Financial Literacy Resources for Kids and Teens

Lessons, Activities, Teaching Ideas, and More

When we talk about the “real-world skills” that students need to succeed, financial literacy is at the top of the list. Skills like saving, budgeting, handling credit responsibly, and even charitable giving are all financial literacy topics you can cover in your classroom, no matter what age you teach. And our big roundup of financial literacy resources gives you all the tools you need!

Whether you’re teaching younger kids to save some of their allowance or showing teens how to balance a checking account or understand taxes, you’re instilling a lifelong sense of financial responsibility that can really pay off. We’ve got free lesson plans, worksheets, activities, and tools that make teaching financial literacy to kids easy and fun. Work them into math lessons, include them in life skills classes, try them as advisory discussions, or use them for Financial Literacy Month (April) activities!

Check out all of our resources for teaching financial literacy topics to students of all ages below.

Teaching Financial Literacy for High School

Teaching financial literacy to high school students is vital—they’ll soon be out on their own, and if they don’t know how to handle their money, they’re going to struggle. Give them real-life scenarios to consider, like buying their first car, and they’ll be eager to learn all they can about financial literacy topics.

Money Myths Lesson and Activity (Free Printables)

This print-and-go bundle comes with an activity, worksheet, and discussion questions.

Group of students feeding coins into a piggy bank

Money Skills Teens Need Before Graduation (Teaching Tips)

Filing taxes, investing in the stock market, building credit, and more.

Checking vs. Savings Accounts Slideshow for Grades 6-12

Checking vs. Savings Accounts Lesson (Free Slides)

Teach the key differences and when to use each account.

Financial Literacy Vocabulary + Free Jeopardy-Style Game

Financial Literacy Vocabulary: Jeopardy-Style Game (Free Slides)

Financial basics are easier for kids to learn when they’re fun!

Images of various pages from the Ticket to Drive: Your Path to Car Ownership bundle

How To Buy Your First Car Lessons (Free Printables)

Help students achieve their real-life goals.

Financial Risk Tolerance for High Schoolers (Free Quiz)

Plus a follow-up investment activity.

All Students Should Know These Ways To Protect Money (Teaching Tips)

Identity theft, fraud, and other scams to avoid.

First slide of unexpected events lesson on a tablet

Unexpected Financial Events Lesson (Free Slides)

Teach teens how to be ready for life’s curveballs.

Dollars & Decisions (Free Interactive Course)

Free teacher guide included.

High school student grocery shopping and close up of teen handing a credit card to a merchant as examples of middle school and high school budgeting activities.

Free Interactive Budgeting Activities for High School (Teaching (Ideas)

Teach teens financial fitness for a prosperous future.

Everfi taxes article tweet feature image

Tax Simulation (Free Digital Course)

Valuable knowledge everyone needs to learn.

TOP PICK

Financial Literacy for Kids Explained

Everyone needs to learn to manage their money! This big roundup is full of helpful lessons, activities, and tips for teaching financial literacy to kids at any age.

Teaching Financial Literacy for Middle School

The best financial literacy activities for middle school students emphasize real-world experiences they can relate to. Discuss concepts like budgeting their allowance, or practice calculating sales tax for those big purchases they’ve been saving for. These lessons and ideas are perfect for grades 6 through 8.

Let's Take a Road Trip! lesson on a tablet

Let’s Take a Road Trip: Finding the Better Buy Lesson (Free Slides)

A fun, ready-to-go lesson on making informed financial choices.

Middle school students working on financial literacy curriculum

How I Teach My Middle School Students Financial Literacy (Teaching Tips)

Free, easy, and personalized.

Reality check game on a computer and tablet.

Reality Check: Game of Financial Choices (Free Slides)

Follow the path to financial success!

Flay lay of 'Calculating Sales Tax' lesson

Calculating Sales Tax Lesson (Free Printable)

Meaningful percentage learning.

