Money skills and financial literacy activities for teens

Teens learn money best when they handle the paperwork adults actually deal with. These resources put pay stubs, bank statements, grocery ads, apartment listings, car loans and W-2s in front of students and ask them to make real decisions with real constraints.

Start with needs and wants and a first budget, move on to paychecks and deductions, then banking, credit and saving. Projects such as renting an apartment, buying a car or running a holiday dinner on a budget pull it all together. They work in personal finance, consumer math, FACS, advisory and special education classrooms.

Bundles

Financial Literacy Bundle cover Save 27% Financial Literacy Bundle Grades 6–12, 12 resources Holiday Budget Projects Bundle cover Save 25% Holiday Budget Projects Bundle Grades 6–12, 3 resources

21 resources

Thanksgiving Dinner on a Budget cover Thanksgiving Dinner on a Budget Grades 6–10 Holiday Shopping on a Budget cover Holiday Shopping on a Budget Grades 6–10 Budgeting Activities for High School cover Budgeting Activities for High School Grades 8–12 Understanding a Paycheck cover Understanding a Paycheck Grades 8–12 Credit Score Activities cover Credit Score Activities Grades 9–12 Banking Basics Worksheets cover Banking Basics Worksheets Grades 7–12 Compound Interest Activities cover Compound Interest Activities Grades 8–12 Renting an Apartment Project cover Renting an Apartment Project Grades 9–12 Buying a Car Project cover Buying a Car Project Grades 9–12 Taxes for Teens cover Taxes for Teens Grades 9–12 Scams & Identity Theft Lesson cover Scams & Identity Theft Lesson Grades 7–12 Financial Literacy Escape Room cover Financial Literacy Escape Room Grades 7–12 Needs vs Wants Sort cover Free Needs vs Wants Sort Grades 6–12 Pay Stub Worksheet cover Free Pay Stub Worksheet Grades 8–12 Halloween Party on a Budget cover Halloween Party on a Budget Grades 6–12 Stock Market Simulation cover Stock Market Simulation Grades 9–12 Paycheck to Payday cover Paycheck to Payday Grades 8–12 Paying Bills Life Skills cover Paying Bills Life Skills Grades 8–12 + transition Consumer Math Deal Detectives cover Consumer Math Deal Detectives Grades 7–12 Reading Receipts & Returns cover Reading Receipts & Returns Grades 6–12 + transition Phone Plans & Subscriptions cover Phone Plans & Subscriptions Grades 8–12

Teaching ideas

Other topics

Life skills and special educationExecutive functioningSEL and behaviorCareer readinessDigital life and AI literacySpanish 1Escape roomsSeasonal and holidays