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Economic Connections |
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Educational services promoting economic and personal finance literacy |
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Web Links: Individual and Household Choice State standard: How the economic forces of
scarcity and choice affect the management of personal financial resources,
shape consumer decisions regarding the purchase, use, and disposal of goods
and services and affect the economic well being of individuals and society. General (special
sections for students
and educators) advertising/media
(including privacy) Employment
(see also
Labor
Policy) FRAUD (including charity watchdogs) Saving/Investing
(see also
Market News and
Price Quotes and Stock Market
Investment Simulations) TAXES
(see Government:
Taxes/Spending) Utilities (including telephone service comparisons NOTE:
For information on
socially responsible buying and investing, see Economic
Systems: Consumer Action Consumer
Reports. News
and product reviews on consumer goods and services—some available to the
general public and others accessible only with a subscription. Links to
various consumer advocacy groups are also provided. An online
guide for teachers offers lesson plans and reproducible masters for using
the magazine. Federal
Citizen Information Center. The
primary consumer web site of the federal government. At this link you will
find a catalog of
free and low-cost federal government publications of consumer interest with
full-text versions of many. Subject areas include cars, federal programs,
money, education, health, food travel and more. The site includes these
notable links:
FirstGov.gov. Another web site maintained by the Federal government
that will help you find government information that you know is out there
(somewhere!) but you just don't know where to find it or how to even begin a
search for it. How to Negotiate. Dr. Phil's
negotiating tips to get what you want at the right price. CNNMoney.com.
Tips,
calculators, stock price quotes and links to all sorts of personal finance
information by Money Magazine. TheMint.org.
Ideas for teachers and parents to help
youngsters make the most out of their money. Topics include earning, saving,
spending, tracking, investing, and owing money. Activities include keeping a
money diary, where your paycheck goes, and more. Money Math. Download or order a copy of four
lessons created to supplement grade 7-9 math lessons with real-life examples from personal
finance. Money
Smart.
A financial education program available in five languages to help low-
and moderate-income families understand the basics of banking -- from opening
a savings account to choosing and using a credit card to buying
a home. Source: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Money Talks. The
University of California Cooperative Extension offers teens and their
teachers a 4-minute video on savings, an online newsletter plus quizzes on
topics such as saving, saavy shopping, and operating a car. The Motley Fool.
Get up-to-minute financial news, track an investment portfolio
and read articles on personal finance topics. Multilingual
Library of Consumer Information. Consumer Action offers a diverse selection of consumer materials in
seven languages: English, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Russian, Spanish and
Vietnamese. MyMoney.gov. The U.S.
government's website dedicated to teaching personal finance basics. Twenty
federal agencies have posted information on everything from balancing a
checkbook, to buying a home, paying for college and investing. Personal
Financial Education. Brochures and other educational materials from the FED
on consumer banking, consumer protection, economics, home and mortgage,
interest rates, loans & credit, and general information. Practical Money
Skills for Life. VISA U.S.A. has
developed a set of online personal finance education tools for parents,
teachers, consumers and students. Links to online resources appropriate for
use with young persons of preschool through college age. Resources include
curricula for use in schools, web sites, videos, publications, games and
interactive calculators. Consumer
Jungle: Surviving Solo. Computer activities give students a cost-of-living
reality check and information on budgeting, apartment rental agreements,
landlord-tenant rights, and utilities. Parent and teacher versions of this site are available
with tips and a unit plan. Consumer
Reports Center for Children, Youth and Families. Young people can take part in a consumer
survey or test a product used by kids. Appropriate for students in grades
4-8. Escape From Knab. Players of this online interactive game
are stranded on the slimy planet of Knab and need to earn enough money to get
back. Find out if you know enough about money and investing to earn your way
back home! Financial Literacy: On
the Money. Online
resources for teens about bank accounts, credit, making money and other
aspects of money management created as a supplement to a Public Broadcasting
Program on teens and money. Online calculators let students explore how much
money they can earn, how long it will take to save money for a future purchase
and credit card payments. GoogoPlex. The Credit Union National Organization
offers three web sites with calculators, games and a wealth of short articles
on earning, borrowing, saving and spending money. |
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5-Spot Clubhouse (Upper Elementary) |
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Hands on
Banking. An
online program for kids, teens and adults to improve your
knowledge of budgeting, bank services, saving and investing, credit, buying a
home, and starting a small business. Available in English and Spanish from
Wells Fargo Corp. TEACHERS! Don’t
miss the link to the teacher guide for each program. It All
Adds Up. Five
modules for teenagers: 1) Getting and Using a Credit Card, 2) Buying a Car,
3) Budget Odyssey, 4) Saving and Investing Blitz and 5) You're Going to
College. An online teacher
guide provides a summary of concepts and objectives. LearningToSave.com.
