthatthecommentsmustbeapprovedbythesite
administrator(theteacher)priortopublication.StudentaccountsshouldalsobesetupforPreziand
ToonDooaswell.

SupportWebsites&Materials(Studentswilladdtheirownresourcelinksaswell)
PowToon


EngagedLearningProject:

MoneyMattersMakeItCount!
byMeghanLee
ToonDoo
Prezi
GoogleDocs
Microsoft365
BureauofLaborStatistics
Numbeo
YoungAmericaSaves
GreatMindsThink:AKidsGuidetoMoney
GenerationMoney
Jump$tartsRealityCheck
FlickrCreativeCommons
FreeSound.org

References

CostofLiving.(n.d.).CostofLiving.
RetrievedMarch29,2014,fromhttp://www.numbeo.com/costofliving/

Createanimatedvideosandpresentations.(n.d.).PowToon.
RetrievedMarch28,2014,fromhttp://www.powtoon.com/

FastestWaytoCreateComicStripsandCartoonsToondoo.(n.d.).
FastestWaytoCreateComicStripsandCartoonsToondoo.
RetrievedMarch30,2014,fromhttp://www.toondoo.com/

FederalReserveBankofCleveland:http://www.clevelandfed.org.(n.d.).
GreatMindsThink:AKid'sGuidetoMoney.
RetrievedMarch30,2014,from
http://www.clevelandfed.org/Learning_Center/Online_Activities/great_minds_think/

PreziPresentationSoftware.(n.d.).prezi.com.
RetrievedMarch29,2014,fromhttps://prezi.com/

Readyforthechallenge?.(n.d.).JumpStart.org.RetrievedMarch30,2014,from
http://www.jumpstart.org/realitycheck.html

U.S.BureauofLaborStatistics.(n.d.).U.S.BureauofLaborStatistics.
RetrievedMarch28,2014,fromhttp://www.bls.gov/

YoungAmericaSaves.(n.d.).YoungAmericaSaves.
RetrievedMarch30,2014,fromhttp://americasaves.org/forsavers/youngamericasaves