What’s going on in room B5 this week? We are learning about Financial Literacy.
My students have the privilege attending Biztown this year. Biztown is a simulation of a town with 21 businesses. Students work in a business from food server to CEO. They have to perform their work duties, visit the bank, and spend money at other establishments. There are even town hall meetings.
Before we go on the field trip, I have to teach financial literacy and do business preparations. This week I will be teaching financial literacy. Students have to learn about the bank system, writing checks, and balancing a checkbook. In all my years of teaching, I find financial literacy one of the most important concepts I have ever taught.
The day I teach how to fill out a check, I always pull out my checkbook and write a check to one of my students for $1,000,000. The kids get such a kick out of it. Of course, I void the check when talking about insufficient funds. A few years ago I bought new decorative checks and I got a Disney design because I knew each year I would be writing a check to a student. I mean, how many checks do I really write these days anyway?
Balancing a checkbook is always a little challenging, not so much the math, but where to record the deposits and spending. It is because students have no background knowledge when it comes to filling out the register. But I always make it through and students are able to keep track of their money on the day of the field trip.
There are so many cool jobs students get to do. Here is one of my past students who was a cameraman at the news station which is broadcast throughout all the businesses.
Students can visit Kaiser Permanente and get a check up from the doctor, too.
This construction worker helped build this bench which the school got to take home. How awesome is that?
This field trip is one of our best of the year. Of course, it is the parents who volunteer which makes it go off without a hitch. I do about 3 – 4 weeks of prep with the kids, but on the day, the parents are the ones who work hand-in-hand with the kids in each business. I am very lucky to have parents who volunteer!
Well, thanks for stopping by and seeing what room B5 is up to this week.
Come check out next week when I will be discussing the way I organize work and record grades. I will also have a freebie for you to download.
Karen