6.14.A

Math6th Grade

The Standard

compare the features and costs of a checking account and a debit card offered by different local financial institutions

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Mathematics

Teacher's field guide

What This Standard Means

What Students Need to Do

Students read account and debit card details from local banks or credit unions. They compare fees, access, balance rules, and protections, then choose an option for a specific spending pattern.

What Mastery Looks Like

Students can compare fees, balance rules, ATM access, overdraft policies, and debit card protections. They calculate likely costs for a given customer and justify which option fits best.

Common Misconceptions

Students may think a debit card is a separate source of money rather than a way to access checking funds. They may overlook monthly fees, ATM fees, overdraft charges, or balance requirements. Some confuse debit cards with credit cards.

How to Assess It

Give students two options: Account A costs $5 monthly with free ATM use. Account B has no monthly fee but charges $3 per withdrawal. Ask which costs less for four monthly withdrawals and why.

Lesson moves

Ways to Teach It

  1. Give pairs two sample bank fee sheets, calculators, and customer profiles, then have them choose the lower-cost account for each customer.

  2. Ask students to write which account feature matters most for a teenager who receives allowance and uses an ATM twice each month.

  3. Play Fee Match by having teams match banking actions, such as overdrawing or using another bank's ATM, to the correct charges.

  4. Use public fee pages from two local banks or credit unions, then calculate one year of costs for a student customer.

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