JA Ourselves®
JA Ourselves introduces kindergarten students to the intersection of financial literacy and early elementary grades social studies learning objectives. Through hands-on activities, the program provides students with an introduction to personal economics and the choices consumers make to meet their needs and wants. It also introduces students to the role of money in society while providing them with practical information about earning, saving, and sharing money. There are five 30-minute sessions, with additional extended learning activities offered throughout.
Session One: This or That? Make a Choice
The students practice economics by making personal choices with the help of This or That? Picture Cards. Students practice writing a sentence about a choice they make in their Junior Journal minibooks.
The students will be able to:
- Identify personal interests.
- Consider the factors that determine their choices.
- Define money.
Session Two: Do I Need What I Want?
The students recognize that people have basic needs and wants and that money – smart people know the difference between them. Students participate in an eye-spy activity to find need and want items on a poster.
The students will be able to:
- Explain the difference between needs and wants.
- Create a simple chart.
Session Three: A Penny Earned
The students are introduced to storybook characters and examine ways they can earn money. Through listening to the story, Welcome Home!, students learn about ways they can earn money.
The students will be able to:
- Describe the role of money in society.
- Identify jobs they can do to earn money.
Session Four: A Penny Saved
The students are introduced to the concept of saving. Students perform finger plays that help them remember to save.
The students will be able to:
- Explain the importance of saving money.
- Identify a savings goal.
- Identify a place where people save money.
Session Five: A Penny Shared
The students are introduced to storybook characters and their plans to earn money for a worthy cause. After listening to the story, Charlie Plants a Garden, students organize story cards sequentially in their minibooks.
The students will be able to:
- Explain the importance of giving.
- Organize a chronological sequence of events.