Screenshots of money conversation starters

Money Conversation Starters (Free Slides)

20 questions for tweens and teens.

Where Did My Allowance Go? Budgeting Game (Free Printable)

Build those budgeting skills!

Calculate the Cost Activity (Free Printable )

We love this real-world learning opportunity!

FREE PRINTABLES

Financial Literacy Lesson Plans for Every Grade Level

From getting students engaged and talking to showing how math is used in everyday life, we’ve got you covered with these free resources.

Elementary School Money Skills

Teaching kids financial literacy starts early! Use our free printable play money and lessons to help little ones understand the concept of money itself. Show older elementary kids how to budget their allowance, save for something special, or set aside some money to help others.

First slide of saving lesson on a laptop

Ready, Set, Save! Whiteboard Lesson (Free Slides)

Saving is one of the building blocks of financial capability.

Flat lay of 'Saving for the Future' lesson

Saving for the Future Lesson (Free Printable)

Because they’ve got big plans.

Flat lay of Money Basics lesson and worksheet

Money Basics Lesson (Free Printable)

Includes vocabulary, the value of money, earning money, and more.

Making Money Lesson (Free Printable)

Including tons of essential vocabulary.

Spend, Save, Give Method Lesson (Free Printable)

Simple and meaningful.

Flat lay of poster from Charitable Giving lesson

Charitable Giving Lesson (Free Printable)

With a fun poster activity!

Flat lays of Plans and Goals lesson on budgets

Intro to Budgets Lesson (Free Printable)

They’ll learn about wants vs. needs and so much more.

Flat lay of Money in Our Community lesson

Money Cycle Activity (Free Printable)

Teach them about money in the community.

Flat lays of Money Planning lesson and activity sheet

Simple Money Planning Lesson (Free Printable)

Spending, saving, and giving!

Dollar Dilemmas: Lesson on Saving Money (Free Printable)

Teach them how to make smart financial choices.

Our Favorite Activities for Teaching Money Skills (Teaching Tips)

Saving, budgeting, shopping, and more!

Why Knowing Your Coins Still Matters (Teacher Tips)

Plus ideas for teaching kids to recognize them.

Flat lays of Money Minutes on a green background

Money Minutes! Worksheet Bundle (Free Printables)

Perfect for grades 2 and 3.

Sort and Count Coins Activity (Free Printable)

Do your students know their coins?

US Bills and Coins Play Money (Free Printables)

Perfect for math lessons, games, and classroom activities.

More Financial Literacy Tools and Resources

There’s a lot of discussion today about how to improve financial literacy for students, but the best way is simply to start talking about it, at home and at school. These tools and resources offer something for all ages, in the classroom or at home with families.

This Site Makes High School Financial Literacy Happen (Yes, Please!)

Fast Lane: Free Financial Literacy Site (Product Review)

It’s a game changer for high schoolers!

Flat lay of Best Financial Apps for Kids list

Best Financial Apps for Kids (Free Printable)

Everything you need, all in one place.

Best Financial Literacy Books for Kids and Teens

These guides will help their piggy banks grow.

Best Online Apps and Websites To Teach Money Skills (Teaching Tips)

Easy ways to emphasize financial literacy with kids and teens.

Why I Believe Teaching Money Skills Should Be Part of Every Math Class (Teaching Tips)

Learn about Vault by EVERFI.

Father's credit card. Carefree young girl showing thumb up, excited about upcoming shopping

Activities That Teach Students Real-World Money Skills (Teaching Ideas)

Because money management needs to be part of the curriculum.

Financial Literacy Anchor Charts to Teach Money Skills to Your Students

Anchor Charts That Teach Financial Literacy to Students (Teaching Ideas)

Tools you can use year after year.

Financial Literacy Tips for Teachers

Teachers need financial literacy too! If you’ve got questions about budgeting, saving for retirement, or understanding your paycheck, we’ve got you covered.