Introduction: Standards-Aligned Financial Literacy Lesson Plans — Earning Money
Featured Materials / Resources
Sammy Rabbit Guest Blog titled: 15 Money-Making Ideas for Kids & Teens: Helping Them Learn, Earn, and Grow (Anchor reading text)
Sammy Rabbit Song titled: Lemonade Stand (Optional audio/extension activity)
Anchor Text: Earning Money Is Fun To Do! (Student Guest Blog)
Core Theme Across All Grades
Earning money helps people build skills, confidence, and habits that support their goals today and in the future.
Suggested Instructional Strategy
Teacher reads the blog (or selected excerpts) aloud, followed by guided discussion and age-appropriate activities that explore earning money, work, and careers.
K–2 / Elementary School Lesson Plan
Grade Band: K–2 (Ages 5–7)
Estimated Time: 20–30 minutes
Big Idea
People earn money by doing helpful work.
Learning Objective
Students will be able to:
Explain that money is earned by doing work or helping others
Identify simple ways kids can earn money
Standards Alignment
Council for Economic Education (CEE):
Earning Income – People earn income by working
Jump$tart Coalition:
Earning Income – Jobs provide income
National Financial Educators Council (NFEC):
Earning and effort
CASEL:
Self-Awareness, Responsible Decision-Making
Materials
Featured blog (Extract sections and ideas approrpriate to grade leve))
Chart paper or whiteboard
Crayons or pencils
Lesson Flow
1. Read-Aloud (5 minutes)
Read lyrics (and or listen to the song) lemonade stand and 2–3 elementary money-making ideas from featured blog.
2. Guided Discussion (8–10 minutes)
Ask:
“What does it mean to earn money?” (See Sammy dictionary: Earn)
“What work did the student do to earn money?”
“How does earning money make kids feel?”
“What are ways you could help and earn money?”
3. Activity: My First Job (7–10 minutes)
Students draw:
One way they could earn money
Who they would help
What tool or skill they would use
Optional sentence frame:
“I can earn money by __________.”
Optional sentence frame:
Have students develop their own one sentence Money Motto and earning philosphy.
4. Wrap-Up Reflection (3 minutes)
Reinforce:
“Money doesn’t just appear. People earn it by helping others.”
Grades 3–5 / Upper Elementary Lesson Plan
Estimated Time: 30–40 minutes
Big Idea
Earning money builds responsibility and confidence.
Learning Objective
Students will be able to:
Identify multiple ways kids can earn money
Explain how earning money helps people make choices about saving and spending
Standards Alignment
CEE:
Earning Income
Decision Making
Jump$tart Coalition:
Earning, Saving, Spending
NFEC:
Financial responsibility
CASEL:
Self-Management, Social Awareness
Materials
Lesson Flow
1. Read-Aloud or Partner Reading (10 minutes)
Students read the blog or selected sections.
2. Discussion Questions (10 minutes)
“Why does earning money build confidence?”
“What choices do kids make once they earn money?”
“Which money-making ideas require planning?”
“What skills do kids practice when they earn money?”
3. Activity: Match the Job to the Skill (10 minutes)
Create a class chart:
Lemonade stand → communication, math
Pet sitting → responsibility
Selling crafts → creativity, pricing
Students add at least one skill per job.
4. Extension (Optional)
Have students write a short paragraph:
“If I earned money, I would save it for __________.”
Middle School Lesson Plan (Grades 6–8)
Estimated Time: 40–50 minutes
Big Idea
Earning money teaches independence and prepares students for future careers.
Learning Objective
Students will be able to:
Compare different ways to earn money
Identify skills connected to earning income
Explain how earning relates to long-term goals
Standards Alignment
CEE:
Earning Income
Human Capital
Jump$tart Coalition:
Career and income planning
NFEC:
Goal setting and planning
CASEL:
Responsible Decision-Making
Materials
Full blog text
Lesson Flow
1. Independent Reading (10 minutes)
Students read the blog and highlight:
One job they find interesting
One skill needed for that job
2. Small-Group Discussion (10–15 minutes)
“Which jobs require the most responsibility?”
“How does earning money change how you think about spending?”
“What skills transfer to adult careers?”
3. Activity: My First Micro-Business (15 minutes)
Students outline:
What they would do
Who they would help
What skills they would need
What they would do with the money they earn
High School Lesson Plan (Grades 9–12)
Estimated Time: 45–60 minutes
Big Idea
Earning income is connected to career paths, entrepreneurship, and long-term financial stability.
Learning Objective
Students will be able to:
Analyze earning opportunities
Connect skills to income potential
Explain how earning, saving, and investing work together
Standards Alignment
CEE:
Career Choices
Entrepreneurship
Jump$tart Coalition:
Income and careers
Financial planning
NFEC:
Investing basics
CASEL:
Self-Management, Goal Setting
Materials
Full blog text
Lesson Flow
1. Read & Reflect (10 minutes)
Students read the High School section and bonus tips.
2. Discussion (15 minutes)
“What earning ideas scale over time?”
“Which jobs build human capital?”
“How does earning support investing?”
3. Activity: Career Path Snapshot (15–20 minutes)
Students choose one earning idea and map:
Skills needed now
Skills needed later
How income could grow over time
Assessment Options (All Grades)
Exit ticket: “One way I can earn money and one skill I will practice.”
Drawing or paragraph response
Group presentation or poster
Teacher Note / CTA
This lesson supports reading comprehension, career awareness, and financial literacy by centering student voice and real-world examples. Pairing this blog with hands-on discussion helps students see earning money as both empowering and achievable.
If you’d like, next steps I can help with:
Converting this into printable PDFs
Creating discussion cards or worksheets
Aligning to specific state standards (e.g., California, Texas, Florida)
Writing a teacher intro paragraph consistent with your other lesson plan blogs
Related Resources and Standard Aligned Money Lesson Plans
Get All Lesson Plans in One PDF
If you’d like a FREE, printable PDF with all of our national and state aligned financial literacy standards contact us.
Keep Kids and Families Learning
Kids, families, and schools of every kind can enroll in Sammy Rabbit’s Money School with a FREE, PREMIUM or Group Discount Money School Memberships, giving learners access to engaging, age-appropriate financial education resources.
Parents, teachers, and community leaders are invited to explore the resources and teaching tips available on SammyRabbit.com, starting with award-winning financial educator Sam X Renick’s article series, Money Lessons Parents Should Teach Kids!
Schools, community organizations, employers, and partners can learn more about Sammy's Dream Big Financial Education curriculum, a flexible, standards-aligned approach designed to help children build strong money habits, confidence, and lifelong skills.
Contact Sammy Today!
We welcome your questions, suggestions, and ideas! Let’s connect, brainstorm, and partner to keep helping kids, families, and communities build strong financial literacy knowledge, habits, and skills—so together, we can create better and brighter futures for all.
CONNECT NOW
