Lesson Plans
Dictionary Term Focus: Choice
Core Concept Across All Grades
Every money decision is a choice. When children learn to pause, think, and choose intentionally, they improve outcomes for themselves now and in the future.
K–2 Lesson Plan
Grade Band: K–2 (Ages 5–7)
Big Idea
The choices I make matter whether they are big or small.
Learning Objective
“I can stop and think before I make a money choice.”
Standards Alignment
Council for Economic Education (CEE): Decision Making
Jump$tart Coalition: Financial Decision Making
National Financial Educators Council (NFEC): Responsibility and awareness
CASEL: Self-Management, Responsible Decision-Making
Materials
Picture cards showing simple choices (save vs. spend, share vs. keep, wait vs. rush)
Lesson Flow (15–20 minutes)
1. Warm-Up Conversation (3 minutes)
Ask:
“What choices did you make today?”
“Did you choose what to wear or what to eat?”
Explain:
“A choice means picking one thing instead of another.”
2. Read & Discuss the Definition (5 minutes)
Read the kid-friendly dictionary definition of Choice.
Ask:
“Can we make more than one choice at the same time?”
“What happens when we choose one thing?”
Key idea:
“When we choose one thing, we don’t choose something else.”
3. Guided Practice (5 minutes)
Show a picture card and ask:
“What are the choices?”
“What might happen if you choose this one?”
Students respond by saying:
“I choose to think.”
4. Practice Activity (5 minutes)
Students act out:
Stopping
Thinking
Choosing
Teacher reinforces:
“Good choices start with thinking.”
Assessment (Informal)
Students can:
Explain what a choice is
Demonstrate pausing before choosing
Take-Home Connection
“Talk with someone at home about one money choice you made today.”
Grades 3–5 Lesson Plan
Grade Band: 3–5 (Ages 8–10)
Big Idea
Good choices come from thinking things through.
Learning Objective
Students will explain how money choices involve trade-offs and lead to different outcomes.
Standards Alignment
CEE: Decision Making (costs and benefits)
Jump$tart: Financial Decision Making
NFEC: Behavioral awareness
CASEL: Self-Control, Reflection
Materials
Scenario cards (save vs. spend, buy now vs. wait, share vs. keep)
Chart paper or board
Lesson Flow (20–25 minutes)
1. Warm-Up Question (5 minutes)
Ask:
“Have you ever wished you made a different choice?”
Explain:
“Thinking first helps us make better choices.”
2. Read & Analyze the Definition (5 minutes)
Read both versions of the dictionary definition.
Ask:
“Why does every choice matter?”
“What happens when we choose one option?”
Write on the board:
Choice → Result
3. Scenario Activity (10 minutes)
Present scenarios and ask:
“What are the choices?”
“What do you give up with each choice?”
Introduce student-friendly language:
“When you choose one thing, you miss another.”
4. Reflection (5 minutes)
Students complete:
“One smart choice I can make with money is…”
“I can improve my choices by…”
Assessment
Students can:
Identify choices in a scenario
Explain why thinking first matters
Take-Home Extension
“Notice one money choice this week and reflect on the result.”
Grades 6–8 Lesson Plan
Grade Band: 6–8 (Ages 11–13)
Big Idea
My choices shape my future.
Learning Objective
Students will analyze how money choices involve trade-offs and influence long-term goals.
Standards Alignment
CEE: Decision Making (costs, benefits, outcomes)
Jump$tart: Financial Decision Making
NFEC: Informed decision-making
CASEL: Self-Management, Social Awareness
Materials
Scenario comparison worksheet
Optional goal-reflection worksheet
Lesson Flow (30 minutes)
1. Opening Question (5 minutes)
Ask:
“How can small choices today affect your future?”
Discuss patterns and habits.
2. Definition Discussion (5 minutes)
Review the dictionary definition.
Introduce student-friendly explanation:
“A choice always means saying yes to one thing and no to another.”
3. Scenario Comparison (10 minutes)
Compare:
Student A makes quick, unplanned choices
Student B pauses and evaluates options
Ask:
“Who has more control?”
“Who is more likely to reach their goals?”
Connect to:
Spending
Saving
Time and priorities
4. Personal Application (10 minutes)
Students write:
One money choice they make often
One way they could improve that choice
One future goal affected by that choice
Assessment
Students can:
Explain trade-offs in their own words
Connect choices to long-term outcomes
Real-World Extension
Connect to:
Spending decisions
Saving goals
Peer pressure and advertising
Teacher Notes
Emphasize thinking, not perfection
Reinforce that mistakes are learning opportunities
Highlight that habits are repeated choices
Pair with dictionary lessons for Save, Budget, and Goal
Bottom Line
The word Choice helps children understand that money decisions are powerful. When kids learn to pause, think, and choose intentionally, they build habits that support confidence, responsibility, and lifelong financial well-being.
Download the Standards Alignment PDF
If you’d like a downloadable PDF version of this and all of Sammy Rabbit's financial literacy standards aligned lesson plans 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.
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