Simple activities, a coloring book and puzzles that teach students
about earning, saving, spending and giving. Other items on the site are
promotional The Mint: Smart Cents.
The U.S. Mint offers this web site for students on earning, saving,
borrowing, investing, and spending. Calculators help students learn about
interest and the rule of 72. There is
also a glossary of personal finance terms. Moneyopolis. As a new resident in the town of
MoneyopolisTM, you have $600 to use while visiting seven town
centers: Personal Planning, Shopping, Banking, City Hall, Community, and
Education. Your goal is to save at least $1,000 and to earn at least 3
Community Service Medallions by the end of your visit. Lesson ideas are offered for
teachers that will help teach grade 6-8 math, goal setting and money
management skills. Planet Orange. The basics of
earning, saving, spending and investing for grades 4-8. Visit any of four continents:
the Republic of Saving, Investor Islands, Moneyland and South Spending. Reality Check. Students respond to a set of questions concerning their anticipated
lifestyle (housing, transportation, food, insurance, entertainment, etc.).
Based on their choices they are given an estimate how much they will need to
earn and examples of jobs that would do so. Sense
and Dollars. Maryland Public Television offers this tutorial on earning,
spending and saving. Money games let you balance a budget, determine the cost
of a credit card purchase, and plan a dream prom. YoungMoney.com. InCharge® Institute of America, Inc.—a national, non-profit
credit counseling organization—offers this online magazine for college
stuents covering a variety of personal finance topics Wise
Pockets. A
clubhouse for kids with short stories on earning, saving, spending and
borrowing. Consumer
Jungle: Independent Living. Computer activities give students a cost-of-living
reality check and information on budgeting, apartment rental agreements,
landlord-tenant rights, and utilities. Parent and teacher versions of this site are available
with tips and a unit plan. Financial
Fitness for Life. Background info and how to order this National Council on Economic Education K-12
curriculum that integrates the national standards for economics, personal
finance, mathematics and language arts. The mix of materials includes teacher
guides, parent guides, student storybook for K-2 students, and worksheets for
older students. Web links and a CD-ROM offer interactive and technology-based
learning experiences. Specific topics covered include earning, borrowing,
saving and investing, buying smart and money management. Titles of the four
teacher guides are: High
School Financial Planning Program. Use this web page to order the free print
teacher guide and student workbooks with six units on goal setting,
budgeting, careers, credit, saving and investing. Sponsored by the National
Endowment for Financial Education, the kit offers simulations, case studies,
and interactive exercises and assessment materials. A web-based
training program for teachers is also available. Jump$tart
Coalition. Choose
Resources to search a database of primarily print personal finance
education materials developed by the members of this organization committed to
strengthening personal finance education programs in our nation's
schools. The Standards link outlines standards and benchmarks for personal finance
education in the nation's schools (grades 4, 8 and 12). National
Teen Resource Bureau. The National Endowment
for Financial Education offers this web site by and for teens. NEFE provides
the content, structure and management but relies heavily on the insight and
creativity of young persons when generating materials. LifeSmarts. Details
on a free national competition for grade 9-12 student teams that focuses on
what teens need to be smart and responsible consumers. Regional and state
competitions are available in many states. There is also an online option. Money
Management International Lessons. Lessons for teaching money management using children's
trade books. Money Math: Lessons
for Life, Four math lessons using real-world personal
finance topics for grades 7-9 on saving and the value of compounding;
occupations; salaries and taxes; and budgeting. Money Smart. An overview of this free print curriculum
developed to assist educators of lower income consumers who do not have
traditional relationships with financial institutions. Ten units provide an overview of the
services and products provided by insured financial institutions and lessons
on checking accounts, borrowing, saving, and buying a home. Order online
from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Zillions.
