Summary
Your money is only as safe as the institution holding it. This lesson compares checking and savings accounts, explores the dangers of being "unbanked", and examines how you access your cash in a digital world.
Bellringer: Where Does It Go?
- Display the $500 scenario on slide 4 and give students 1–2 minutes to formulate a response
- Advance to slide 5 to reveal the two-account answer and introduce checking vs. savings
Instruction
- Walk through checking accounts, savings accounts, ATM fees, mobile banking, account vocab, and unbanked/underbanked concepts (slides 6–12)
- Pause at each on-slide question for a quick class check
Discussion: Digital vs. Physical Banking
- Have students physically move to one side of the room (or raise hands) to choose digital or physical banking
- Facilitate 2–3 student justifications per side, then push students to consider future life stages
Activity: Banking Pretest & Game
- Have students take the Banking pretest and begin the banking game
- Note that the game will be completed in the Cost of Banking lesson
Wrap-Up & Assessment
- Why might you need more than one bank account?
- What's the danger of being "unbanked" or "underbanked?"
| Est. Time | Activity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 5 min | Bellringer: Where Does It Go? |
|
| 10 min | Instruction |
|
| 8 min | Discussion: Digital vs. Physical Banking |
|
| 15 min | Activity: Banking Pretest & Game |
|
| 7 min | Wrap-Up & Assessment |
|
Lesson Prep
Banking Pretest
Assess student knowledge before beginning the Banking game.
Banking
Students run a small financial institution and learn about accounts, interest, and loans.
Class Presentation
Includes a 17-slide deck with teacher notes. Present from Banzai, download a PDF, or copy it to Google Slides.
Presentations, Ready to Go
- Built-in PresentationPresent full screen, straight from Banzai
- Copy to Google SlidesMake an editable copy for your class
- Download or PrintSave as a PDF or print
- Teacher NotesSlide-by-slide guidance, printable as one handout
Unit 5: Banking
The Banking Landscape
Many people pick a bank the way they pick a gas station—whichever is closest. Explore the differences between commercial banks, credit unions, and online banks, and how to choose the right financial institution.
Navigating Accounts
Your money is only as safe as the institution holding it. This lesson compares checking and savings accounts, explores the dangers of being "unbanked", and examines how you access your cash in a digital world.
The Cost of Banking
A $2 soda can cost $37 when you don't track your account balance. This lesson covers common banking fees, the difference between online balances and account statements, and how to reconcile accounts to avoid costly surprises.
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