Featured in the New York Times, our paying-for-college game PAYBACK has been played by over 150,000 students in just 3 months since launch! Teachers are saying, “It was an amazing game. All of my students were so highly engaged that it was time to go to lunch and none of them wanted to leave," AND "They loved that the game made them confront the money challenges of college but also helped them build the skills to survive and thrive.”  

Here is how to play (Yes, This is a class assignment as well):

Students Play PAYBACK (Click Here)

A single game-play takes 15-20 minutes, but you may also use a full 50-minute period by playing the game twice

Teachers: You can also use this corresponding classroom activity to support your students as they play the game.

Students Write Short Essay (GOOGLE DOCUMENT)

Use this Essay Template to create a 250 word essays that respond to this writing prompt: 

"How could you use the online game, PAYBACK, to have a conversation with your parent/guardian about paying for college?"

CRITERIA: Essays will be evaluated on the following:

• Indicates an understanding of key concepts learned by playing the game PAYBACK.
• Addresses concerns their parents/guardians may have about this sensitive topic. 
• Takes a creative approach to engaging parents/guardians in a conversation about college. 

MAKE SURE YOU USE THE R.A.C.E.S. METHOD TO ANSWER THE WRITING PROMPT: 

R-Repeat The Question, A-Answer The Question, C-Cite Your Evidence/Examples, E-Explain Your Evidence/Examples, S-Summarize Your Thought (Wrap-Up)

SHARE Your Essay With Mr. Scribner (hscribner@ccs.us) For Credit!

ACADEMIC/LEARNING OBJECTIVE

Scholars will use the online simulation "PAYBACK" to begin learning about the basics of how the choices they make for higher education can affect them financially.  This simulation, and associated standards for this assignment, will help them meet PA CEW Academic Standards, and also help students hone their skills for writing and information retention after participating in the simulation.  Students should reflect on this simulation, and use it as a prompt for conversation at home about the real costs associated with higher education, careers, and their future choices.

SCHOLARS WILL ENTER THE CLASS QUIETLY AND BEGIN WORKING!

Scholars will follow all directions log into their Google Account and then begin working on the NexGen Personal Finance Simulator (PAYBACK).  Scholars will spend 15-20 minutes completing the simulation.  When complete, scholars will download a copy of their final worksheet.  This image will be uploaded to their "CEW Evidence 515" folder in their Google Drive and SHARED, for credit, with Mr. Scribner (hscribner@ccs.us).  Scholars will then create a GOOGLE DOCUMENT titled 

"(LastName) PAYBACK P? S2" and write a 250-word essay using the prompt listed above.  

Scholars may use the EXAMPLE for reference, but must write this essay in their own words.

The essay must be SHARED with Mr. Scribner (hscribner@ccs.us) for credit as well.

Please Take This Survey Prior To Starting (Click Link Below)

https://goo.gl/forms/GwV0DbmsJCXJ8GUu2

Bank Accounts – Teens should know how a bank account works and the fees associated; not only the account fees and how they incur (min balance amounts, activity fees, etc.), but also the ATM fees. Young people tend to like to do things online so they can search for a low cost, basic online checking account. And while check writing may someday be obsolete, don’t forget to show them how to write a check and explain how it works. Also, review how debit cards work, how to safeguard all their information, and how too many swipes at the checkout counter can lead to costly and embarrassing overdraft charges.
Resource: https://www.forbes.com/sites/markavallone/2016/06/07/five-financial-concepts-your-teens-should-understand-before-high-school-graduation/#54a5b6fc4eab

Please Follow ALL DIRECTIONS on the RolePlay Document located at:
https://docs.google.com/a/ccs.us/document/d/1_Zg5qGcLkp0LQ0YzmYUbatuH9V1p44Td4y8RtlJtsaM/edit?usp=sharing

Each student will click the link above and follow ALL DIRECTIONS! You will be learning, if you have never done it before, how to use an ATM, Write A Check, Deposit A Check, Make A Payment, and Pay Online Bills. Each activity has a link to a resource or simulation. You may complete these steps more than once to make sure you understand how to do these simple banking transactions.

Please click FILE, and MAKE A COPY of this document before beginning. Make sure you SHARE this document with Mr. Scribner (hscribner@ccs.us) for credit. Try to use the R.A.C.E. Response Method when answering the questions. (Restate the question, Answer the question, Cite your evidence/examples, Explain your evidence/examples)

ACADEMIC/LEARNING OBJECTIVE

Scholars will use the online simulation "BASIC BANKING" to begin learning about the basics of how to use basic banking procedures and processes. This simulation, and associated standards for this assignment, will help them meet PA CEW Academic Standards, and also help students hone their skills for writing and information retention after participating in the simulation. Students should reflect on this simulation, and use it as a prompt for conversation at home about the real costs associated with higher education, careers, and their future choices.

