Learning Sequence
Financial Literacy #2 - Investing in the Stock Market
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Introduction With Gavin
This week, students will help Ms Naomi Clarke plan her financial future by exploring real-world maths and basic investment ideas. They will learn what the stock market is – a place where people buy and sell shares, which are small parts of companies. Students will use Naomi’s income and savings to investigate investment options like shares and bonds. They will consider both financial risks and ethical responsibilities, practising teamwork, decision-making, and applying percentages in real-life contexts.
This week, we are helping Ms Naomi Clarke, who loves technology and wants to plan for her future. Our job is to help her choose the best way to invest her money.
Naomi earns $80,000 a year, saves 20% of it, and already has $50,000 saved. We will use real-life maths to help her make smart choices. This will include learning about the stock market – a place where people buy and sell small parts of companies called shares. Shares can grow in value over time, but they can also be risky!
We will explore different investment options, think about the risks and rewards, and remember that Naomi wants to make choices that also help her parents.
Get ready for a fun week of teamwork, problem-solving, and learning how to make wise financial decisions!
Quote of the week - Eleanor Hart
This weekly segment introduces students to influential mathematicians, encouraging contemplation of their contributions and the profound impact of mathematics on society. The activity of reflecting on and displaying their quotes aims to deepen students' comprehension and appreciation of mathematical thought and its real-world relevance.
Ask the children to discuss the meaning in pairs or in groups and then discuss what all of the opinions of the class are. Maybe there is a student who extra knowledge on the mathematician of ther week.
Each week, we will inspire you with a quote from a famous mathematician. Mathematicians are not just individuals who work with numbers and perform calculations; they are pioneers who have helped shape our modern world and the society we live in.
Every week, we'll explore a different mathematician and learn about their contributions to the world as we know it. Read the words carefully and reflect on what the mathematician meant when they shared these famous words.
‘Mathematics is literally everywhere you look!’
Weekly Keywords
Introduce the spelling word list and choose from this list of tasks that can be repeated and expanded upon if necessary.
Copy the words into a spelling list/Vocabulary book for later reference.
Put each of the new words into a sentence and underline the new vocabulary in red pencil
Place the words in alphabetical order in a list.
Use a dictionary to define each of the words and place them into a vocabulary book.
Try to represent each of the words using a picture or a symbol and play the guessing game. (which image is matched to which word)
Write a paragraph containing all of the new vocabulary.
Make a vocabulary wall containing all of the new words.
Use a thesaurus to find synonyms for the words and create a synonym list.
These words will help you during this week’s lesson. You may already know some of these words however practice makes perfect!
First, read the words and then try to define them as simply as possible. Work with a partner or in a group to decide what each of these terms means.
An example has been completed for you. You can write these into your books, and draw a picture to match or simply complete the task card.
The Situation - Investing in Tomorrow
In this lesson, students immerse themselves in the context of Naomi Clarke's investment journey. They will meticulously examine and identify key details about her financial status and investment goals. The focus is on sharpening their ability to extract essential data, interpret it, and engage in group discussions about various investment strategies.
This is more than just a math task; it's a real-world exercise in decision-making where students need to weigh numerous aspects, such as market trends, ethical considerations, and long-term growth potential. Following their analysis, they will benefit from insights into diverse investment approaches, offering them a comprehensive view of Naomi's situation. This activity is designed to enhance critical thinking, financial acumen, proficiency in digital tools, and teamwork.
Step into the world of Ms.Naomi Clarke, a tech enthusiast looking to invest for the future. Delve into the story and collaborate with your peers to guide Naomi through the intricate maze of investments. Remember, investing isn't just about immediate gains; it's about long-term vision and understanding market dynamics. Once discussions are complete, we'll regroup to exchange insights.
Read all of the information on the task card opposite and make some notes. Then after doing some analysis and discussing, we'll take a look at one example to see what the future holds if she invests in GOGO bank.
The Example - GOGO Bank 1,2 and 5 Years
This activity helps children understand how compound interest works over time. Using Naomi’s example, they explore how a $50,000 investment at GoGo Bank grows steadily over 1, 2, and 5 years at a 2% annual rate. The poster shows that each year, interest is earned not just on the original amount, but also on the previous year’s interest. Children then consider other factors like risk, ethics, and personal goals before recommending Naomi’s best financial decision.
To help you get started, we are going to show you what it might look like if Naomi invested in GoGo Bank over 1, 2, and 5 years, along with all the things she might need to consider before making her decision. Take a look at the poster, which explains everything you need to think about, and then move on to the ‘Finishing the Facts’ section below before finally deciding what you believe she should do.
This week, we want to emphasise that compound interest grows because the savings in the account also grow. Notice how the pattern develops — it may start slowly, but over time it grows in a steady and exponential way!
Finding The Facts
This lesson teaches students to identify key information in word problems, focusing on a scenario where they evaluate mortgage options for a character. It enhances their ability to extract essential data from a narrative and apply mathematical calculations, crucial for practical problem-solving and understanding real-life financial decisions.
Before you start making a decision about which choice to make in this week's scenario, it's crucial to have all the facts at hand.
