by Lindsay A. Gold, Michael S. Houston, Jennifer M. Bay-Williams, and John M. Ashurst

Provide Elementary-Age Students with Essential Financial and Mathematical Skills Right from the Start

Financial skills, like mathematical ones, must be built on a firm foundation. Whether one is putting  money in a piggy bank or a 401(k), and purchasing a toy car or a real one, everyone needs the understanding of financial issues and math skills necessary for making sound decisions.

The elementary classroom is the perfect place to introduce students to the multifaceted subject of financial literacy. The key is to integrate financial topics into mathematics instruction, using everyday, fun topics that relate to students’ experiences and bring math concepts to life.

This book’s seventeen chapters provide lessons and activities on important skills such as understanding coins and their values, saving up for future purchases, and sticking to a budget. Related mathematical skills and topics include the four basic operations; fractions, decimals, and percentages; working with graphs and data; and more. Each chapter includes—

• a “Future Value” section, summing up the mathematical and financial literacy knowledge that students in elementary school will bring to and take away from the lesson;
• relevant Common Core mathematics standards and practices and Jump$tart financial literacy standards;
• a full lesson plan with specific learning targets, including sections on the “Sales Pitch,” the “Fine Print,” and “Closing the Deal”;
• activity sheets and other classroom material, which are also available to download and print from NCTM’s website at www.nctm.org/more4u; and 
• suggestions for extended learning, including references to relevant children’s literature and other resources.

Help students learn how money works and how they can make it work for them.