SCHOLARS WILL ENTER THE CLASS QUIETLY AND BEGIN WORKING!

Scholars will follow all directions log into their Google Account and then begin working on the NexGen Personal Finance Simulator (BASIC BANKING). Scholars will spend 15-20 minutes completing the simulation. Scholars will then create a GOOGLE DOCUMENT, using the provided link, name it correctly, and SHARE it for credit.

"(LastName) P? S2" prior to title, and complete each question listed on the document. 

Scholars may use the EXAMPLE for reference, but must write this essay in their own words.

The essay must be SHARED with Mr. Scribner (hscribner@ccs.us) for credit as well.

The Inquiry below is intended to help introduce students to the decisions people have to make everyday when they are living paycheck to paycheck. The Supplemental Resources are provided only to support the Inquiry, but the Inquiry is a comprehensive lesson on its own.

In this Inquiry, students will use a simulator to roleplay an adult trying to make ends meet when they don’t have a surplus of finances. In the process, students will learn about how their decisions impact the people around them and their ability to pay for the necessities each month as well as the pressures and decisions that many people face in this situation. Through this Inquiry, they will learn to use wise spending and saving habits, empathize with those dealing with the living wage, and assess the options people have when they are having financial difficulties.

Make Sure You Click On The ROLEPLAY Inquiry Simulation Link Below, Click FILE and MAKE A COPY, and SHARE it with Mr. Scribner (hscribner@ccs.us) for credit!

Inquiry Simulation:  ROLEPLAY: Spent Middle School Edition

Learning Objectives:

• Students will experience the circumstances of budgeting on the living wage.
• Students will reflect on the impact of the decisions they made in order to learn from them for the future.
• Students will explore the difficulties of living paycheck to paycheck and learn from the options they face as well as mistakes they make.
• Students SHOULD Play the Game a SECOND Time after recording their answers to more fully understand some of the alternate choices in the simulation.

ACTIVITY:

Complete The Google Document Worksheet As You Complete The Online Simulation. Please Answer All Questions In COMPLETE SENTENCES! Try to use the R.A.C.E Response Method (Repeat the question, Answer the question, Cite your evidence/examples, Explain your evidence/examples) Make sure you SHARE the Google Document with Mr. Scribner (hscribner@ccs.us) for credit.

Standards:

Alignment to Anchor Standards for Reading: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.1 Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.7 Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words..

Alignment to Jump$tart Spending and Saving Standards: 1b: Analyze how spending and saving behavior can affect overall well-being. 1c: Discuss the components of a personal spending plan, including income, planned saving, and expenses.   Alignment to Jump$tart Risk Management and Insurance Standards: 1b: Predict the consequences of accepting risk with insufficient or no insurance. 1c: Illustrate how to use insurance to share the risk of financial loss.

Supplemental Resources:

*Note: These supplemental resources are a work in progress and will be finalized soon!

Video: Just In Case
This video from Cha-Ching is a fun way for students to explore why they should think about having an emergency fund or getting insurance in case issues they can’t plan for arise!
Suggested Follow Up Questions: 1) What are some examples of reasons you might need an emergency fund or insurance from the video? 2) Why do you think people say “plan for the worst” based on what you learned from the video?

Interactive: PlayInsure
This game allows students to learn about Auto Insurance and Homeowner's Insurance by letting them roleplay as an insured party  that encounters many different scenarios. This allows students to see the different plan options, why insurance costs a certain amount, and when it is useful. Since the game is created by the Texas Department of Insurance, it focuses on that state, but it is a great learning tool for students regardless of location.

• Teacher Tip: Both the Auto Insurance and Homeowner’s Insurance games are very long (30 days) so they are quite repetitive. You might want to tell the students to play for something like 10-15 days!

Video: Payday Loan Advertisement
This Payday loan advertisement tries to sell people payday loans. In the process, it outlines why payday loans exist and why someone living paycheck to paycheck might feel the need to use one. Students might not understand what the big issue with payday loans is given the tone of the video, so discussion afterwards will help them understand.
Suggested Follow Up Questions: 1) How are payday loans different from borrowing money for something like college or a house? 2) Why might someone be searching for a loan like this? 3) What are the 2 qualifications needed to get a payday loan? Why do you think the companies don’t require more info from the borrower? 4) What do you think are the downsides of taking out a payday loan?

Comprehension Questions: Spent Kahoot
This kahoot is a fun way to assess students on their understanding of the terms and concepts they learned in this lesson.

This project taken directly from https://www.ngpf.org/courses/middle-school/