Idaho Social Studies 9-12.EC.14

Social StudiesGrades 9–12Economics

The Standard

Demonstrate how to set financial goals and analyze the costs and benefits of spending decisions.

Idaho Content Standards: K-12 Social Studies · Personal Finance

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students set a savings target with a dollar amount and deadline. They work out how much to save each week. They compare a purchase with what they would give up to pay for it.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can turn a $120 bike goal into a plan to save $15 a week for eight weeks. They can explain what they gain from buying a $10 game and how that choice changes the plan.
Common Misconceptions: Students may say they want to 'save more' without choosing an amount or deadline. They may count only the price of a purchase and miss the savings they give up.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: You can save $15 a week toward a $120 bike. If you spend $10 of your first week's savings on a game, when can you buy the bike? Name one benefit and one cost of buying the game.

Lesson moves

Give pairs ten $5 paper bills, a $30 bus fare, and an eight-week $120 bike goal; have them budget for a $10 game.
Ask: Would you buy a $25 concert ticket or put $25 toward a $100 savings goal? Write one benefit and one cost of each choice.
Give pairs a $40 weekly budget, a $100 goal, and four $10 purchase cards; have them choose cards and calculate weeks needed to save.
Use a grocery flyer to compare two lunches under $10; have students choose one and explain what remains for their savings goal.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 9-12.EC.14, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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