Teach Your Kids About Investing!

Today I started what has become a springtime class tradition.  My annual Stock Market Game using Investopedia!  Every student creates an account on Investopedia.com, and joins my Stock Market Game!  They start with $10,000 and try to beat me by buying and selling stocks.  It is a huge hit.  They investigate and research like they are spending their real money!

Over the course of our class, students are introduced to a Personal Monthly Budget project (more details in a later post).  Any money they earn, as a result of investing in the game, can then be included in the PMB project!  See below for an outline of the resources I use for this part of the project, and more information!  There is even a picture of the "TechNOcurrency" I created for prizes!*  Next year I might even start earlier and create a TechNOcurrency Bank to simulate interest, dividend payments, and other investing ideas.

* I added cash to my own cafeteria account at school.  When students present these coupons to purchase items, they put them in the money drawer as cash, and then total them/deduct them from my account at the end of the day.  I usually give the Top 3 Investors $1 each, per day, and I also choose a Lottery Winner each day from the list for a $1 prize.

Objective: Students should learn the basics about savings accounts and investing in the Stock Market. Students will use independent learning time to navigate through a series of videos to help them better understand basic Personal Budgets, Saving Money, Credit Card Tips, and how to Invest in Company Stocks. Students will complete a Journal Entry and sign up for our class Stock Market Challenge.

Complete the Following Steps:
1. Read the Article below and complete a Journal Entry (On the CCS-515 PA CEW PMB Worksheet)
2. Watch Videos Below and Complete Class Worksheet & Vocabulary List (on the form listed above.)
3. Create an account on Investopedia.com and click link below to join 2018 Game

To begin your investing journey, please read the following article: Investing VS Gambling Article (Click Here) and write a brief (2-3 Sentences) journal entry about your feelings about the main point of the article.

Second, watch each video link below on your own. After each video, answer the questions on the worksheet for today. When you have completed the worksheet questions, please research and fill in the Vocabulary Section on the back of the sheet. Turn in the sheet for credit!

1. Personal Budget Tips:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_GZOr4l7P0

2. How To Save Money:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxC_KaCD8KQ

3. Savings Account Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0ttAaz32VU

4. Credit Card Tips:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en6IfLFlrJM

5. Company Investing Tips
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MPtq56CT1I

Third, Use the link below to sign up for our Stock Market Challenge. Please go to Investopedia.com and create an account using your CCS Gmail address. Once Created, click the link below and you should automatically be forwarded to the game. Once you have created and account, follow the directions to BUY and SELL stocks.  You have $10,000 to spend.  If you make any money in the market this week, you can add it to your Final Budgets!

Use the following sites to help you pick stocks for the game:
MarketWatch (Wall Street Journal) Website (CLICK HERE) 

MSN Money Top 50 Stocks (CLICK HERE)

Additional Resources: here is a link to the Stock Market Basics Presentation from Class (Click Here) 

We will be reviewing the following video together in class: Investing Basics VIDEO (CLICK HERE) and discussing how you can find stocks you might be interested in investing in for the project. 

Investopedia Stock Market Game Instructions

Step 1:  Go to Investopedia.com

Step 2:  Create a NEW Account using your (SCHOOL) Gmail.

Step 3:  Your USERNAME should be your First Initial and your Last Name followed by (Your School)

Step 4:  Choose a Password you can remember, YOU CANNOT RECOVER IT if you forget!

Step 5:  Once Logged In, Click on SIMULATOR in the menu across the top of the screen

Step 6:  Under JOIN A PUBLIC GAME, click View More Games (Blue Link)

Step 7:  Search by GAME NAME for the game listed as (GAME NAME HERE)

Step 8:  Click JOIN (Blue Link)

Once you have joined the game, view your Portfolio and do some research on stocks you are interested in.  Make sure you click Trade Stock (link) and enter the Stock Symbol for the company you are interested in.  Click BUY or SELL only.  Review the stock information to the left of the screen to see what the stock's current price is.  Calculate how many shares you want to Buy/Sell at that rate.  Enter the number in the appropriate box.  Make sure you are buying at the MARKET RATE and it is "Good Till Cancelled".  Click PREVIEW ORDER.  Once you have previewed the next page, click SUBMIT to start the action.  You can check your progress anytime, as the market is live.  Each morning, I will post the rankings on the board!

NEED HELP FINDING STOCKS TO PICK:  barchart.com

GOOD LUCK!!

- Mr. S

Show A Movie....Really!! COSMOS for Middle/High School!

Are you always looking for something to do for the end of the school year?  Need to "Show A Movie" as a Substitute, or just give them something to think about?  Here is a great resource kit for COSMOS (Netflix and other Apps):

Cosmos Google Drive Folder

ThoughtCo. Lesson Website Link:
https://www.thoughtco.com/cosmos-a-spacetime-odyssey-teaching-tools-1224457