Lincoln Students Practice Financial Literacy with Hands-On Learning

Lincoln Center 2nd and 3rd graders got hands-on financial learning with the help of the nonprofit, Junior Achievement North (JA North). JA North teaches students financial literacy by bringing in volunteers from corporate partners to lead and facilitate different hands-on activities:

• Citizenship- What it means to vote and pay taxes. They learn about the people who work in their communities and the money decisions they make. They also discuss the importance of being an involved and responsible citizen.
• Earn, Save, Spend, and Donate- The students learn about money, the importance of saving and giving, the value of work, and how their individual choices play a role in that.
• Entrepreneurship- 3rd grade classes worked through the development of a restaurant. They worked in groups with each person having a different role: Chef, Manager, Marketer, and Accountant. They learn a practical approach to starting a business and making smart decisions about managing the money.
• Production- 2nd grade classes learned about the process of production. They worked in teams to make as many fake donuts as possible in three minutes. Afterward they discussed the challenges they faced and what they could do differently next time.

JA North lessons correlated with Minnesota state education standards. They use what students are learning in the classroom and add in the real-life concepts around financial stability, career readiness, and igniting the entrepreneurial mindset.