Lesson
What Is Financial Literacy?
Summary
Values drive every dollar. This lesson defines financial literacy and introduces conscious budgeting as the necessary act of choosing to fund one value over another.
Bellringer: Dream Purchases
- Students list 3 dream purchases for their first year after high school with estimated costs.
- Brief share-out: Do you have a plan to make those dreams reality?
Instruction
- Define financial literacy and connect to higher net worth and lower debt.
- Introduce values as the driver behind spending.
- Reframe budgeting as a tool for intentionality, not restriction.
Discussion: The Adventure Funding Dilemma
- Present scenario: a student needs to free up $125/month to fund a $3,000 travel goal.
- Discuss which expenses to cut and which values are sacrificed.
- Debrief with class examples—emphasize intentional choice over deprivation.
Activity: Values & Future Vision
- Revisit personal values and journal about the future they envision—connecting values to specific financial literacy skills they'll need.
Wrap-Up & Assessment
- Write down the most important value you identified today.
- What is one specific action you could take to pursue that value?
| Est. Time | Activity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 5 min | Bellringer: Dream Purchases |
|
| 10 min | Instruction |
|
| 10 min | Discussion: The Adventure Funding Dilemma |
|
| 15 min | Activity: Values & Future Vision |
|
| 5 min | Wrap-Up & Assessment |
|
Lesson Prep
What is Financial Literacy?
An introduction to financial literacy and why it matters.
Class Presentation
Includes a 24-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 1: Money Mindsets
What Is Financial Literacy?
Values drive every dollar. This lesson defines financial literacy and introduces conscious budgeting as the necessary act of choosing to fund one value over another.
The Reality of Scarcity
Limited resources require intentional trade-offs. This lesson defines financial literacy, scarcity, and needs vs. wants.
Opportunity Cost
Every choice has a hidden cost, called the opportunity cost. In this lesson, students evaluate trade-offs by identifying the next-best alternative they give up when making a decision.
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