Lesson Plans
Dictionary Term Focus: Invest
Core Concept Across All Grades
Investing means using money today to help it grow over time. When children learn what it means to invest, they begin to understand patience, planning ahead, and how small choices today can lead to bigger results in the future.
K–2 Lesson Plan
Grade Band: K–2 (Ages 5–7)
Big Ideas
Investing helps money grow over time.
When I invest, I am helping my future.
Investing means waiting and growing.
Learning Objectives
Learners can:
Recognize and understand the word invest
Explain that investing means helping money grow over time
Identify simple examples of investing using familiar ideas
Standards Alignment
Council for Economic Education (CEE): Saving and Investing
Jump$tart Coalition: Saving and Investing
National Financial Educators Council (NFEC): Money basics
CASEL: Self-Management, Responsible Decision-Making
Materials
Dictionary definition of Invest (kid-friendly version)
Picture cards showing growth (seed → plant, piggy bank growing, calendar pages)
Coins or counters
Lesson Flow (15–20 minutes)
1. Word Introduction & Sound Familiarity (2 minutes)
Teacher says:
“Today’s word is invest.”
Have students:
Listen to the word
Say the word together: “Invest.”
Say it slowly: “In-vest.”
Teacher models the word:
“When we invest, we help money grow.”
“Investing takes time.”
Explain:
“Today we are going to learn what it means to invest.”
2. Simple Definition & Meaning (3 minutes)
Teacher says and displays the definition:
“To invest means to use your money to help it grow over time.”
Have students repeat the sentence together once.
Teacher gives a concrete example:
“Planting a seed and waiting is like investing.”
“That is helping something grow.”
3. Warm-Up Conversation: Growth & Waiting (3 minutes)
Ask:
“What are some things that grow over time?”
“Do things grow right away or slowly?”
Reinforce:
“Investing means waiting for growth.”
4. Bridge to Money Growing (3 minutes)
Teacher says:
“When people invest money, they give it time to grow.”
Ask:
“What happens if you don’t spend your money right away?”
“What might your money do if you wait?”
Offer examples:
“It can grow”
“It can help later”
“It can help your future”
Reinforce:
“Investing means helping your money work for you.”
5. Read & Discuss the Definition (4 minutes)
Read the kid-friendly dictionary definition again.
Ask:
“Does investing happen fast or slow?”
“What are we doing when we invest?”
Key idea to reinforce:
“Investing takes time and patience.”
6. Guided Practice (3 minutes)
Show picture cards and ask:
“Is this investing or spending?”
“What might grow here?”
Students respond using the sentence frame:
“I invest to help ___ grow.”
7. Practice Activity: Plant the Future (3–4 minutes)
Students act out:
Planting a seed
Waiting
Watching it grow
Teacher reinforces:
“Investing helps the future grow.”
Assessment (Informal)
Students can:
Explain what investing means
Identify a simple example of investing
Take-Home Connection
“Talk with someone at home about one way you could invest time or money for the future.”
Grades 3–5 Lesson Plan
Grade Band: 3–5 (Ages 8–10)
Big Idea
Investing means giving money time to grow so it can help more in the future.
Learning Objectives
Students can:
Explain the meaning of the word invest
Describe how investing helps money grow over time
Identify examples of investing and not investing
Standards Alignment
Council for Economic Education (CEE): Saving and Investing
Jump$tart Coalition: Saving and Investing
National Financial Educators Council (NFEC): Financial awareness
CASEL: Self-Control, Reflection
Materials
Dictionary definition of Invest (kid and grown-up versions)
Scenario cards (spend now vs. invest and wait)
Chart paper or board
Lesson Flow (20–25 minutes)
1. Word Reintroduction & Meaning Check (4 minutes)
Teacher says:
“Today’s word is invest.”
Ask:
“How would you explain investing in your own words?”
Read the kid-friendly definition.
Invite students to restate it.
Reinforce:
“Investing means helping money grow over time.”
2. Warm-Up Question (4 minutes)
Ask:
“Why might someone choose to invest instead of spend?”
List responses.
3. Read & Analyze the Definition (5 minutes)
Read the grown-up definition.
Ask:
“What do people hope will happen when they invest?”
“Why does investing require patience?”
Write on the board:
Invest → Time → Growth
4. Scenario Activity (8–10 minutes)
Present scenarios and ask:
“Is this investing or spending?”
“What might grow in this situation?”
Reinforce:
“Investing is a long-term choice.”
5. Reflection (4–5 minutes)
Students complete:
“One reason people invest is…”
“One thing I could invest in is…”
Assessment (Informal)
Students can:
Define investing
Identify investing vs. spending
Explain why investing takes time
Take-Home Extension
“Notice one example of investing this week and what it might grow into.”
Grades 6–8 Lesson Plan
Grade Band: 6–8 (Ages 11–13)
Big Idea
Investing is a long-term choice that helps money grow and supports future goals.
Learning Objectives
Students can:
Clearly define the word invest
Explain how investing differs from saving and spending
Describe how investing supports long-term goals and wealth building
Standards Alignment
Council for Economic Education (CEE): Saving and Investing
Jump$tart Coalition: Investing
National Financial Educators Council (NFEC): Informed financial behavior
CASEL: Self-Management, Goal Setting
Materials
Dictionary definition of Invest
Scenario comparison worksheet
Optional growth timeline worksheet
Lesson Flow (30 minutes)
1. Word Reintroduction & Precision Check (5 minutes)
Teacher says:
“Today’s focus word is invest.”
Ask:
“How would you define investing?”
“What makes investing different from saving?”
Refine definitions together.
2. Opening Question (5 minutes)
Ask:
“Why do people give money time to grow instead of using it right away?”
Discuss long-term thinking.
3. Definition Discussion & Framing (5 minutes)
Ask:
“What does it mean for money to ‘work for you’?”
“How does compound growth help investors?”
Keep explanations high-level and conceptual.
4. Scenario Comparison (10 minutes)
Compare:
Spending immediately
Investing and waiting
Ask:
“Which creates more future options?”
“Which requires patience and planning?”
5. Personal Application (5 minutes)
Students write:
One thing they could invest in
One future goal investing could support
One habit successful investors need
Assessment
Students can:
Define investing clearly
Explain how investing helps money grow
Connect investing to long-term outcomes
Real-World Extension
Connect to:
Education and skill-building
Businesses and ownership
Long-term goals like college or retirement
Teacher Notes
Emphasize growth, patience, and time
Avoid technical products for younger students
Reinforce investing as a habit, not a gamble
Pair with dictionary lessons for Save, Earn, Spend, and Money
Bottom Line
The word Invest helps students understand that money can grow over time when given patience and purpose. By learning what it means to invest, children begin building long-term thinking skills that support future goals, confidence, and opportunity.
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