July · Month 11 of the money year

Digital Money

“If you can't see the money, how do you stay in control of it?”

By the end of the month, pupils can see that digital money is real money, spot recurring and in-app costs, pause and verify an urgent message, protect a secret code, check whether a shop is real, and use a calm digital-safety checklist.

Ages 8–11 · 4 lessons + a mission · 45 min each

🖨️ Print the pupil workbook Browse in the Lesson Finder

📖 Also in the printable year workbook (PDF), pupil pp. 157–173

The month's teaching plan

Four 45-minute lessons in this order, then the classroom mission.

Money you can't see

Byte · 45 min

Goal: Show that money tapped from a card or phone is the same real money as a coin and still runs out.

tapbalanceinvisiblereal

You need: a fictional prepaid card showing €10, two purchase cards (a €3 snack and a €4 game item) and a balance strip.

Lesson plan (45 min) + what pupils do+

Scenario

A card holds €10. A €3 tap for a snack and a €4 tap for a game item are just as real as coins. Work out what is left, and name one habit that keeps invisible spending in view.

45-minute flow

5m ask whether tapping a card spends "real" money; 8m model the €10 balance dropping by €3 then €4; 20m pairs track the balance after each tap and test what happens when only €2 is left; 8m discuss why invisible money still runs out and how checking the balance first helps; 4m exit: state the balance after the two taps.

What pupils do

The card holds €10. After tapping €3 for a snack and €4 for a game item, how much is left?
Is the money you tapped less real than a coin?
If only €2 is left and you tap to buy the €3 snack, what happens?
Name one habit that helps you track invisible spending.

The charge that comes back

Byte · 45 min

Goal: Distinguish one-time from recurring costs.

subscriptionrenewalmonthlycancel

You need: fictional app cards: A €6 once; B €0 today then €4 at the end of each of the next three months.

Lesson plan (45 min) + what pupils do+

Scenario

App A costs €6 once. App B costs €0 today, then €4 at the end of each of the next three months. Compare the full cost over the stated period and mark the renewal dates.

45-minute flow

5m show “free today” and ask what it may mean; 8m model a three-month calendar; 20m groups calculate A and B and circle the renewal dates; 8m discuss reading terms with a trusted adult before starting a trial; 4m exit: total B after three charged months.

What pupils do

Total A?
Total B across the three charged months?
Which costs more over that period and by how much?
What should be checked before agreeing to B?

The "free" game that isn't

Byte · 45 min

Goal: Show that a free game can still cost real money through small in-app extras that add up.

freeextraadd uppause

You need: a fictional "free" game card and three extra-purchase slips from one week (€1, €2 and €2) with a running-total strip.

Lesson plan (45 min) + what pupils do+

Scenario

A free game tempts small extras across one week: €1, then €2, then €2. Add up what the "free" week really cost, and set a rule for the next small tap.

45-minute flow

5m ask whether a "free" game can still cost money; 8m model the three extras adding to a weekly total; 20m pairs add €1 + €2 + €2 and mark how small single taps became a larger total; 8m discuss the pause, add-up, ask rule before buying an extra; 4m exit: state the weekly total.

What pupils do

Add the week's extras: €1 + €2 + €2. What is the total?
Why was calling the game "free" misleading?
How can a single €1 tap feel small yet still matter?
Write the rule to use before buying an extra.

Urgent message, calm check

Byte · 45 min

Goal: Spot pressure tactics and verify independently.

scamurgentlinkverify

You need: fictional message: “Your Hero Club account closes in 10 minutes. Tap this link and enter your code.” No real logo or working link.

Lesson plan (45 min) + what pupils do+

Scenario

“Your Hero Club account closes in 10 minutes. Tap this link and enter your code.” This is invented, has no working link and uses no real brand. Find the pressure, link and code request, then describe an independent check.

