Lesson Plan
Money Moves Map
Students will apply math and economic concepts to create and manage a realistic monthly budget, track expenses, and develop a feasible financial plan. Goals: understand income vs. expenses, collaborate in groups, and reflect on spending choices.
Mastering budgeting and financial planning equips students with essential life skills for responsible money management, reducing future debt and fostering independence.
Audience
12th Grade Groups
Time
70 minutes
Approach
Hands-on group simulation with discussion and reflection.
Materials
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review Personal Finance Slides content and adjust any examples for your students’ context
- Print enough copies of Expense Tracker Workbook and Financial Plan Rubric
- Prepare sets of role cards for groups (Leader, Recorder, Presenter, Timekeeper)
- Familiarize yourself with the rules and prompts of the Budget Simulation Activity
Step 1
Introduction and Hook
10 minutes
- Greet students and briefly explain the real-world importance of budgeting
- Display Personal Finance Slides slides 1–3: key terms (income, expenses, savings)
- Ask: “What financial choices have you already made? Why?” to activate prior knowledge
Step 2
Concept Presentation
15 minutes
- Use Personal Finance Slides slides 4–10 to walk through creating a basic budget
- Model sample budget calculation on slide 7
- Check for understanding with quick think-pair-share prompts: identify fixed vs. variable expenses
Step 3
Group Setup & Simulation Brief
5 minutes
- Divide class into small groups of four; assign each member a role (Leader, Recorder, Presenter, Timekeeper)
- Hand out scenario cards and explain the rules of the Budget Simulation Activity
- Distribute Expense Tracker Workbook to each student
Step 4
Budget Simulation Activity
25 minutes
- Groups work through their assigned monthly scenario, allocating income to expenses, savings, and discretionary spending
- Recorder records decisions and calculations in the workbook
- Teacher circulates, asks probing questions: “What trade-offs are you making? Why?”
Step 5
Group Presentations & Reflection
15 minutes
- Each group’s Presenter shares their budget highlights and challenges (2 minutes per group)
- Distribute Financial Plan Rubric and conduct peer-feedback using rubric criteria
- Close with whole-class reflection: “What surprised you about your priorities?”
Slide Deck
Welcome to Money Moves
In this module, we’ll learn key financial terms and how to build a realistic monthly budget. You’ll practice with scenarios and collaborate in small groups.
Welcome students and introduce the lesson. Emphasize real-world relevance of budgeting and financial planning.
Key Term: Income
• Income is the money you earn or receive (e.g., salary, wages, tips, allowances).
• Types: Fixed income (regular paychecks) vs. variable income (commissions, freelance).
Define income clearly. Ask students to share examples of income sources they know.
Key Terms: Expenses & Savings
• Expenses: Money you spend (fixed and variable).
• Savings: Money you set aside for future goals or emergencies.
Explain expenses vs. savings. Prompt students: Which expense do you think takes up most of a household budget?
Why Budget?
• Track where your money goes
• Plan for savings goals (e.g., emergency fund, big purchase)
• Avoid overspending and debt
• Make informed financial choices
Discuss why budgeting matters: helps reach goals and avoid debt. Relate to students’ future plans: college, travel.
Components of a Budget
Budget formula: Income = Expenses + Savings
Category examples:
• Fixed expenses: rent, insurance
• Variable expenses: food, entertainment
Introduce the basic budget equation and categories.
Fixed vs. Variable Expenses
Fixed Expenses:
• Rent/mortgage
• Car payment
Variable Expenses:
• Groceries
• Streaming services
• Dining out
Use this slide to lead a quick think-pair activity. Give students 1–2 minutes to discuss.
Sample Budget Scenario
Monthly income: $2,000
Fixed expenses:
• Rent $800
• Utilities $150
Variable expenses (estimate):
• Groceries $200
• Entertainment $100
Present the sample scenario. Walk through the numbers before diving into calculation slide.
Calculating Your Budget
- List total income: $2,000
- Subtract fixed expenses: $2,000 – ($800 + $150) = $1,050
- Subtract variable expenses: $1,050 – ($200 + $100) = $750
- Decide on savings amount (e.g., $300) and adjust spending
Demonstrate each calculation step clearly. Write on board or annotate slide.
Quick Practice: Think-Pair-Share
Scenario: Income $1,800, fixed $700, utilities $100, groceries estimate $250.
Question: Identify fixed vs. variable and calculate remaining balance.
Explain the prompt, then give students 3 minutes to discuss in pairs. Encourage quick sharing.
Summary & Next Steps
• Budgeting balances income, expenses, and savings
• Track spending and adjust categories
• Ready to apply skills in our Budget Simulation Activity
Summarize key takeaways and prepare students for the group simulation.
Activity
Budget Simulation Activity
Overview: In this simulation, student groups manage a realistic monthly budget based on an assigned scenario. They allocate income across fixed expenses, variable expenses, savings, and discretionary spending, then reflect on their financial decisions.
Roles & Responsibilities (1 per student)
- Leader: Keeps the group on task, facilitates discussion, and ensures deadlines are met.
- Recorder: Records all budget decisions, calculations, and notes in the Expense Tracker Workbook.
- Presenter: Prepares the group’s summary and shares budget highlights and reflections with the class.
- Timekeeper: Monitors time, gives group reminders at key intervals.
