5 Money Lesson Plans

🧰 Materials

• ☐3 plastic jars or cups per group
• ☐9 plastic coins (or sticker dots) per group
• ☐Printable jar labels (Save, Spend, Share)
• ☐Worksheet with 3 scenarios

🗺 Flow (45 min total)

1. 5m

   Hook

   Show a real €10 note. Ask the class: if this was yours, what would you do with it? Write their answers on the board.

2. 10m

   Introduce the jars

   Reveal the 3 jars. Explain: save (future you), spend (today), share (others). Each gets a third.

3. 20m

   Group sorting activity

   Each group of 4 gets 9 coins + 3 jars. They split them and explain WHY they made each choice. Walk around and ask questions.

4. 10m

   Reflect + assign

   Ask: what was hardest? Easiest? Send home with a real-life version: do the same with their zakgeld this week.

🧰 Materials

• ☐Printable item-cards (15 cards: water, candy, phone, shoes, etc.)
• ☐Two large signs: WANT and NEED
• ☐Worksheet for individual reflection

🗺 Flow (45 min total)

1. 5m

   Definition vote

   Ask: what's a NEED? What's a WANT? Get 3 examples of each from students. Write them up.

2. 15m

   Live sorting

   Hold up each item-card. Students point left (WANT) or right (NEED). Discuss disagreements. Spotlight the tricky ones (shoes — yes, but specific brand?).

3. 15m

   Personal list

   Each student writes 5 things they bought (or wanted) in the last month. Label each as W or N. Reflect: any surprises?

4. 10m

   Share + close

   Volunteers share one 'I thought it was a need' moment. Close with Penny's rule: wait 24 hours = honesty.

🧰 Materials

• ☐Calculator app or paper calculator
• ☐Worksheet: starting amount + monthly + years + rate
• ☐Whiteboard for class numbers
• ☐Access to LFH Compound Growth tool (or computer)

🗺 Flow (50 min total)

1. 5m

   The challenge

   Pose the question: would you rather have €1M now, or 1 cent that doubles every day for 30 days? Most kids pick wrong — calculate together. (1 cent → ~€5M)

2. 15m

   Compound vs simple

   Compare €1000 at 7% simple vs 7% compound over 30 years. Draw both curves on the board. Why does compound win?

3. 20m

   Personal scenario

   Each student plugs in: starting amount + monthly + years. Then changes ONE variable. Notice which has the biggest effect — usually 'years'.

4. 10m

   Pair share + close

   Pairs: 'what's one thing you can start NOW so future you has 30 years of compounding?' Share with class.

🧰 Materials

• ☐Printable: 8 example messages (4 scams + 4 legit) — provide screenshots
• ☐Worksheet: 6 red flags grid
• ☐Discussion questions handout

🗺 Flow (45 min total)

1. 5m

   Real story

   Share a real (anonymised) scam story — V-Bucks, fake giveaway, etc. Ask: 'how did this person almost fall for it?'

2. 15m

   Pattern hunting

   Show 8 messages on screen. Students vote SCAM or REAL for each. Reveal answer. Discuss the red flags spotted.

3. 15m

   The 6 forever flags

   Teach: urgency, free + login, brand-new account, asking for personal data, perfect-sounding offer, generic greeting. Each gets a slot on the worksheet.

4. 10m

   Quick quiz close

   Final 3 messages — students rate alone. Compare with neighbour. Whoever can explain WHY wins.

🧰 Materials

• ☐Printable budget worksheet (rent / food / transport / fun / savings)
• ☐Salary cards (4 different income levels)
• ☐City cost cards (Amsterdam, Eindhoven, smaller town)

🗺 Flow (50 min total)

1. 5m

   The setup

   Each student draws a salary card + city card. That's their starting situation for the month.

2. 20m

   Build it

   Fill in the budget worksheet. They MUST include savings (at least 10%). Discuss trade-offs.

3. 15m

   Lifestyle creep test

   Now give them a +20% raise. What changes in their budget? Most will let lifestyle costs grow. Reveal the math.

4. 10m

   Reflection

   Pair share: would you rather earn €3000/mo and save €500, or €4000/mo and save €200? Which feels richer?