JA Our City®
JA Our City introduces students to the intersection of financial literacy and third-grade social studies learning objectives, including the characteristics of cities and how people and businesses in cities manage their money. JA Our City consists of five 45 minute volunteer led sessions.
Following participation in the program, students will be able to provide practical information about the zones found within a city and examine the importance of money to a city. Additionally, they will be able to describe the contributions of financial institutions to a city and how they help businesses and people achieve their economic goals.
Session One: Our City: A Place Where People Live, Work, and Play
Students identify the different zones used in city planning and apply the information to organize businesses.
The students will be able to:
- Identify the zones found within a city.
- Describe the goods and services provided by businesses.
- Match local businesses to specific city zones.
Session Two: Our City: A Place Where People Spend Money
Students examine the importance of money to a city and how people use different methods to pay for goods and services.
The students will be able to:
- Explain the importance of money in a city, including the role of taxes.
- Understand the differences between needs and wants.
- Examine the different ways that people pay for goods and services.
Session Three: Our City: A Place Where People Bank
Students see the contributions of financial institutions to a city and how those institutions help businesses and people achieve their economic goals.
The students will be able to:
- Summarize the contributions of financial institutions to a city.
- Manage a personal bank account.
Session Four: Our City: A Place Where People Dine
Students learn the role of an entrepreneur by exploring the process involved in starting one type of business: a restaurant. They learn how businesses promote a healthy economy within a city.
The students will be able to:
- Define consumer, producer, and entrepreneur.
- Explore the role of a business owner by operating a business.
- Apply money management strategies to a business account.
Session Five: Our City: A Place Where People Communicate
The students learn the importance of news media to the financial well-being of a city.
The students will be able to:
- Explain the role of the news media in a city.
- Describe how news is delivered in various formats, including print, electronic, and human sources.
- Recognize the importance of the news media and technology in a community.