JA Personal Finance^TM

JA Personal Finance, an innovative online program for grades 9-12, helps students make informed decisions about the effective use of income to reach personal financial goals.

JA Personal Finance^TM Activities

Activity One: Make the Right Choice

Students will learn how individual choices can influence occupation and earnings potential and effect education and skill development. 

Key Learning Objectives   The students will...

• identify personal choices they can make to influence their level of education and skill developments 

• illustrate how individual choices can influence their careers and earnings potential. 

Activity Two: Where's the Rest of My Paycheck?

Students learn how taxes effect individuals. 

Key Learning Objectives   The students will...

• explain that taxes are mandatory payments to governments. 

• identify payroll taxes that individuals pay.

Activity Three: Jobs-Jobs-Jobs

Students learn about national trends in employment. 

Key Learning Objectives   The students will...

• identify national trends in employment.

• utilize information about national trends to form future educational and employment plans.

Activity Four: Mind Your Own Business

Students learn about entrepreneurial characteristics. 

Key Learning Objectives   The students will

• describe the characteristics that help make entrepreneurs successful

• analyze the options available to fund a startup company.

Activity Five: How Will I Pay for My Education?

Students will learn about financing post-secondary education. 

Key Learning Objectives   The students will...

• identify post-secondary education financing options.

• explain the savings plans, loan options, and other forms of financial aid that are available to them.

• create a personal plan to fund their post-secondary education.

Activity Six: Are You a Smart Consumer?

Students learn how to be a smart consumer.

Key Learning Objectives   The students will...

• differentiate between a need and a want.

• identify the components of smart consumerism.

• analyze the advantages and disadvantages of making purchases over the Internet.

Activity Seven: The Home Game

Students learn about mortgages.

Key Learning Objectives   The students will...

• explore the option of buying a home.

• explain why there are differences between 15-year and 30-year mortgages.

• analyze interest rates, types of mortgages, locations, and hypothetical salaries to determine the feasibility of home ownership.

Activity Eight: Making Ends Meet

Students will learn about personal financial responsibility and cost-benefit analysis. 

Key Learning Objectives   The students will...

• use cost-benefit analysis to choose among spending alternatives such as housing, transportation, and consumer goods.

Activity Nine: The Power of Credit

Students learn about credit. 

Key Learning Objectives   The students will...

• compare the advantages and disadvantages of credit.

• explore the rights and responsibilities of a credit user.

• compare rates to determine the credit card that suits their needs.
  

Activity Ten: In Over Your Head

Students learn about credit reports, the importance of credit history, and the options that one has when credit problems occur. 

Key Learning Objectives   The students will...

• explain how payment performance determines credit history.

• explain why credit records are maintained and accessed.

• identify and analyze the pros and cons of specific actions that can be taken in case of credit over-extension or other financial difficulties.

Activity Eleven: Saving & Investing

Students learn about a variety of investment options. 

Key Learning Objectives   The students will

• explain the difference in saving and investing.

• explore investment options.
  

Activity Twelve: The Case of the Shrinking Dollar

Students will learn about inflation. 

Key Learning Objectives   The students will...

• define inflation.

• analyze selected items from the Consumer Price Index and track price changes from 1980 to the present.

• explain the effect of inflation on personal savings.

Activity Thirteen: The Fed Is Watching

Students will learn about monetary policy. 

Key Learning Objectives   The students will...

• define the Federal Reserve System.

• explain the role of the Federal Reserve in the United States economy. 

• analyze how changes in interest rates affect economic conditions. 

• review targeted economic indicators and determine if short-term interest rates should be changed.
  

Activity Fourteen: Protect Yourself

Students learn about automobile insurance. 

Key Learning Objectives   The students will...

• explain the costs and benefits of insurance.

• analyze the costs and benefits of automobile insurance.

Activity Fifteen: Risky Business

Students learn about risk management. 

Key Learning Objectives   The students will...

• explain the importance of a risk management plan.

• create a risk management plan that includes life, health, income protection, and disability insurance.

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JA Personal Finance^TM  enhances the students' learning of the following concepts and skills:

Concepts

• Budgets 

• Choices 

• Consumers 

• Credit

• Income 

• Economic institutions

• Inflation

• Government 

• Insurance

• Interest rates 

• Investment

• Money 

• Opportunity cost 

• Risk 

• Saving

• Scarcity

• Taxes 

• Wages

Skills

• Analyzing information

• Computer 

• Conducting research

• Decision making 

• Following directions 

• Giving reports 

• Interpreting data 

• Math computation 

• Making observations 

• Reading 

• Solving problems

JA Personal Finance is comprised of 16 activities. Teachers and volunteers select and present at least 8 activities with students in grades 9 through 12. JA Personal Finance is a comprehensive financial literacy program for students in grades 9 to 12. Utilizing effective instructional methods and interactive Web-based delivery, JA Personal Finance provides students with the knowledge and practice they need to make informed financial decisions. 

All JA programs have technology enhancements and are designed to support the skills and competencies outlined in the SCANS (Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills) report. These programs also augment the school-based, work-based, and connecting activities for communities with school-to-work initiatives.
  

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