Materials
- Expense Tracker Workbook
- Scenario Cards (one per group)
Scenarios (one per group)
- Scenario 1: Monthly income: $2,500; rent $900; utilities $200; transport $150; groceries est. $300; entertainment est. $150; savings goal $400.
- Scenario 2: Monthly income: $3,200; rent $1,200; utilities $250; car payment $300; groceries est. $350; entertainment est. $200; savings goal $500.
- Scenario 3: Monthly income: $1,800; rent $700; utilities $150; phone bill $60; groceries est. $250; entertainment est. $100; savings goal $250.
- Scenario 4: Monthly income: $2,200; rent $850; utilities $180; insurance $120; groceries est. $280; entertainment est. $120; savings goal $350.
Step-by-Step Instructions (25 minutes)
- Group Setup (2 min): Confirm roles. Distribute one scenario card and one Expense Tracker Workbook per student.
- Scenario Review (3 min): Leader reads the scenario aloud. Group discusses initial reactions and sets priorities.
- Budget Allocation (15 min): Use the workbook to allocate income to fixed expenses first. Then assign amounts for variable expenses, designate savings, and decide any discretionary spending.
- Reflection & Adjustments (3 min): Discuss: Are you meeting the savings goal? What trade-offs did you make? Adjust allocations if needed.
- Prepare Presentation (2 min): Recorder summarizes key decisions and challenges for Presenter to share.
Guiding Questions for Teacher
- What fixed expenses are non-negotiable? How did you prioritize variable expenses?
- If your scenario has a shortfall, which expenses could you reduce?
- How did you decide on your savings amount? Did you meet your savings goal?
Debrief: After presentations, lead a brief discussion on varied priorities and the importance of adjusting budgets to meet goals.
Worksheet
Expense Tracker Workbook
Group & Personal Information
Name: _______________________ Role: _______________________ Scenario #: _______________
1. Scenario Summary
In your own words, briefly describe your assigned scenario (income and key expenses):
2. Income
Total Monthly Income: $ ___________________
3. Expenses
3a. Fixed Expenses
| Expense Type | Amount ($) |
|---|---|
| Rent / Mortgage | _________________ |
| Utilities | _________________ |
| Insurance / Car Payment | _________________ |
| Other (specify) | _________________ |
| Total Fixed Expenses | ________________ |
(add more rows if needed)
3b. Variable Expenses
| Expense Type | Estimated Amount ($) |
|---|---|
| Groceries | ____________________ |
| Entertainment | ____________________ |
| Transportation | ____________________ |
| Discretionary (specify) | ____________________ |
| Total Variable Expenses | ________________ |
(add more rows if needed)
4. Budget Calculations
- Income – Total Fixed Expenses = $ ___________________
- Result – Total Variable Expenses = $ ___________________
- Amount Allocated to Savings = $ ___________________
- Remaining Discretionary Funds = $ ___________________
5. Reflection & Trade-Offs
- Did your group meet the savings goal? Explain why or why not:
- What was the biggest trade-off your group made? Why?
- If you needed to adjust one expense category, which would it be and why?
- What surprised you most about balancing this budget?
Rubric
Financial Plan Rubric
This rubric assesses each group’s budget plan across five key dimensions. Score each criterion from 1–4.
| Criteria | 4 – Excellent | 3 – Proficient | 2 – Developing | 1 – Beginning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accuracy of Calculations | All computations are correct; totals for fixed, variable, savings, and discretionary funds are precise. | Most calculations are correct; minor arithmetic errors do not affect the overall budget outcome. | Several calculation errors; budget still roughly balances but with noticeable mistakes. | Many errors; budget totals are incorrect, making the plan unreliable. |
| Budget Completeness | All required categories (income, fixed & variable expenses, savings, discretionary) are clearly itemized and totaled. | One category is incomplete or missing a minor element. | Two categories are incomplete or lack sufficient detail. | Multiple categories are missing or lack any detail. |
| Justification of Financial Choices | Provides thorough, well‐reasoned explanations for every major allocation and trade‐off, citing scenarios and group priorities. | Explains most allocations and trade‐offs with clear reasoning; a couple of choices lack detail. | Offers limited or general explanations for choices; key trade‐offs are not fully justified. | Little to no explanation of how or why financial decisions were made. |
| Presentation Clarity | Information is organized, visually clear, and engaging. Presenter speaks confidently, addresses questions, and highlights key insights. | Presentation is organized and clear; minor lapses in delivery but overall easy to follow. | Some organizational or clarity issues; presentation is partially confusing or lacks smooth delivery. | Disorganized or unclear; difficult to understand budget rationale or results. |
| Collaboration & Participation | All members contribute actively; roles are fulfilled effectively; group demonstrates strong teamwork and equitable participation. | Most members participate and fulfill roles; minor unevenness but group functions well. | Participation is uneven; one or two members dominate or withdraw; some role responsibilities are unmet. | Little to no collaboration; roles are ignored; major portions of the task are left incomplete or done by one person. |
Scoring Guide:
- 16–20 points: Exceptional financial plan demonstrating deep understanding and teamwork.
- 11–15 points: Solid plan with minor areas for improvement.
- 6–10 points: Emerging skills; several areas need refinement.
- 1–5 points: Significant support required to meet objectives.