Consumers Union no longer publishes this magazine for grades 4 to 8
but it has posted many lessons online based on past issues. Even if you don’t have back issues in your
library you will find interesting approaches for helping students become
savvy consumers. |
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Advertising |
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Adbusters: Spoof Ads. View spoofs of real advertisements
created by an activist group concerned about the impact of commercials on our
world. Categories of ads include fashion, food, alcohol, tobacco,
and miscellaneous. Instructions are provided how students can make their own
spoof print ads. Ad*Access. Ad*Access Billing itself as "the world's
largest searchable database of classic print ads", AdFlip indexes actual
ads by category (automotive, electronic, fashion, etc.), decade (1940s to
current), and several specialty categories (ad as art, famous, advocacy,
provocative, today's top ten). Click on the thumbnail of a specific ad to see
a full-page version. Advertising. Publications from the Federal Trade Commission
telling consumers and businesses what is legal and illegal when marketing
goods and services. Consumers are
advised offered practical advice to help screen “fact” from “fiction” in
advertising. See the FTC’s sections
on Telemarketing for
additional information. Advertising
Codes. Codes for advertising and online business
practices from the Better Business Bureau. CreatAbiliToys:
The Museum of Advertising Icons. It will take a little patience to figure out how to use this
site featuring over 700 advertising icons spanning more than a century of
American history, but it is can be worth it.
Use it to show students how businesses use imaginary characters and
toys to create brand loyalty. Icons
include the Jolly Green Giant, the Pillsbury Dough Boy, the M&Ms
characters, etc. Click on items in
the cases or use the toy search feature to learn more about specific icons. The Direct Marketing Association. Contact information
and advice how to have your name removed from mail, telephone, and email
lists. Don’t Buy It: Get
Media Smart. For
9 to 11-year olds, an introduction to the objectives and tricks of
advertising. Users are invited to
create an ad, design a cereal box and be an ad detective locating places
companies place ads. In an
entertainment section, students learn secrets about how music is selected for
radio and magazine cover models. Lesson plans are provided for teachers and a
parent guide to using media are also offered. School
Tour. Take a tour of your school and your school grounds
looking for advertisements. This Center for Commercial Free Public Education
web page will give you ideas about where to look. Follow other links on the
page for background information
on how marketers pitch products in schools. What's
in a Name? The Corporate Branding of America's Schools. Download this
5th annual report (.pdf format) addressing the question of private and
corporate sponsorship of public education and education-related activities
across the U.S. Trends examined include the selling of naming rights to
school athletic facilities, exclusive product agreements, corporate-sponsored
incentive programs, and the corporate appropriation of public school space
for their brand names or logos. Source: Commercialism
in Education Research Unit. . Consumer
Jungle: Computers. Computer
activities show students how to buy, sell, navigate, and communicate online
safely and efficiently. Parent and
teacher versions of this site are available with tips and a unit plan. On-Line Privacy Seals of Approval. Several organizations
review the privacy policies of web sites and assign a seal to those that meet
these criteria. Two of the major programs are TRUSTe and the BBBOnline Privacy Seal. Online
Safety and Security. The Federal Trade Commission advises
how persons can protect their privacy and the privacy of children on the
Internet. Don’t miss the Kidz Privacy
page with more info for kids, parents and teachers. Pocket
Guide: Entertainment Ratings. The FTC explains ratings for movies, internet games,
video games, coin-operated video games and music. Links to industry and
government sites that have an interest in ratings are also provided. |
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Auto. Publications
on buying, renting, insuring and donating motor vehicles from the Better
Business Bureau. Automobiles.
Publications from
the Federal Trade Commission on buying, leasing and maintaining vehicles
including an explanation of some consumer protections. Cars. The Federal Citizen Information Center's page of links to government
publications on buying, leasing and maintaining vehicles. Consumer
Jungle: Cars.
