Earning Money

1. To introduce the idea of earning money

2. To connect our skills or passions to jobs that we can do now and in the future

Subject Area

Social Studies (2), Math (4-5), Science (3), English Language Arts (K-12), Foods and Nutrition (5-8), Clothing and Textiles (5-8)

Why do we need to earn money?
What are the two ways that you can make money? (By selling a product or a service)
What are some of your main interests, skills, activities and hobbies? What are you good at doing? What do you enjoy doing?
Are there any ways you can think of to earn money right now?
How could you use your interests, skills, characteristics or hobbies to earn money right now?
How might you be able to use your interests, skills, traits or hobbies to earn money when you are grown up?

100 + 1 Ways to Make Money

Length: 45 minutes
Materials: 100 + 1 Ways to Make Money Handout, flip chart paper and markers

Brainstorm all the skills or traits that students possess and the hobbies or activities in which they are involved that could translate into a money-making venture.
Encourage them to think about what careers might match these skills using the 100 + 1 Ways to Make Money Handout.
Have the class decide on a fundraising activity to work on together. (Bake sale, garage sale, special class activity, etc.) Determine all the different tasks/committees that will be required to make the fundraiser work.
Students should self-select a committee that they would like to work on based on their knowledge and skills identified on the handout.
Once the plan is in place, let the students carry it out.

Extension

Service

Have students ask their neighbours or close family friends to list three things that they don't have time to do around the house, but would be willing to pay someone to do. Combine their findings and see if you can come up with ideas for how they might turn these tasks into opportunities to earn money.

Product

What is the biggest fad at your school right now? Think of a product that relates to it. Is it something that students could make themselves?What would it cost to make and how much would they sell it for?

Collaborative Feedback

Encourage the students to write all the services or products identified in the extension section on a large piece of paper. Challenge them to see if they can come up with a list of 20 different services or products that they could sell to their neighbours.

Offering aptitude tests or bringing in a small business owner or entrepreneur to your class as a guest speaker may be helpful for students who are having difficulty identifying their interests. The entire class could benefit from these.

Pre- and Post-Assessment of Lesson

What do you know about the connection between your life passions and your ability to make money?
What did you learn about the connection between your life passions and your ability to make money?