Grade 8 · 36 weeks
Grade 8 financial literacy curriculum
Taxes, entrepreneurship, retirement, insurance, financial independence, and a capstone. One lesson a week for the school year, about 45 minutes each, with a worksheet, a quiz, a family letter and a checkpoint test every six weeks.
Every week includes
- Lesson plan with timings, differentiation and a hands-on activity
- Student worksheet and answer key
- Weekly quiz (75% unlocks the next week)
- Family letter in English, Spanish or Portuguese
Aligned to standards
Every lesson is tagged with the six areas of the National Standards for Personal Financial Education (Jump$tart Coalition and Council for Economic Education) and the grade's Common Core math standards. State codes are available for Illinois, Texas, Florida, North Dakota, Colorado, Georgia, Arizona, Utah, Nebraska.
Scope and sequence
Unit 1 · Weeks 1–6Paychecks, Deductions, and Taxes
| Week | Lesson | Standards areas |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Understanding Your Paycheck Students learn what a paycheck shows and why it matters. | Earning IncomeSaving |
| 2 | Reading a W-4 and a W-2 Students learn how a W-4 sets withholding and how a W-2 reports it. | Earning Income |
| 3 | Payroll Deductions Explained Students explore the deductions that reduce a paycheck. | Earning Income |
| 4 | What Taxes Fund Students learn where tax money goes in a community. | Earning IncomeSpending |
| 5 | Types of Taxes Students distinguish income, sales, and property taxes. | Earning IncomeSpending |
| 6 | Review: Paychecks and Taxes Students review pay, deductions, and tax concepts. | Earning Income |
Checkpoint 1 closes the unit: Paychecks, Deductions, and Taxes.
Unit 2 · Weeks 7–12Entrepreneurship, Pricing, and Marketing
| Week | Lesson | Standards areas |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Introduction to Entrepreneurship Students discover what entrepreneurs do. | Earning IncomeSpending |
| 8 | Revenue, Costs, and Profit Students learn how businesses measure success. | Earning IncomeSpending |
| 9 | Pricing Your Product Students decide how to set a fair price. | Earning IncomeSpending |
| 10 | Writing a Business Plan Students organize an idea into a simple plan. | Earning IncomeSavingManaging Credit |
| 11 | Marketing and Customers Students learn how businesses reach buyers. | Earning IncomeSpending |
| 12 | Review: Entrepreneurship Foundations Students review business ideas, profit, and plans. | Earning IncomeSpending |
Checkpoint 2 closes the unit: Entrepreneurship, Pricing, and Marketing.
Unit 3 · Weeks 13–18Retirement Accounts and Compounding
| Week | Lesson | Standards areas |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Why Save for Retirement Students learn why saving for later in life matters. | SavingInvesting |
| 14 | Roth IRA Basics Students explore a common retirement account. | Earning IncomeSavingInvesting |
| 15 | The 401k and Employer Match Students learn about workplace retirement accounts. | Earning IncomeSavingInvesting |
| 16 | The Power of Compounding Students see how money grows on itself over time. | SavingInvestingManaging Credit |
| 17 | Paying for College: Costs, Aid and Loans Students compare ways to pay for college or trade school. | SpendingManaging Credit |
| 18 | Review: Retirement Accounts Students review retirement saving, compounding, and paying for college. | Earning IncomeSavingInvesting |
Checkpoint 3 closes the unit: Retirement Accounts and Compounding.
Unit 4 · Weeks 19–24Insurance and Risk
| Week | Lesson | Standards areas |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | What Is Insurance Students learn how insurance protects people. | Managing Risk |
| 20 | Emergency Funds: Being Your Own Insurance Students learn how an emergency fund covers shocks insurance does not. | SavingManaging Risk |
| 21 | Premiums and Deductibles Students learn the costs of an insurance plan. | SpendingManaging RiskManaging Credit |
| 22 | Types of Insurance Students compare common kinds of insurance. | SpendingManaging Risk |
| 23 | Insurance and Financial Protection Students see how insurance supports a money plan. | SavingManaging Risk |
| 24 | Review: Insurance and Risk Students review risk, insurance, and costs. | SpendingManaging Risk |
Checkpoint 4 closes the unit: Insurance and Risk.
Unit 5 · Weeks 25–30Income, Expenses, and Financial Independence
| Week | Lesson | Standards areas |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | What Is Financial Independence Students learn the meaning of financial independence. | SavingInvesting |
| 26 | Income vs Expenses Students compare money coming in and going out. | Earning IncomeSpendingManaging Credit |
| 27 | Passive Income Students explore income that does not require constant work. | Earning IncomeSpendingSaving |
| 28 | Building Your Money Plan Students design a personal plan for their money. | Earning IncomeSpendingSaving |
| 29 | Setting Financial Goals Students set short and long term money goals. | SpendingSaving |
| 30 | Review: Financial Independence Students review income, expenses, and money planning. | Earning IncomeSaving |
Checkpoint 5 closes the unit: Income, Expenses, and Financial Independence.
Unit 6 · Weeks 31–36Capstone Money Plan and Year in Review
| Week | Lesson | Standards areas |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Capstone Kickoff Students begin planning their capstone money project. | Spending |
| 32 | Capstone: Budget and Income Students build the budget part of their capstone. | Earning IncomeSpending |
| 33 | Capstone: Business or Investment Plan Students add a growth idea to their capstone. | Earning IncomeSavingInvesting |
| 34 | Capstone: Presentation Prep Students prepare to present their capstone plan. | Spending |
| 35 | Capstone Presentations Students present their capstone money plans. | Spending |
| 36 | Year-End Review Students reflect on a full year of financial learning. | Earning IncomeInvesting |
Checkpoint 6 closes the unit: Capstone Money Plan and Year in Review.
Bonus unit · after week 36Money and Investing
| Lesson | Topic | Standards areas |
|---|---|---|
| B1 | Central Banks and Monetary Policy The Federal Reserve uses interest rates and other tools to manage fiat money, aiming for stable prices and maximum employment. | SavingManaging Credit |
| B2 | The Math of Compound Growth Use A = P(1 + r)^t and the Rule of 72, then match investments to goals, risk tolerance, and low fees. | Investing |
| B3 | Crypto, Speculation, and Taxes Understand how crypto supply works, why prices swing, how to spot hype and scams, and why selling crypto can create a tax bill. | InvestingManaging Risk |
| B4 | Making Banking Work for You Understanding APY, compounding, deposit insurance, fees, and digital security lets you choose and manage an account with confidence. | SavingManaging Risk |
| B5 | Inflation, the Fed, and the Cost of Living Inflation reshapes savings, debts, and paychecks, which is why the Federal Reserve aims for low, steady inflation of about 2 percent. | SavingManaging Credit |
Money connections: 3 short activities in this grade link the week's topic to Managing Credit (shown above in the Standards areas column).
Other grades
Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7