Computer activities guide students through the process of buying,
financing and maintaining a car. Parent and teacher versions of
this site are available with tips and a unit plan. See the Credit Section of this
page for auto financing. CarFax.com. Purchase a report based on a used
vehicle's identification number that will tell you whether a used vehicle has
been wrecked and repaired, flood-damaged, or had its odometer rolled back. CarsDirect.com. Research and compare new vehicles,
their options, prices and financing. Edmund’s New
and Used Car Buying Guide. Price information and reviews on
new and used motor vehicles. Fuel
Economy Guide. The federal government's ratings of fuel efficiency for
autos and trucks. The
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Tips for selecting a safe vehicle and
find out which vehicles have good, bad, or mediocre ratings for
insurance injury, collision, and theft losses. Intellichoice.com. Compare the safety, comfort and
performance features of up to four new automobiles simultaneously. Links let
you build a vehicle, learn about financial incentives, and visit
manufacturer's sites. Kelley Blue Book. Price information, previews and
reviews on new and used automobiles and motorcycles. National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Check the findings of the federal
government's crash tests, vehicle recalls and other reported consumer
problems. Where-Can-I-Buy-A-Car-Online.com. Links to web sites that offer new
vehicle price quotes online and a scorecard of each site's features. A Consumer Guide to Leasing. Advice from the
Federal Reserve System on negotiating a lease and comparing lease offers.
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BankRate.com, BanxQuote.com
and Eloan.com. These sites offer up-to-date
rates and information on mortgages, auto loans, credit cards, home equity
loans, savings and other banking products. CardTrak.com and CardWeb.com Check rates and offers for
all types of credit cards and the latest news on credit use. Credit. Publications from the Federal Trade Commission telling consumers and
businesses what is legal and illegal with respect to consumer credit. Consumers are offered practical advice on topics
such as choosing a credit card, how to avoid card theft and protecting one’s
privacy. Consumer
Jungle: Credit . Computer activities introduce students to
the costs and benefits of credit, types of credit, choosing a credit card,
reading statements, and signs of trouble.
Parent and teacher versions of this site are available with tips and a
unit plan. Credit Scores. Fair Isaac, the firm that computes the
so-called FICO score, offers you your credit score and a personalized
analysis. Credit Smart.
A condensed version of a curriculum in English and Spanish from created to
help consumers understand, build and maintain better credit. Teachers can
also order a full copy of the curriculum on CD. Source: Freddie Mac. Finance. The Better Business Bureau offers a
variety of publications on credit and credit scams. Money. The Federal Citizen Information Center's page of links to
government publications on money management with special sections on credit,
saving, investing and retirement planning. PayDayLoanInfo.org. Answers to questions concerning
payday loans, a loan calculator, and more concerning payday loans. Personal
Financial Education. Brochures and other educational materials from the FED
on consumer banking, consumer protection, economics, home and mortgage,
interest rates, loans & credit, and general information. |
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The College Board. Detailed cost figures
for hundreds of institutions. Use the
Scholarship
Search feature to locate scholarships, loans, internships, and other
financial aid programs from non-college sources. College is Possible. The American Council on
Education offers primers on financial aid, courses students should take to
prepare for college, choosing the right college, and more. CollegeProfiles.com. Help for choosing the right school – in-depth profiles
with information about academic programs, athletics, campus life, facilities,
expenses, financial aid and much more. From each profile, you can link
directly to the home page of each institution. A custom
college search allows you to select schools by location, cost and majors
offered. FinAid. Information on
loans, scholarships, and military aid plus calculators that can help you
figure out how much school will cost, how much you need to save and how much
aid you'll need. Use the online calculators to
answer what if
questions related to paying for a college education. Paying
for College. PBS offers an
overview of options for financing college with links to sources of government
aid including Americorps and the U.S. Military. Scholarships, Employment and Job
Placement Federal
Trade Commission publications warn consumers about scholarship and vocational
training scams. Student Financial Assistance. The federal
government tells who
is eligible and how to apply for federal student aid programs. Be sure to check out The
Student Guide—the Federal Government’s most comprehensive publication on
student financial aid. Students.gov. Thousands of links to information on preparing
for college, selecting a school, study abroad, paying for school, career
opportunities, internships, community service, travel, housing, taxes and
much from the federal government. Both Business
Week and Kiplinger
Magazine provide state-by-state information on 529 College Savings
Plans. U.S.