Sometimes, the key numbers and information can be hidden within the story's text.
Work together to complete the accompanying sheet by carefully reading the questions and calculating the amounts for each. These numbers will certainly assist you in making a decision in the next part of the learning sequence.
Make Up Your Mind - Rubric and Discussion
During this lesson, children will learn decision-making through a rubric, scoring factors on a scale of 1-5. They'll evaluate different aspects, including ethics, to understand the balance between numerical analysis and moral considerations.
This exercise aims to develop their ability to make informed choices, considering both tangible data and ethical implications, thus enhancing their critical thinking and ethical reasoning skills in a practical, engaging way.
In order to make a decision, you will need to look at all the factors and decide. Although numbers can tell us some of the things that help us make big decisions like this, there are always many other things to consider.
Take a look at the rubric opposite and answer the questions for each of the banks, ranking them from good to bad using scores of 1-5.
Total the scores at the bottom of the rubric, but before you make up your mind, consider the ethical and community implications of the decision you make
Spin the Wheel and Write a Letter
This activity provides students with the freedom to choose one of the world’s richest companies by spinning a wheel. It fosters student agency by allowing them to take control of their learning and dive into researching how the company operates. Students will then write a letter, expressing their understanding of the company’s business model, its impact on people, the community, and nature, and how it maintains profitability. This encourages independent thinking and real-world application of business knowledge.
Now that you have a better understanding of how companies operate and make a profit or incur losses, it’s time to put your knowledge into action. Spin the wheel below to land on one of the world’s richest companies. Once you land on a company, scroll down to find more information in the next section. Then, write a powerful letter to the organisation. In your letter, describe what they do, how they operate, and how they support people, the community, and nature while still maintaining profitability.
Profit, People and Planet - Writing A Letter that Matters
In this activity, children will choose a major global company and write a formal email asking how the company cares for its employees and the planet. This task encourages real-world writing with a clear purpose, helping students understand ethical business practices and global responsibility.
It promotes critical thinking, respectful communication, and global outreach, giving students the opportunity to use their writing to make genuine connections with leading organisations across the world.
Now that you understand there are two sides to investing, let’s look a little deeper.
On one side, there is the goal of making big profits, without always thinking about how the money is used.
On the other side, there is the idea of investing in companies that care about people and the planet – even if they do not always make the highest returns.
To complete this learning sequence, we are asking you to choose one global company from the list provided.
Once you have chosen, you will write a letter (by email) to that company asking them how they care for the people they employ and the planet they operate on.
You will follow the letter-writing structure below to help you organise your message clearly.
Your challenge is to find out how these powerful companies are helping to make the world a better place!
Send Your Letter to a Billion-Dollar Company
In this activity, children will learn to craft persuasive and powerful letters to real global companies. They will be guided step-by-step to express what they admire, question how companies balance profit with responsibility, and suggest ways they can care for people and the planet. The structure encourages critical thinking, respectful questioning, and persuasive writing techniques, helping students understand how to use their voice to inspire change and build meaningful global connections.
Now it’s your turn to make a real difference!
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First, read the example letter I have written carefully.
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Follow my Ten Steps to help you plan and write your own letter, just like mine.
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Once you have planned your ideas, use the Canva template provided to write your final letter.
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Check your letter carefully for spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
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When you are happy with your letter, email it to the address linked to the company you have chosen from the list.
Your voice matters. Let’s see if we can make a real impact!
Real World Learning - Holding a Debate
This classroom debate activity, focusing on ethical investment versus high returns, encourages students to develop public speaking and active listening skills. Organise students into two teams for research and argument preparation.
During the debate, they'll practice articulating their viewpoints and constructively responding to opposing arguments, fostering critical thinking. This exercise not only enhances their ability to speak confidently in public but also sharpens their listening and comprehension skills as they engage with different perspectives.
We're going to split into two teams. One team will explore why it's smart to invest money in ways that are good for the world, like helping the environment. The other team will focus on how to invest money to make the biggest profit. Each team will do some detective work to find information that supports their side. You can use books, websites, or any resource your teacher suggests.
Once you've gathered your info, it's time to think about your arguments. What strong points can you make for your side? And how will you respond to the other team's ideas? It's like a friendly challenge to see who can make the best case.
Remember, there are rules to follow during the debate. Your teacher will tell you how long you can talk and when it's your turn. It's important to listen carefully to each other and speak politely, even if you have different opinions.
When debate time comes, everyone will get a chance to speak. And after the debate, we'll talk about what we learned from it. It's a great way to see things from different perspectives and improve our speaking and listening skills!
Weekly Inspiration - The Chessboard and Rice Story
This week's culmination is a story illustrating exponential growth, reinforcing the concept of percentages. Students will watch a video about the tale of an emperor and a sage, showcasing how numbers can increase rapidly.
It's a practical, engaging way to deepen their understanding of exponential growth and its real-life applications.
After exploring percentage growth this week, we are going to finish the learning sequence with an amazing story about exponential growth.
Watch the video opposite and start to understand the power of how numbers can become very large, very quickly. Listen to the story of the emperor and the sage, and think about how you could use this concept in your own daily life!