Lesson 8 - Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees - Investing Options

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by asba

Educator guide for Lesson 8, focused on Investing Options and the idea that investment outcomes depend on interest, reward, and risk. Learners explore investment growth by tracking a stock portfolio, compare common vehicles such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, and discuss scenarios including investing in a friend’s business. Activities include pre- and post-assessments like stock market tracking and creating investment tips for an adult audience.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Investing Options Overview

Objectives and Essential Questions

Warm Up: Investing in a Friend

Guided Exploration: Investment Vocabulary and Vehicles

Risk, Reward, and Example Scenarios

Assessment Activities

Time: 65 min Supplies: § Loose-leaf paper for Investing Tips Letter § Projector (for teacher presentation slides) § Access to the Internet (optional) Preparation: § Make copies of student handouts § Set up projector with presentation slides § Set up individual or group computers with access to the Internet(optional) Glossary with key vocabulary 15 Lesson 8: Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees TOPIC: Investing Options OVERVIEW: This lesson will explore the concepts of interest and investments helping learners make initial discoveries about how their money can grow overtime. OBJECTIVES: 1. Understand investment growth, losses, reward, and risk by developing and tracking a stock portfolio 2. Demonstrate a general understanding of investment vehicles, like bonds, stocks, and mutual funds 3. Create investment tips for an adult audience INDIVIDUAL HANDOUTS: § Stock Market Tracking Week 1 § Stock Market Tracking Week 2 GROUP HANDOUTS: § None TEACHER PRESENTATION SLIDES: § Investment Vehicles § Case Study: Three Stocks ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS: § What are the benefits to investing money? § Is investing money worthwhile? § What investing strategies will create positive rate of return? ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES: Pre-Assessment: § Activity: Investing in a Friend Post-Assessment: § Activity: Stock Market Tracking § Activity: Investing Tips MONEY SMART GRADES 6-8: Educator Guide Lesson 8: Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees pg.1 Instruction Steps WARM UP Investing in a Friend 10 MINUTES GUIDED EXPLORATION Investment Vocabulary and Vehicles 20 MINUTES The lesson begins with students considering a concrete and ageappropriate example of investing. Ask students to consider the following scenario: A friend comes to you asking to invest $50 to start a business (for example: lemonade stand, lawn care service, DJ service) . When you invest money, you “commit money to an endeavor with the expectation (but not guarantee) of additional profit.” § What are the benefits of helping your friend? § What are the drawbacks? According to the definition, investing means that there is an “expectation of additional profit,” so how might you make additional profit if you invested $50 in your friend’s business? MONEY SMART TIP! The U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has educational materials about investing for teachers, students, and parents. [https://investor.gov/classroom](https://investor.gov/classroom) As a whole group, discuss investment options and how investments are made. First, explain the general concepts and vocabulary of investing, and then share brief anecdotes to provide a scenario for investing. Investing is the process of “committing money to an endeavor with the expectation (but not guarantee) of additional profit.” There are many ways to invest, including in business, real estate, and the stock market. In this lesson, we’ll be focusing on investing in the stock market, which will include “purchasing securities, such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds with the goal of increasing wealth over time, but with the risk of loss.” For example: Charlie is 20 years old and loves technology. He’s investing in stock for a company he believes will grow in profits. If the company does poorly and Charlie sells the stock at a lower value, he could lose money. Share an example of a low-risk investment a young person might make, and the possible reward of that investment. For example: If Adeline, an 18-year-old, invests $5 a week at an 8% interest rate, the money will grow to $136,138 by the age of 65. MONEY SMART GRADES 6-8: Educator Guide Lesson 8: Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees pg.2 | | | | --- | --- | | Stock
• Investment in a company
• Shares of ownership in a company
• Value of investment based on company performance
| Mutual Funds
• Investments in several areas (companies, bonds, etc.)
• Diversified
Returns are passed to the investors | |

FAQs

What does investing mean in this lesson?

Investing is committing money to an endeavor with the expectation of additional profit, but not a guarantee.

Which investment vehicles are covered?

Students learn about investment vehicles including stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, including how mutual funds pool investors’ money.

How does risk relate to investing in stocks?

Stocks can increase or decrease in value depending on company performance, so there is a measure of uncertainty and possible loss.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by asba