Middle School Learning
Please enjoy these free resources for the learners in your life, no matter where they are learning. Be sure to bookmark this page and check back often for new/updated content.
Have ideas on other resources you’d like to see added? Send us a note.
FULL JA PROGRAMS ONLINE
EDUCATORS AND PARENTS CAN NOW PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH COMPLETE JA PROGRAMS ONLINE! ACCESS VIDEOS AND ACTIVITIES FOR GRADES 6-8 SO STUDENTS DON’T HAVE TO MISS OUT ON VALUABLE LESSONS RELATED TO WORK READINESS, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
JA INSPIRE
JA Inspire is JA’s premier virtual career exploration program for middle and high school students! Students can explore career options, network with local Arizona employers, participate in a virtual scavenger hunt, and more in this exciting interactive experience!
Middle School Lesson Plans
We have a variety of lessons plans for at-home learning that are geared toward career readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. Have ideas on other resources you’d like to see added? Send us a line.
DAY 1: ASSEMBLE YOUR CAREER
LESSON 1 – MATCH ME TO THE PERFECT CAREER
See what careers match your interests! Take 5 minutes to complete the online Interest Assessment quiz and then explore potential careers.
- Category: Career Exploration
- Type: Online Quiz
- Time: 20 minutes
LESSON 2 – EXPLORE HIGH-DEMAND STEM CAREERS
Learn about STEM careers and ways to prepare for these careers while still in school.
*Select the speaker button on the bottom left of the screen to turn on the sound!
- Category: Career Exploration
- Type: Online App
- Time: 20 minutes
LESSON 3 – RESEARCH YOUR DREAM JOB!
Are you curious about the salary, demand, and education requirements of the careers you are interested in? Explore the answers here!
- Category: Career Exploration
- Type: Reading
- Time: 10 minutes
LESSON 4 – JA GLOBAL WORKFORCE
Are you curious about the salary, demand, and education requirements of the careers you are interested in? Explore the answers here!
- Category: Career Exploration
- Type: Activity
- Time: 15 minutes
DAY 2: BUDGETS, PRICING, AND SAVING
LESSON 1 – JA NEXT LEVEL STUDENT BUDGET
Learn how to create a budget and track your saving and spending.
- Category: Financial Literacy
- Type: Printable Worksheet and Excel Sheet
- Time: 20 minutes
LESSON 2 – JA HISTORY OF PRICES
Why is all the toilet paper disappearing off the shelves? Find out how people’s needs and desires affect the pricing of goods.
- Category: Financial Literacy & Money Management
- Type: Reading and Activity
- Time: 25 minutes
LESSON 3 – JA INTEREST IN YOUR FAVOR
Discover how investing in an interest-bearing savings account can help you buy big-ticket items.
- Category: Financial Literacy
- Type: Activity Worksheet
- Time: 15 minutes
LESSON 4 – MAKING CENTS: MONEY DOUBLES BY THE RULE OF 72
Learn how the power of compound interest can help you to earn significant money in the future!
- Category: Financial Literacy
- Type: Activity and Video
- Time: Activity (10 mins), Video (45 seconds)
DAY 3: ENTREPRENEURS – BE YOUR OWN BOSS
LESSON 1 – JA ROBO SELLERS VIDEO FLYER
*DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS HERE
Be an entrepreneur and start your own robot business as a robot merchant. Try to make a tidy profit as you fly your ship through the universe collecting and selling robot parts.
- Category: Entrepreneurship
- Type: Video Game
- Time: 20 minutes
LESSON 2 – JA VIDEO LIBRARY
Select 2-3 young entrepreneur videos that interest you. Watch and listen to their stories and advice and hear why it’s cool to run a business.
- Category: Entrepreneurship
- Type: Videos (3-4 minutes each)
- Time: 15 minutes
DAY 4: CAREER QUEST!
LESSON 1 – MATCH YOUR PERSONALITY WITH POTENTIAL CAREERS
Keep your career goals on track. Take a personality test to learn about your personality and then explore career fields that match your personality.
- Category: Career Exploration
- Type: Interactive Online Module – Activities and Short Video
- Time: 20 minutes
LESSON 2 – JA SELF-KNOWLEDGE TREASURE HUNT
Skills, interests, and values help you focus in on what kids of jobs and careers you might like. Do you know yours?
- Category: Career Exploration
- Type: Reading and Activity
- Time: 20 minutes
DAY 5: MAKE SMART FINANCIAL DECISIONS
LESSON 1 – JA $AVE: DO YOU HAVE A GREAT IDEA?
Do you have a great idea that you think other people would like, too? You can start a business!
