To support students and educators during September’s College Savings Month (and beyond), Discovery Education has a collection of dynamic content to give younger students stepping stones for responsible financial decision-making and inspire older students to think critically about their college plans and financial goals.
Making Plans for the Future
A major part of saving for college is thinking about your exact college plans! Since some fields will require higher degrees than others, it’s important for students to narrow their focus to give their financial goals some clarity. Encourage students to explore different careers, then determine how they’ll need to prepare for these careers with higher education. Career profiles from the STEM Careers Coalition and Discover Data can help students envision themselves in different careers and guide their career goals.
Once students have determined a direction for their future, it’s time to focus on their future financials! Introduce students to technical programs, community colleges, public universities, and private universities to compare prices and programs at these different educational institutions. Encourage students to research different tuition rates, room and board costs, and estimate costs for books and materials.
Make family discussions about college planning easy with discussion guides from TGR EDU: Explore, a program with TGR Foundation, A Tiger Woods Charity. From finding the right college fit to navigating financial aid, these resources will help older students (grades 6-12) understand the various types of financial aid, navigate the application process and prioritize responsibilities for college admissions.
Finding Fun in Financial Literacy
It’s never too early to teach responsible money management! Use College Savings Month as an opportunity to introduce younger learners to financial literacy through programs like Cha-Ching Money Smart Kids by Jackson Charitable Foundation. Students and educators for grades K-6 can find engaging and fun FinLit resources that provide the tools and practice to make informed decisions that support their future goals and dreams.
Add some excitement to financial literacy with Discover Venture Valley, a program with the Singleton Foundation for Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship. Discover Venture Valley empowers students in grades 6-12 to build financial and business basics through gamified learning as they take on the role of a budding entrepreneur in the new Venture Valley video game.
Personal Finance Support
Identifying and meeting financial goals can also lead to conversations on budgeting and personal financial choices. Lead students in grades K-2 through the Needs and Wants Activity to help them determine what purchases should fit into a budget, and the Premium Products hands-on activity in the Discover Data Channel can help students in grades 6-8 learn about why some items cost more than others. Help students understand the financial effects of their choices with conversations around budgeting andbehavioral economics lessons from Econ Essentials.
Explore how to make personal finances culturally relevant and interesting in the professional learning series from Pathway to Financial Success in Schools, developed with Discover Financial Services. Through these real-world educator stories, teachers see firsthand the benefits financial education can have on students. Plus, find more resources that offer additional step-by-step navigation to guide students in grades 6-12 on their financial and personal missions.
