Lesson Plan
Goal Setting for Grown-Ups
Students will define personal financial goals, differentiate between short-term and long-term savings, and develop strategies for making informed financial choices.
Understanding personal finance empowers students to take control of their future, reduce stress related to money, and achieve their life aspirations.
Audience
Middle School Students
Time
50 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, guided goal-setting, and reflective journaling.
Materials
Smart Choices Worksheet, Your Future Starts Now Slide Deck, My Dream Life Planner Journal, Saving Smarts Share-Out Discussion Guide, and Smart Choices Worksheet
Prep
Review Materials
15 minutes
- Review the Goal Setting for Grown-Ups Lesson Plan and all linked materials: Your Future Starts Now Slide Deck, My Dream Life Planner Journal, Saving Smarts Share-Out Discussion Guide, and Smart Choices Worksheet.
- Make copies of the Smart Choices Worksheet.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Dream Big!
5 minutes
- Begin by asking students: "If you could have anything in the world (that costs money!), what would it be?" Allow a few students to share.
- Transition by explaining that today's lesson is about making those dreams a reality.
Step 2
Introduction to Financial Goals (Slide Deck)
10 minutes
- Present the Your Future Starts Now Slide Deck, focusing on the concepts of short-term and long-term financial goals.
- Discuss examples relevant to students' lives (e.g., saving for a new video game vs. saving for college).
Step 3
Smart Choices Worksheet Activity
15 minutes
- Distribute the Smart Choices Worksheet.
- Guide students through identifying a short-term and a long-term financial goal for themselves.
- Have them brainstorm a few steps they could take to reach each goal.
Step 4
My Dream Life Planner Journaling
10 minutes
- Introduce the My Dream Life Planner Journal.
- Explain that this journal is a place to envision their future and connect it to financial planning.
- Give students time to work on the first prompt in their journal.
Step 5
Saving Smarts Share-Out (Discussion)
10 minutes
- Facilitate a class discussion using the Saving Smarts Share-Out Discussion Guide.
- Encourage students to share insights from their journaling or worksheet, focusing on practical steps and challenges.
- Conclude by reinforcing the idea that small choices today lead to big impacts tomorrow.
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Slide Deck
Your Future Starts Now!
Making Smart Choices for a Brighter Tomorrow
Welcome students and introduce the exciting topic of planning for their financial future. Ask them what 'future you' might look like.
What's a Financial Goal?
It's a dream or something you want to achieve that involves money!
- Big or small
- Near or far
Ask students what a 'goal' is in general. Then, explain that financial goals are about what we want to achieve with our money.
Short-Term Goals (Soon!)
Things you want to buy or save for in the near future (usually less than a year).
- A new video game
- Concert tickets
- A special gift for someone
Explain short-term goals: things they might want soon. Give examples like a new game, concert tickets, or a special outfit. Ask students for their own short-term financial goals.
Long-Term Goals (Later!)
Bigger things that take more time to save for (usually more than a year).
- College education
- A car
- Your own place to live
Explain long-term goals: things that take more time and planning. Give examples like college, a car, or even a house. Emphasize that these often start with small steps now. Ask students for their own long-term financial goals.
Why Saving Matters
Saving helps you turn your dreams into reality!
- Security: For unexpected needs
- Freedom: To make choices about your future
- Achieve Goals: Big or small, saving gets you there!
Discuss why saving is important for achieving both types of goals. Use the analogy of planting a seed for a tree – it takes time and care to grow.
Making Smart Choices Today
Every choice you make with your money can impact your future.
- Think before you spend!
- Prioritize your goals.
- Small steps add up to big results!
Introduce the idea of making smart choices. Connect it to the 'Smart Choices Worksheet' they will be doing. Emphasize that every dollar counts.
Future You Starts Now!
You have the power to create the future you want!
Start setting your goals and making smart choices today!
Conclude by reiterating the main message: planning now helps 'Future You'. Encourage them to be excited about taking control of their financial journey.
Journal
My Dream Life Planner
Prompt 1: Envisioning Your Future
Imagine your life 10-15 years from now. What does it look like? What kind of job do you have? Where do you live? What are your hobbies? What kind of impact do you want to make on the world? Describe your dream life in detail.
Prompt 2: Connecting Dreams to Money
Think about the dream life you just described. Which of those dreams might require money to achieve? List them and explain why.
Prompt 3: Setting a Personal Financial Goal
Based on your dream life, what is one significant long-term financial goal you want to work towards? Why is this goal important to you? What is one small step you can take today or this week towards that goal?
Prompt 4: My Saving Strategy
Describe a personal saving strategy you could use to reach your short-term and long-term goals. How will you keep track of your progress? What challenges might you face, and how will you overcome them?
Discussion
Saving Smarts Share-Out
Introduction
"Welcome, future financial wizards! Today we've been thinking about our future and how our choices with money can help us get there. Let's share some of our insights and learn from each other."
Discussion Questions
- Short-Term Wins: Can anyone share one short-term financial goal they identified? What is one small step you plan to take to reach it? What makes this goal exciting to you?
- Long-Term Visions: What about a long-term financial goal? How did imagining your My Dream Life Planner Journal help you think about this? What challenges do you anticipate in reaching this goal?
- Surprise! What was one surprising thing you learned or realized about saving and financial planning today?
- One Smart Choice: If you could give your future self one piece of financial advice based on what we discussed today, what would it be and why?
Worksheet
Smart Choices Worksheet
My Financial Goals
Think about things you want to buy or save for. These are your financial goals!
1. Short-Term Goal (Something you want in less than a year)
What is one short-term financial goal you have?
Why is this goal important to you?
What are three small steps you can take to reach this goal?
2. Long-Term Goal (Something you want in more than a year)
What is one long-term financial goal you have?
Why is this goal important to you?
What are three things you can start doing now to help you reach this goal in the future?
Reflect and Connect
How do the choices you make with your money today impact your ability to reach your goals tomorrow?
Discussion
Saving Smarts Share-Out
Introduction
"Welcome, future financial wizards! Today we've been thinking about our future and how our choices with money can help us get there. Let's share some of our insights and learn from each other."
Discussion Questions
- Short-Term Wins: Can anyone share one short-term financial goal they identified? What is one small step you plan to take to reach it? What makes this goal exciting to you?
- Long-Term Visions: What about a long-term financial goal? How did imagining your My Dream Life Planner Journal help you think about this? What challenges do you anticipate in reaching this goal?
- Surprise! What was one surprising thing you learned or realized about saving and financial planning today?
- One Smart Choice: If you could give your future self one piece of financial advice based on what we discussed today, what would it be and why?