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Standards-Aligned Financial Literacy Lesson Plans (Grade 3): Sammy's Big Dream — Saving and Earning Money (1A)
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Standards-Aligned Financial Literacy Lesson Plans (Grade 3): Sammy's Big Dream — Saving and Earning Money (1A)Lesson Plan

Featured Resource - Storybook: Sammy’s Big Dream — Saving and Earning Money (Part 1A)

Grade Level: 3
Subject/Content Area: Financial Literacy · Literacy Integration
Duration: 30 minutes
Note: This lesson may be combined with Part 1B of this series.

Lesson Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will:

  • Understand that saving and earning money are positive habits that help make dreams come true

  • Ask and answer questions about the money habits Sammy uses in Sammy’s Big Dream

  • Collaborate to create a KWL chart connecting personal experiences to saving money

  • Begin developing awareness of goals, habits, and perseverance

Materials (Including Technology)

Note: If you need access to any of Sammy’s activity templates referenced in this lesson, you can enroll in a FREE or PREMIUM Money School Memberships or contac us directly. We'd be happy to provide the materials.

Standards Alignment

This lesson is aligned with national standards and multiple state financial literacy frameworks.
The source materials also allow for cross-alignment with English Language Arts and Social-Emotional Learning standards.

Financial Literacy Standards

National Standards for Personal Financial Education

(Developed by the Council for Economic Education)

  • Saving 4-1: Saving means choosing not to spend money now in order to buy something in the future

  • Saving 4-3: People differ in their values and attitudes about saving

  • Investing 4-1: People invest money so it can grow over time and support long-term goals

Washington Financial Education and Learning Standards

  • 3.SS.1: Show how saving money improves financial well-being

  • 3.EI.9: Identify jobs children can do to earn money

  • 3.EI.10: Identify sources of income beyond wages or salaries

  • 3.FD.6: Compare needs and wants

  • 3.FD.9: Identify a plan to achieve a specific, measurable goal

Ohio Learning Standards | Financial Literacy

  • 3.FRD.1: Money choices include saving, spending, and donating

  • 3.FRD.3: Income can come from work, gifts, or allowances

  • 3.CD.6: Money is needed to purchase goods and services

Wisconsin Standards for Personal Financial Literacy

  • PFL.FM1.b.i: Describe the role of money in everyday life

  • PFL.FM2.b.i: Describe how emotions impact financial decisions

  • PFL.FM2.c.i: Explain how external factors influence financial decisions

  • PFL.EE1.b.i: Describe how people are compensated for work

  • PFL.MM1.b.i: Identify age-appropriate ways to save, spend, and give

Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Personal Finance

  • 17.1.3–5.A: Describe reasons people set financial goals

  • 17.1.3–5.E: Describe conversations people have about money

  • 17.2.3–5.A: Describe ways people receive income

  • 17.4.3–5.B: Describe different savings goals and factors that influence them

Iowa Department of Education – Social Studies

  • SS.3.18: Determine the importance of saving and investing for future needs

Academic Learning Standards (ELA – Grade 3)

Reading, Writing, Speaking & Listening

  • RL.1: Ask and answer questions using text evidence

  • RL.4: Determine meanings of words and phrases

  • RL.6: Distinguish point of view

  • W.10: Write for a range of tasks and time frames

  • SL.1: Engage in collaborative discussions

  • SL.3: Ask and answer questions from a speaker

  • SL.6: Speak clearly and in complete sentences

  • L.4.A–B: Use context clues and affixes to determine word meaning

Social-Emotional Learning Standards

  • 1.1C: Demonstrates self-awareness and understanding of external influences

  • 2.2B: Demonstrates responsible decision-making and problem-solving

  • 6.6B: Works collaboratively to set, monitor, and achieve goals

Lesson Outline

Introduction (5 minutes)

  • Introduce Sammy Rabbit as the main character in Sammy’s Big Dream

  • Explain that students will learn how Sammy uses money habits to achieve a big dream

  • Share the learning goal:

    “Today we will read Sammy’s Big Dream and begin learning how saving and earning help make dreams come true.”

Activity 1: KWL Chart — Saving Money (5 minutes)

Create a KWL (Know-Wonder-Learn) chart on chart paper:

Topic: Saving Money

  • K – What We Know

  • W – What We Want to Know

  • L – What We Learned

Explain each section of the chart.
Guide students to collaboratively fill in the K and W sections.

Discuss:

  • What students already know about saving

  • Questions they have about money and saving

Explain that as the story unfolds, students will discover new money habits that help Sammy reach his goal.

Activity 2: Read Aloud — Sammy’s Big Dream (20 minutes)

Read the story aloud as a class or assign pages to students.

Pause at key moments to ask questions and promote discussion:

  • Page 5:
    Should Mama and Papa give Sammy $300? Why or why not?

  • Page 7:
    What is a savings account?
    Partner discussion encouraged.
    Math connection: Half of $300 = $150.
    How much more does Sammy need to save?

    Draw a number line from 0–300 and mark 150.

  • Page 10:
    Can Sammy earn the $100 he still needs? How might he do it?

  • Page 11:
    A habit is something we repeat again and again. What is one habit you have every day?

  • Page 12:
    How did Sammy earn money? What did he do with it after earning it?

  • Page 15:
    Should Sammy give up? What would you do?

  • Page 19:
    Besides working, how else did Sammy save money?

  • Page 26:
    What lesson did Aunt Squirly teach Sammy that helped him ride the space coaster?

Conclusion (5 minutes)

  • Discuss why saving money helps make dreams come true

  • Ask:

    • Why do people save money?

    • What are some ways kids can save?

  • Preview upcoming lessons on money habits and goal-setting

  • Ask students to think of something they would like to save for

  • Introduce the Dream Big Journal (to be continued next lesson)

Teacher Note

This lesson intentionally focuses on habits, perseverance, and goal-setting before introducing complex financial mechanics—building a strong foundation for future lessons.

Get All Lesson Plans in One PDF

If you’d like a FREE, printable PDF with all of our national and state standards aligned financial literacy lesson plans, contact us.

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