lenny

Future You

user image

Lesson Plan

Goal Setting for Grown-Ups

Students will be able to set financial goals, understand the benefits of saving, and connect current financial decisions to future aspirations.

Understanding personal finance and budgeting is a crucial life skill that empowers students to take control of their future, reduce financial stress, and achieve their dreams.

Audience

9th Grade Students

Time

75 minutes

Approach

Interactive lesson, group discussion, and personal reflection.

Materials

Your Future Starts Now (slide-deck), My Dream Life Planner (journal), Saving Smarts Share-Out (discussion), and Pens/Pencils

Prep

Teacher Preparation

20 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: What's Your Future Dream?

10 minutes

  • Begin by asking students: "If you could fast-forward 10-15 years, what does your ideal life look like?" (5 minutes)
  • Encourage a few students to share their dreams. (5 minutes)

Step 2

Introduction to Financial Goals

15 minutes

  • Use the Your Future Starts Now (slide-deck) to introduce the concept of financial goals.
  • Discuss short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals.
  • Engage students with questions about what financial goals they might have for their future dreams.

Step 3

The Power of Saving

15 minutes

  • Continue with the Your Future Starts Now (slide-deck) to explain the importance of saving.
  • Introduce concepts like delayed gratification and compounding interest (briefly, age-appropriately).
  • Provide real-world examples of how saving can help achieve goals.

Step 4

My Dream Life Planner (Journal Activity)

20 minutes

  • Distribute the My Dream Life Planner (journal).
  • Guide students to complete the journal activity, focusing on personal financial goals and how they can start planning for them now.
  • Circulate and provide support as needed.

Step 5

Saving Smarts Share-Out (Discussion)

10 minutes

  • Facilitate the Saving Smarts Share-Out (discussion).
  • Encourage students to share insights from their journals (voluntarily) and discuss strategies for smart saving.
  • Emphasize that everyone's financial journey is unique.

Step 6

Wrap-Up: Future You, Today's Choices

5 minutes

  • Reiterate the connection between today's financial choices and future aspirations.
  • Ask students to identify one small financial habit they can start developing this week to benefit their "Future You".
lenny
0 educators
use Lenny to create lessons.

No credit card needed

Slide Deck

Your Future Starts Now!

What does 'Future You' look like?

  • Dreams?
  • Goals?
  • Aspirations?

Welcome students and introduce the concept of thinking about their future. This is a hook to get them engaged. Ask: "What's one thing you dream of doing, having, or becoming in the future?"

What are Financial Goals?

Financial goals are targets for your money.

  • Short-term: 0-1 year (e.g., new video game, concert tickets)
  • Medium-term: 1-5 years (e.g., saving for a driver's license, a big trip)
  • Long-term: 5+ years (e.g., college, a car, a house)

Explain that financial goals are like roadmaps for their money. Discuss that goals can be different lengths and give examples relevant to 9th graders.

The Power of Saving

Saving helps you achieve your dreams.

  • Delayed gratification: Waiting for something better.
  • Compound Interest: Money making more money!

Emphasize that saving isn't just about putting money away; it's about making your future dreams possible. Briefly introduce the concept of compound interest with a simple example.

Plan for 'Future You'

It's never too early to start planning!

Encourage students to start thinking about their own goals and how saving connects. Introduce the My Dream Life Planner (journal) activity.

Your Choices, Your Future

Every financial choice you make today shapes your 'Future You'.

  • Be smart!
  • Be intentional!
  • Get ready to share your 'Saving Smarts'!

Wrap up by reminding them that small steps today lead to big achievements tomorrow. Encourage them to participate in the upcoming discussion.

lenny

Journal

My Dream Life Planner: Planning for Your Future You

Name: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________

Part 1: Envisioning Your Future

Imagine yourself 10-15 years from now. What does your ideal life look like? Think about different aspects – your career, where you live, hobbies, travel, family, and anything else that's important to you.

  1. Describe your ideal life in detail. What are you doing? Where are you? Who are you with? What does it feel like?











  2. What are three major things you want to achieve or acquire in this future?

    • Goal 1:


    • Goal 2:


    • Goal 3:


Part 2: Connecting Dreams to Dollars

Now, let's think about how money plays a role in making those dreams a reality.

  1. Look at your three major goals from Part 1. For each goal, identify what financial resources might be needed to achieve it. (e.g., saving for a down payment, funding for education, travel budget, etc.)

    • Goal 1 (Financial Needs):





    • Goal 2 (Financial Needs):





    • Goal 3 (Financial Needs):





  2. Think about the concept of saving. How can saving money now (even small amounts) impact your ability to reach these future goals?





  3. What's one small financial habit you could start practicing this week to help your "Future You"?





lenny
lenny

Discussion

Saving Smarts Share-Out: Building Your Financial Future

Discussion Guidelines:

  • Be respectful of everyone's ideas and financial situations.
  • Share openly, but only what you feel comfortable discussing.
  • Listen actively to your classmates.

Discussion Prompts:

  1. What was one key takeaway or a new idea you gained from the "My Dream Life Planner" journal activity?





  2. When thinking about your financial goals, what seems like the biggest challenge to overcome? Why?





  3. What are some practical ways a high school student can start saving money, even with limited income? (Think creatively!)





  4. How might understanding financial goals and saving strategies impact your decisions right now, even if your big dreams are far off?





  5. What did you learn from a classmate today about saving or financial planning that you found interesting or helpful?





Teacher Notes:

  • Encourage students to share personal reflections without pressure.
  • Guide the discussion to highlight diverse strategies and perspectives.
  • Emphasize that financial planning is a lifelong journey.
lenny
lenny