Financial Literacy Curriculum

Module 1: Introduction to Money

(Prepared and taught by Joshua Yoon & Jungseo Lee)

• What is Money?: Basic concepts of earning, saving, and spending.
• Why Learn Financial Literacy?: How it helps in real life, from buying snacks to saving for a dream.
• Setting Simple Goals: Examples of short-term (buying a gadget) and long-term goals (saving for college).

Module 2: Budgeting Basics

(Prepared and taught by Hyungjoon Lim & Minryung Kim)

• What is a Budget?: A fun explanation using daily or weekly allowances.
• Creating a Simple Budget: Tracking income (e.g., allowances, part-time work) and expenses.
• Needs vs. Wants Game: Interactive activity where students categorize purchases (e.g., "Do you need new shoes or want the latest ones?").
• Savings Jar Activity: Introduce the idea of splitting money into jars or envelopes for spending, saving, and giving.

Module 3: Banking Made Simple

(Prepared and taught by David Lee & Gyuwan Seo)

• What is a Bank?: Basics of bank accounts and why they’re useful.
• How to Save Money: Introducing savings accounts (even piggy banks!) and interest in simple terms.
• Debit vs. Credit Cards: A beginner-friendly explanation.
• Online Safety: How to avoid scams when using banking apps or shopping online.

Module 4: Saving and Growing Money

(Prepared and taught by Seoyeong Lee & Seungjun Oh)

• Why Save?: Fun examples like saving for a game, trip, or gadget.
• The Power of Compound Interest: A simple visual example to show how money grows over time.
• Fun Investing Basics: What stocks, bonds, and mutual funds are, explained with relatable analogies (e.g., investing in a lemonade stand).

Module 5: Borrowing and Debt

(Prepared and taught by Hwanmin Suh & Yesung Chang)

• What is Debt?: Explaining borrowing with real-life examples (e.g., borrowing from a friend and paying it back).
• Good Debt vs. Bad Debt: How loans for education can help but spending too much on unnecessary items can be harmful.
• Credit Scores 101: What it is and why it matters, simplified for younger learners.

Module 6: Smart Spending

(Prepared and taught by Jaeyeon Yoon & Junseo Park)

• Shop Smartly: Comparing prices and thinking before buying.
• Avoiding Impulse Purchases: Fun role-play of shopping scenarios.
• Couponing and Discounts: Teaching how to save money while shopping.
• Consumer Awareness: How to identify scams and bad deals.

Module 7: Preparing for the Future

(Prepared and taught by Henry Park & Hayeong Lee)

• Why Save for the Future?: Simplified examples of emergencies and opportunities.
• College Savings: Why it’s essential and how to start small.
• Basic Insurance: Explaining why people protect what’s valuable (e.g., health, phone, or car).

Module 8: Fun Activities for Learning

(Prepared and taught by Minjun Oh & Joshua Yoon)

• Mock Budgeting: Students are given “income” (play money) and asked to budget for the week.
• Financial Decision Game: Scenarios like “Do you spend $20 on a party or save for a new phone?”
• Entrepreneurship Challenge: Brainstorming simple business ideas and planning them (e.g., selling crafts or snacks).
• Savings Goals Chart: Let students write and decorate their own savings goals.