45-minute flow

5m show the fictional message and ask how it makes people feel; 8m model stop → use an independently known route → ask a trusted adult; 20m teams mark pressure, link and code request, then rewrite a safe action plan; 8m discuss why a message knowing a name is not proof; 4m exit: first safe action.

What pupils do

Underline three warning signs.
Should Byte click the supplied link?
How can Byte check a real account without the message's link?
What should Byte tell a trusted adult?

Final mission

Byte's safety checklist

Byte · 45 min · independent, after rehearsal

Goal: Use one calm five-point checklist to handle any digital-money situation safely.

Lesson plan (45 min) + what pupils do+

Scenario

Test two fictional situations against five checks — pause, check the seller, total the real cost, never share codes, ask an adult: a "tap in 5 minutes" account message, and a bargain site that wants payment by code.

45-minute flow

5m recap the month and read the five-point checklist; 8m model running situation (a) through the checklist; 20m teams apply the checklist to both situations and name which point catches each; 8m discuss why knowing your name is not proof and why the same checklist works everywhere; 4m exit: write the point you find most important.

What pupils do

Which checklist point best catches situation (a), the "closes in 5 minutes" message?
Which point best catches situation (b), the bargain site that wants payment by code?
Why is "it knows my name" not proof a message is safe?
Which checklist point do you think matters most, and why?

Optional extensions

Extra lessons for classes that move faster — invitations, not compulsory homework.

The “tap again” receipt

Byte · 45 min

Check an in-app purchase total and identify confirmation screens.

Is this shop real?

Byte · 45 min

Check that an online seller is trustworthy before buying anything.

Keep your secret code secret

Byte · 45 min

Show that a PIN, password or one-time code is never shared, even when a message asks nicely or urgently.

The real price at checkout

Cash · 45 min

Show that the sticker price is not always the final price, because shipping and fees change the total.

Practise it — free games & tools

The same ideas as a game or tool a child does themselves — for a station, quiet time or home.

Digital Money Detective Scam Spotter Subscription Checker

For the teacher

Prepare once

Print the safety-checklist page and fictional screenshots: a recurring subscription, an in-app 'tap again' total, an urgent 'act now' message and a shop with no contact details. No real apps, links, logins or payments — every screen is a mock-up.

Adapt for your class

For 6–8, match a 'one-time' vs 'comes back every month' cost and practise 'stop and ask a grown-up'. For 9–12, find the pressure words in a message and list the checks that confirm a real shop. Never ask pupils to enter real details anywhere; keep every example fictional.

Assess the mission

In the mission (Byte's safety checklist), mark: digital money is treated as real money; a recurring or hidden cost is identified; and an urgent message is handled by pausing and verifying, not reacting. Calm and checking is the skill — speed is the trap.

The pupil workbook

Print-ready A4 pages: cover, diagnostic, every lesson with writing space, the mission, reflection and cut-out coins. Open and print (or save as PDF).

Open the workbook →

Next month: August — Money Hero capstone

Education only — not financial advice. All shops, prices and people in the scenarios are fictional.

Digital Money

“If you can't see the money, how do you stay in control of it?”

Ages 8–11 · 4 lessons + a mission · 45 min each

📖 Also in the printable year workbook (PDF), pupil pp. 157–173

🛡️ Digital Money

The month's teaching plan

Money you can't see

The charge that comes back

The "free" game that isn't

Urgent message, calm check

Byte's safety checklist

Optional extensions

The “tap again” receipt

Is this shop real?

Keep your secret code secret

The real price at checkout

Practise it — free games & tools

For the teacher

Prepare once

Adapt for your class

Assess the mission

The pupil workbook

🛡️ Digital Money

The month's teaching plan

Money you can't see

The charge that comes back

The "free" game that isn't

Urgent message, calm check

Byte's safety checklist

Optional extensions

The “tap again” receipt

Is this shop real?

Keep your secret code secret

The real price at checkout

Practise it — free games & tools

For the teacher

Prepare once

Adapt for your class

Assess the mission

The pupil workbook

Digital Money

Digital Money