JA MORE THAN MONEY®

JA More than Money will meet the needs of a diverse group of students by providing engaging, academically enriching, and experiential learning sessions in economic education. The program encompasses economics and business curriculum in a series of six 60 minute after-school volunteer-led activities recommended for students in third through fifth grades.

Following participation in the program, student will be able to build on their understanding of money basics, apply that understanding to their daily lives, and recognize the significance of money management in making informed life decisions.

SESSION ONE: MONEY IN THE BANK

Students learn to manage a bank account. They play the Community Game to reinforce their money-management skills and to better understand the role and importance of money in their lives.

The students will be able to:

  • Identify the role of money in everyday life.
  • Explain the benefits of a personal banking account.
  • Practice making sound financial choices.
  • Manage a personal bank account by making deposits and withdrawals.

SESSION TWO: A SENSE OF WORTH

Students identify businesses they can start or jobs they can perform to earn money. Activities focus on developing a positive work ethic. Students continue playing the Community Game to further understand the role of money in their lives.

The students will be able to:

  • Distinguish between working for someone and self-employment.
  • Identify ways to earn income through jobs or a small business.
  • Identify several characteristics of a positive work ethic.
  • Practice personal money-management skills through business and ethical decision-making.

SESSION THREE: BALANCING ACT

Students identify personal skills and interests, and connect them with possible business opportunities. In groups, they learn about market research and play the final round of the Community Game.

The students will be able to:

  • Match personal skills with jobs and self-employment
  • Understand market research
  • Identify ways to share, save, and spend personal income

SESSION FOUR: BUILDING A BUSINESS

Students explore their job skills and the types of businesses in which they are interested. They identify the basic steps for starting and operating a small business. Using this information, students develop a business plan.

The students will:

  • Define the basic steps in planning and starting a business.
  • Calculate operating expenses and income for a small business.
  • Develop a basic business plan based on their job skills and interests.

SESSION FIVE: GET SMART

Students continue to practice saving
and spending as business teams. The concept of making SMART consumer decisions is introduced through role-playing. Students work as teams to play Round One of the Business Game.

The students will:

  • Identify differences between personal and business spending.
  • Manage money by making SMART business and consumer decisions.
  • Apply problem solving steps needed to own and operate a small business.
  • Practice using the SMART system to make consumer decisions.

SESSION SIX: WHAT’S THE CATCH?

During the final session, students learn to recognize deceptive advertising and the importance of ethical business practices. Continuing to work as business teams, students conclude the program by playing Round Two of the Business Game.

The students will:

  • Recognize deceptive advertising.
  • Apply money-management skills in a simulated business.
  • Apply the steps necessary to own and operate a small business.
  • Promote business through advertising.
  • Practice making sound financial choices.

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What makes JA programs so impactful for our students? They are taught by volunteer mentors from local businesses in the community. People just like YOU! It takes more than 9,500 volunteer mentors to teach our 170,000+ Arizona students each year.

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