- Category: Financial Literacy/Entrepreneurship
- Type: Brainstorming Activity
- Time: 10 minutes
LESSON 2 – MAKING CENTS: FINANCIAL LITERACY VIDEOS FOR TEENS
Watch these five short 45-second videos: Credit Score, Long-Term Investing, Buying a Car, Writing a Check, and Social Media to learn more about money.
- Category: Financial Literacy
- Type: Videos
- Time: 7 minutes
LESSON 3 – JA $AVE: PLANNING FOR COLLEGE
Let’s explore how to analyze tuition costs and factors that should be considered.
- Category: Financial Literacy
- Type: Reading and Activity
- Time: 25 minutes
LESSON 4 – YOU AND YOUR MONEY
Money is fun to get and spend. Learn how to start saving and how to boost your earning power.
- Category: Financial Literacy
- Type: Online Free Course
- Time: 15 minutes
ACTIVITIES
Have ideas on other resources you’d like to see added? Send us a line.
FINANCIAL LITERACY & MONEY MANAGEMENT
JA Current Economic Climate: Proactive Planning (Activity) – Parent or teacher-led: Understand the current economic climate
JA History of Prices (Reading and Activity) – Find out how people’s needs affect the pricing of goods
JA Next Level Student Budgeting (Activity) – Practice budgeting by tracking your spending and unexpected expenses during a vacation
JA $ave: Do You Have a Great Idea? (Activity) – Do you have a great idea? You could start a business!
JA $ave: Planning for College (Activity) – Explore how to analyze and pay for college tuition
JA Searching for Savings (Activity) – Parent or teacher-led: Teaches kids how to save money using coupons
JA Why Countries Trade (Online Activity) – Discover which countries specialize in export products and how to use them to create a product of your own
Discovery Education: Money Matters (Videos) – Make your dreams come true with smart planning and managing your money
Financial Literacy Resources (Reading and Activities) – Parent or teacher-led: Lessons to teach kids about financial literacy
Hands On Banking (Free Online Courses) – Learn how to start saving and boost your earning power to reach your goals and dreams
How to help your middle schooler set a savings goal (Reading) – Guide students through the basics of spending and saving
IRS.gov Understanding Taxes Lessons (Activities and Games) – Interested in uncovering the mysteries behind taxes?
It’s a Money Thing (Videos) – Explore videos on good vs. bad spending, tuition, job interviews, checking accounts, and more!
Making Cents: Financial Literacy for Young Learners (Videos) – Watch these 5 short 45-second videos: Credit Score, Long-Term Investing, Buying a Car, Writing a Check, and Social Media to learn more about money
Money As You Grow (Reading) – Learn how to grow your child’s money skills, habits, and attitudes!
Teaching kids about money at home (Reading) – Parent tips on how to discuss money with your kids
U.S. Mint h.i.p Pocket Change (Games and Videos) – Learn all about U.S. coins: how they are made, their history, and coins in outer space!
CAREER EXPLORATION
JA Assembling Your Career (Online App) – Learn about STEM careers and ways to prepare for them while still in school
JA Global Workforce (Activity) – Have you ever thought about being part of the global workforce and working in another country? Here’s what you need to know!
JA Inspire (Interactive Experience) – Explore careers, network with Arizona employers, and attend panel discussions in JA’s premier virtual career exploration fair!
JA My Way (Interactive Online Activities) – Keep your career goals on track through learning about your personality, career options, resumes saving for college, and more!
JA STEMBOT (Interactive Game) – Learn about STEM careers and practice STEM skills while solving puzzles and playing games
Career Exploration (Videos, Games Activities) – Explore different careers by completing games and puzzles
Career Exploration Videos (Videos) – Watch and learn about interesting careers
Match Me to the Perfect Career (Online Quiz) – A 5-minute quiz to see which careers match your interests
WORK READINESS
JA MyBiz Builder (Online App) – Interactive business plan builder to research, plan and run your own business
BizKid$ Starting Your Own Business Interactive Games (Games, Online Courses, Videos) – An engaging course for kids to learn the secrets of millionaires at their own pace
ENTREPRENEUR INSPIRATION
JA Excellence Through Ethics: Ethical Customer Service and Being an Ethical Customer (Reading and Activity) – Parent or teacher-led: Examine advertising scenarios to determine if they are ethical
JA Excellence Through Ethics: Get the Word Out (Reading and Activity) – Parent or teacher-led: Creating a successful product means balancing profit and customer satisfaction
JA Robo Sellers Video Flyer (Game) – Start your own robot business, become a robot merchant, and make a tidy profit!
JA Video Library (Videos) – Watch young entrepreneurs share their stories, advice and discuss why it’s cool to run a business
MISCELLANEOUS
Coding for Students (Online Course) – Learn fundamentals of computer science with drag-and-drop blocks and creating your own drawings and games