News: Education.
Ratings, tools and other help for finding a college, grad school, distance
learning program and financial assistance. |
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America’s Career InfoNet. Learn about typical
wages and employment trends across occupations and industries. Check
education and other requirements for most occupations. Search for cost of
living data; look at state profiles with labor market conditions, and access
links to other career resources available on the Internet. Average
Allowance. A
chart of average allowances for kids aged 4 to 18. Career Voyages. The
U.S. Dept. of Labor web site for career exploration. Sections tell what jobs
will be hot, point out the connection between education and earnings, and
offer advice on the job search. Economic
and Employment Projections. Information on the fastest growing industries and occupations
from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment. The Federal Citizen Information Center's page of links to
government publications on job opportunities and practical advice how to
succeed in the job market. Franchise and Business
Opportunities. Publications from the Federal Trade Commission
cautioning individuals considering work-at-home offers, franchise deals, and
other advertised economic opportunities. Job
Interest Survey. Clemson
University Cooperative Extension offers twenty questions to help users determine
their skills and interests. (PDF) Key
Employee Skills Worksheets. Print out these pages for students to identify
the skills they have and those they will need for the kinds of work they want
to do. (PDF) Making Money. Find out what other students are
doing to earn money. Use the online
survey form to suggest other money-making ideas. Mapping
Your Future. Practical advice for young persons on selecting a college,
paying for higher education and choosing a career. Monster.com. Visit the career advice center or research career
opportunities by academic major, interests, values, personal style, and
skills. Next
Step Magazine. An online periodical dedicated to providing high school
students information on careers, education, and life questions. NYCareerZone.org. Using the Assess Yourself
option, students are given a list of jobs that match their interests. Occupational
Outlook Handbook. Career information for persons making decisions about
their future work lives: what workers do on the job, working conditions, the
training and education needed, earnings, and expected job prospects in a wide
range of occupations. The Teenager's
Guide to the Real World. For promotional
purposes, sample chapters of this book on employment are posted online. Teen Jobs. About.com offers suggestions and
strategies for teens seeking part-time work. Teen labor laws are discussed
with links to state labor offices. Good information but beware some sites are
promotional. What
Interests You? The Bureau of Labor Statistics identifies future
job options for
kids with information on preparation, pay and kinds of work. Working for a Living. Job information and advice from a high school
student plus a list of the five key reasons that teens work. Working Teens: Five Worst Jobs Can
be Deadly. The National Consumers
League has issued a warning that many teenagers are working in unsafe
conditions and not receiving the training they need to stay safe on the job.
A description of the worst jobs along with stories and statistics. Salary Information Salary.com. Compensation reports
by city, state and zip code for more than 1,000 job titles. The Salary Calculator. Compare the cost of living in
cities around the world. |
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The
American Forestry and Paper Association offers handouts in .pdf
format that encourage
recycling paper and wood products. Close the Loop: Buy Recycled Products. Look at examples of the many products you can buy with recycled content. And find out more about recycling terms and symbols. Earth Day Groceries
Project. Decorate paper grocery bags with environmental
themes and distribute them at a local grocery store on Earth Day. Energy
and the Environment. Publications from the Federal Trade Commission
detailing the agency’s EnergyGuide program for appliances and rules for
labeling home insulation, motor vehicles, fuels and other automotive
products. Consumer warnings are also
issued on the value of some products claimed to save energy and protect the
environment. Enviromysteries. Asthma. Rising cancer
rates. Viruses we have never heard of before. Just a Happy Earth
Day Coloring and Activities Book. Download this 11-page
coloring book full of tips for making the Earth a better place. (PDF) Home. Advice from the Better Business Bureau on
heating and cooling a home. Home Energy
Saver. Find the average cost of energy in your area and learn about the
federal government’s Energy Star label. Housing. As part of this page of links to government
publications on buying and maintaining a home, the Federal Citizen
Information Center includes materials on how to save energy and the
environment. How Do We Reduce
Garbage? A list of tips for reducing waste
at the store, home, and school. KidsKonnect:
The Environment. A gateway to dozens of links concerning
the environment that have been screened for use by young persons. