Lesson Plan
Investment IQ Blueprint
Students will explore basic investing concepts—understanding the difference between saving and investing—and set a personal investment goal through interactive activities.
Financial literacy in upper elementary builds confidence and decision-making; students learn how investing can help grow money over time and develop healthy money habits.
Audience
5th Grade
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Hands-on activities and guided discussions
Materials
Money Moves Slides, Savings or Spending? Quick Poll, Stock Sticker Match-Up, Why Invest? Table Talk, My Investment Goal Journal, Projector and Screen, Sticky Notes, Colored Pencils, and Company Logo Stickers
Prep
Review and Setup
10 minutes
- Review the flow and content of Money Moves Slides.
- Print and cut all student handouts: Savings or Spending? Quick Poll, Stock Sticker Match-Up, and My Investment Goal Journal.
- Prepare tables with Company Logo Stickers and colored pencils.
- Ensure the projector, screen, and any polling tech are working properly.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Savings or Spending? Quick Poll
5 minutes
- Project slide 2 from Money Moves Slides.
- Ask students to indicate thumbs-up if they’d save money or thumbs-down if they’d spend on each scenario.
- Briefly discuss how saving puts money aside and introduce the idea of investing to grow savings.
Step 2
Introduction to Investing
5 minutes
- Show key definitions on Money Moves Slides: "Saving" vs. "Investing."
- Ask: “What does it mean to invest?” and invite examples.
- Integrative Question: Which math skills (fractions, percentages) help measure investment growth?
Step 3
Activity: Stock Sticker Match-Up
10 minutes
- Distribute Stock Sticker Match-Up sheets and company logo stickers.
- In pairs, students match each logo to a simple performance graph.
- Circulate and prompt: “Why might this stock go up or down?”
- Differentiation: provide picture hints for ELL learners; challenge advanced pairs to predict future trends.
Step 4
Discussion: Why Invest? Table Talk
10 minutes
- In small groups, use prompts from Why Invest? Table Talk.
- Sample prompt: “Why might someone choose to invest instead of only saving?”
- Students record 2–3 group ideas and share out.
- Integrate reading skills: identify key arguments and summarize aloud.
Step 5
Cool-Down: My Investment Goal Journal
10 minutes
- Hand out My Investment Goal Journal.
- Students write/draw: What would you like to invest in? Why? What is your time horizon?
- Encourage use of complete sentences and simple calculations if estimating growth.
Step 6
Wrap-Up & Exit Ticket
5 minutes
- Recap: key differences between saving and investing, and the purpose of investing.
- Invite 1–2 volunteers to share their journal goal.
- Exit Ticket: On a sticky note, write one new thing you learned about investing and stick it on the board.
Slide Deck
Money Moves: Saving vs Investing
Today we’ll learn the difference between saving and investing, and how each can help our money grow.
Welcome the class and introduce today’s lesson. Mention that we'll explore how saving and investing can help money grow. Encourage excitement.
Savings or Spending? Quick Poll
For each scenario, thumbs-up to save or thumbs-down to spend:
• You get $10 for your birthday.
• You find $5 on the sidewalk.
• You want the latest video game ($60).
• You need new school supplies ($15).
• You’re saving for a class trip ($30).
Project this slide for the Warm-Up. Read each scenario aloud and have students give thumbs-up if they’d save money or thumbs-down if they’d spend. After each, briefly note how saving sets money aside.
Key Definitions
Saving: Putting money aside safely for future use.
Investing: Using money to buy assets (stocks, bonds) that may grow in value over time.
Define key terms and ask students to share examples. Highlight how investing can grow money beyond just saving it.
Stock Performance Graphs
Graph A: Steady upward trend over time
Graph B: Fluctuating up and down
Graph C: Mostly flat, little change
Graph D: Sharp drop then recovery
Introduce the upcoming activity. Explain that in pairs they will match company logos to these performance graphs. Point out the different patterns: steady rise, fluctuations, flat, etc.
Why Invest? Discussion Prompts
• Why might someone choose to invest instead of only saving?
• How can investing help money grow faster?
• What are risks of investing?
• When might saving be better than investing?
Divide students into small groups. Display these prompts and guide discussion. Encourage students to record 2–3 reasons per prompt before sharing.
My Investment Goal Journal
- What would you like to invest in?
- Why did you choose this?
- What is your time horizon?
(Draw or write, and estimate how your money could grow.)
Explain the journal handout. Guide students to write or draw their own investment goal, reasons, and time frame. Emphasize clear sentences and simple calculations.
Warm Up
Savings or Spending? Quick Poll
For each scenario below, circle “Save” if you’d put the money aside, or “Spend” if you’d use it right away.
- You get $10 for your birthday.
Save Spend - You find $5 on the sidewalk.
Save Spend - You want the latest video game that costs $60.
Save Spend - You need new school supplies costing $15.
Save Spend - You’re saving for a class trip that costs $30.
Save Spend
Discussion: After students complete the poll, ask:
- Which scenarios did you choose to save for? Why?
- How does saving help you reach goals?
- Introduce the idea that investing is another way to help money grow over time.
Activity
Stock Sticker Match-Up
Directions: Use your company logo stickers and match each company to the correct stock performance graph (A–D) from the board. Place the sticker next to the matching graph letter below. Then explain why that graph fits the company’s trend.
- TechCo (technology company)
Graph: ____
Reason for match:
- SnackCorp (snack food company)
Graph: ____
Reason for match:
- RetailMart (retail store)
Graph: ____
Reason for match:
- EcoEnergy (renewable energy company)
Graph: ____
Reason for match:
Discussion Questions:
- What kinds of events could cause a company’s stock to have a steady upward trend?
- What might make a stock price fluctuate frequently?
- Why might an investor buy when a stock price dips before it recovers?
Discussion
Why Invest? Table Talk
Time: 10 minutes
Group Size: 3–4 students per table
Materials: Sticky notes or chart paper, colored pencils
Directions:
- At your table, assign roles: one note-taker, one discussion leader, one reporter, and one time-keeper (if you have four students).
- Read each prompt aloud, then discuss as a group. The note-taker writes down 2–3 key ideas for each question.
- After 7 minutes, the reporter will share your group’s ideas with the class.
Discussion Prompts
- Why might someone choose to invest instead of only saving?
- How can investing help money grow faster than saving?
- What are risks someone should consider before investing?
- When might saving be a better choice than investing?
Teacher Follow-Up Questions & Prompts
- Can you give a real-life example of when investing paid off?
- How do things like interest, company performance, or market events affect growth?
- What math skills (like percentages or fractions) help you understand gains and losses?
- Did any group come up with a surprising risk or benefit?
After sharing, highlight:
- Key motivators for investing (growth potential, beating inflation)
- Common risks (market ups and downs, possible loss)
- Situations where saving is safer (short-term goals, emergency money)
Next Step: Use insights from this discussion when you complete My Investment Goal Journal.
Cool Down
My Investment Goal Journal
Name: ____________________ Date: ________________
- What would you like to invest in? (Describe or draw your chosen investment.)
- Why did you choose this investment? List two reasons:
- What is your time horizon? (How long will you wait before expecting growth?)
- Estimate the growth: If you invest $______ today, how much do you think you will have after ______ (years)? Show your simple calculation: