Fourth Grade
Our Fourth-Grade curriculum ties into the Social Studies learning standards theme of “Our State, Our Nation.” By the end of the lessons, students should be able to analyze how a variety of factors influence spending choices, describe how our money is made, and explain that income can be saved, spent, or used to pay taxes. In addition, students will explore how different careers produce goods and services using human, natural, and capital resources. By teaching this unit, all Financial Literacy and Economics standards are met, as well as many of the inquiry standards.
If you would like to view the unit broken down into individual lessons and activities, please see below.
Lesson 1 Lesson Plan
Supporting Question #1
- Reading for Information- What is Money?
- Reading for Information- The Barter System History
- Investigation Activity- Bartering Today
- Writing Activity- A World Without Money
- Writing a Limerick Poem
Supporting Question #2
- Reading for Information – Where does money come from?
- Investigation Activity – Counterfeit Money
- Currency Academy Worksheet
- Currency Academy Reference Sheet
- Design a Coin Activity
Supporting Question #3
- Reading for Information- In Money We Trust
- Writing Activity
- Concept Map
- U.S. Currency Scrambled Puzzle
- U.S. Currency Scrambled Puzzle Answer Key
Lesson 2 Lesson Plan
Supporting Question #1
- Reading for Information – Individual Wage Rate Factors
- Reading for Information – Earned Income
- Investigation Activity – Incomes
- Class Discussion – Incomes
- Wages After Taxes
- Anagrams Puzzle
- Anagrams Puzzle Answer Key
Supporting Question #2
- Reading for Information – Licensed Occupations
- Reading for Information – Illinois Job Market
- Investigation Activity – Occupation Outlook
- Connect-Extend-Challenge
- Image Analysis
- Industry Occupations and States
Supporting Question #3
- Reading for Information – Good Companies
- Investigation Activity – Great Places to Work
- Great Places to Work Reference Sheet
- Life Road Map Activity
- Writing Activity – The Future Me
- The Future Me Word Search
- The Future Me Word Search Answer Key
Lesson 3 Lesson Plan
Supporting Question #1
- Reading for Information – Money Choices
- Reading for Information – Save-Spend-Give
- Reading for Information – Taxes
- Investigation Activity – Taxes
- Investigation Activity – Sales Tax Holiday
- What Type of Tax?
- Writing Prompt – Spending
- Thoughts on a Soda Tax
- Sales Tax Holiday- The Discussion
- Sales Tax Holiday- The Vote
- Choices Exit Ticket
Supporting Question #2
- Reading for Information -Spending Decisions
- Reading for Information – Advertising
- Consumer Spending Choices
- Fact-Opinion Activity
- Advertising Activity
- Advertising Exit Ticket
Supporting Question #3
- Reading for Information – Financial Well-Being
- Reading for Information – Tiny Houses
- Investigation Activity – Conclusion Tree
- Thought Piece
- Financial Well-Being Crossword Puzzle
- Financial Well-Being Crossword Puzzle Answer Key
Help students build the decision-making skills they need for college, careers, and everyday life.
Contact us to learn more about resources, classroom support, and how to get started.
Additional Teacher Resources
