Introduction
With over 25 years of experience in the financial literacy education space, our work consistently shows that one of the most important skills children can learn—both in money and in life—is how to plan. Planning helps kids turn ideas into actions, dreams into goals, and intentions into results. This page highlights how the song “Plan” aligns with national and state financial literacy standards for grades K–8, supporting goal setting, budgeting, and responsible decision-making.
The song Plan teaches children that success doesn’t happen by accident. It starts with thinking ahead, setting goals, visualizing outcomes, and then working the plan step by step.
Song Overview
Song: Plan
Primary Financial Concept:
Planning helps children manage money, set goals, and make thoughtful decisions by thinking ahead and taking intentional action.
Primary Category:
Grow & Plan
Goals & Dreams
Budgeting (Money Maps)
Tracking Progress
Supporting Concepts:
Decision Making
Habits & Responsibility
Self-Management
Perseverance
Key Message:
Big goals and small goals both require a plan. When kids think ahead, write things down, and work their plan, they increase their chances of success.
National Standards Alignment
Council for Economic Education (CEE)
National Standards for Personal Financial Education
Standard 1: Decision Making
Grade Bands: K–2 | 3–5 | 6–8
Effective decision making requires comparing costs and benefits.
How the song aligns:
Encourages thinking ahead before acting
Reinforces intentional choices over impulse
Connects planning to better outcomes
Standard 2: Money Management
Grade Bands: K–2 | 3–5 | 6–8
How the song aligns:
Introduces budgeting as a planning tool
Reinforces organizing money “in and out”
Supports tracking and awareness of progress
Jump$tart Coalition
National Standards in K–12 Personal Finance Education
Financial Decision Making & Budgeting
Grade Bands: K–2 | 3–5 | 6–8
How the song aligns:
Reinforces goal setting before spending
Encourages planning for future needs
Supports budgeting as a life skill
National Financial Educators Council (NFEC)
Core Financial Literacy Framework
Grade Bands: K–2 | 3–5 | 6–8
How the song aligns:
Builds goal-oriented thinking
Reinforces responsibility and follow-through
Encourages proactive money behavior
Social-Emotional Learning (CASEL)
Competencies:
Self-Management · Responsible Decision-Making
How the song aligns:
Encourages reflection and visualization
Builds perseverance and self-discipline
Reinforces commitment to goals
Standards Alignment by Grade Band
K–2 (Ages 5–7): Thinking Ahead
Big idea: I can think ahead and make a plan.
Introduces planning through simple routines
Reinforces writing things down
Builds confidence in goal setting
Grades 3–5 (Ages 8–10): Goals & Planning
Big idea: Planning helps me reach my goals.
Reinforces setting goals before acting
Introduces basic budgeting ideas
Encourages tracking progress
Grades 6–8 (Ages 11–13): Working the Plan
Big idea: Success comes from planning and follow-through.
Connects planning to long-term outcomes
Reinforces responsibility and perseverance
Prepares students for more complex budgeting and goal tracking
State-Level Standards Alignment (Selected States)
Plan aligns with financial literacy, goal-setting, and money management standards across multiple states:
California (CA): Planning, decision-making, and goal setting
Texas (TX): Budgeting and responsible money management
New York (NY): Financial planning and economic reasoning
Washington (WA): Goal setting and future planning
Ohio (OH): Money management and personal responsibility
Iowa (IA): Life skills and planning
Utah (UT): Financial planning and goal alignment
Wisconsin (WI): Habit-based decision making
Massachusetts (MA): Planning and responsible money use
Why This Song Works in the Classroom
Reinforces planning as a life and money skill
Connects goals, visualization, and action
Scales naturally from early elementary to middle school
Aligns with both financial literacy and SEL standards
Bottom line:
Plan teaches children that success—financial or otherwise—starts with thinking ahead, setting goals, and working a plan one step at a time.
Download the Standards Alignment PDF
If you’d like a downloadable PDF version of this standards alignment for classroom use, curriculum review, or district adoption, please contact us. We’re happy to provide a printable version aligned with national and state standards.
More Resources Supporting the Song
Additional Songs and Fun Resources
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parents, teachers, and community leaders learning and growing their financial literacy teaching skills by reading Sam X Renick's series of articles: Money Lessons Parents Should Teach Kids!
delivering financial education at home, in school, and other venues with Sammy's Dream Big Financial Education curriculum!
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