K-6 Financial Literacy Toolkit

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Utah K-12 Concept Matrix

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The Utah Jump$tart Coalition has created the Concept Matrix to help elementary and junior high teachers identify financial topics and resources for their students. The goal is to have students learn financial concepts in a coordinated way over time in preparation for the General Financial Literacy Course.

The Concept Matrix was developed by Utah teachers and is aligned with Utah's Financial and Economic Education Strands and Standards. This concept Matrix is not a requirement, merely a guide for Utah educators.  

This toolkit is linked to the Utah Financial and Economic Literacy legislation and aligned to Utah's General Financial Literacy Strands and Standards.

How to Use the K-6 Toolkit

This brief introductory video introduces the K-6 Financial & Economic Literacy Toolkit and how to identify lesson plans and activities that meet a Utah math, language arts or social studies requirement along with a financial concept.

Special Thanks to our K-6 Financial & Economic Literacy Toolkit Sponsor

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Discover the newly redesigned Finance in the Classroom website! A financial literacy hub providing high-quality personal finance materials for K-12 educators, students and community membe

Utah Treasurer's Investment Challenge

The Utah Treasurer's Investment Challenge is a statewide investment competition for students in grades 4-12.

The program, administered by Office of State Treasurer and the Utah Financial Empowerment Coalition, is paid for by generous donations from community partners. There is no cost to teachers or their schools for students to participate.

The Utah Treasurer's Investment Challenge is a simulation of Wall Street trading that provides a framework for teaching Utah students about the U.S. economy and financial markets. The challenge is designed for classroom use to help students understand the stock market, the costs and benefits involved in economic decision making, the sources and uses of capital, and other related economic concepts in an integrated manner with other curriculum. It is intended to be a catalyst for further study of and interest in free enterprise capitalism.

my529

A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged vehicle designed to encourage individuals to invest for future qualified higher education expenses. my529 is the official 529 plan established and sponsored by the State of Utah. It is a direct-sold plan, which means you can set up an account and make contributions by dealing directly with my529.

Utah’s 529 plan is one of the best in the country. my529 is one of only three plans to receive a Gold rating from Morningstar in October 2020 because of its low costs, strong stewardship, and exceptional investment options.

Learn more about my529: https://my529.org/why-choose-my529/.

HANDS ON BANKING

Hands on Banking provides tools to help you become financially savvy. The Hands on Banking® online learning center offers resources for anyone who wants to learn more about money management. Our financial articles can help you find answers to your questions, from budgeting tips to buying a home, to improving your credit. Our self-directed courses take you in depth to improve financial literacy at each stage of life. We also offer classroom resources for educators. Together, we’ll help you and your family take charge of your financial future. Learn more at handsonbanking.org.

JUMP$TART CLEARINGHOUSE

Jump$tart Clearinghouse is an online library of financial education resources for teachers, parents, caregivers and anyone committed to financial smarts for students. To access the resource, visit jumpstartclearinghouse.org/.

COUNCIL FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION ECONEDLINK

Online resources to integrate personal finance and economics into K-12 curriculum.  To access the resource, visit econedlink.org/.

EVERFI

EVERFI is an e-learning company that partners with corporations and foundations to provide online learning courses to schools at no cost. EVERFI's courses aim to engage and teach K-12 students a variety of critical life skills ranging from financial literacy to digital citizenship, STEM education and career success. Each course is highly interactive and individualized for the 21st century learner, is standards aligned and has self-grading assessments for teachers. To learn more about these free teaching resources, visit everfi.com.

PETER PIG'S MONEY COUNTER

Learning about money is fun with Peter Pig. In this interactive game, kids practice identifying, counting and saving money while learning fun facts about U.S. currency. After completing the game, players are rewarded with a trip to the virtual store to buy accessories within budget and dress up Peter Pig in fun scenes. To access the resource, visit practicalmoneyskills.com/play/peter_pigs_money_counter.

H.I.P. POCKET CHANGE

A number of games from the U.S. Mint that teach students about currency and managing money. To access the resource, visit usmint.gov/learn/kids/games.

PRACTICAL MONEY SKILLS

Ready to get your game on? Test your money skills and give your brain a workout with these fun and educational games. To access the resource, visit practicalmoneyskills.com/play.

FDIC MONEY SMART FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

FDIC Money Smart for Young People is an innovative standards-aligned curriculum that can be incorporated into subjects such as English language arts, Mathematics, and Social Studies. To access this resource, visit fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/young.html.

MY529 ROADMAP

This guide is a list of ideas on how you can lead your child in each of these areas at every age – whether they are 18 months or 18 years old. Each section includes tips on how to work with children to instill a basic understanding of money. CLICK HERE to download the resource (PDF).

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION 

Utah State University Extension offers the tools and expertise you need to make the most of your financial resources, whether you are buying a home, planning for a baby, educating your family, or getting ready for retirement. Visit the extension website at extension.usu.edu/saltlake/home-family-food/finance.

ECON ED AT THE ST. LOUIS FED

The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis provides economics and personal finance lessons, activities, and readings provide flexibility and real-world connections, making it easier to prepare students with 21st century skills for college and career readiness. Visit the resource at https://www.stlouisfed.org/education. 

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF KANSAS CITY 

The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City offers economic and personal finance resources to better understand how the economy functions, as well as tools to make better financial decisions. Access the resource at https://www.kansascityfed.org/education/educator%20resources.

MATH THAT MAKES SENSE 

Math That Makes Cents integrates financial literacy concepts into math lessons to make math more fun and engaging. Created in conjunction with the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability of Youth, each lesson is in worksheet form so you have a quick “in-and-out” opportunity to reinforce math with real world applications that your students can relate to. Explore the resource at https://www.economicscenter.org/teaching-resources/math-that-makes-cents.aspx.

FINANCECHARTS

​The FinanceCharts glossary offers definitions for key financial and investing terms. The world of finance uses a lot of terms that might be unfamiliar, like "bull market, "derivatives," or "prospectus." Learning the language is an important first step to understanding financial data and making smart investment decisions. Explore the resource at: https://www.financecharts.com/pages/5730-a-glossary-of-stock-market-and-financial-investing-terms.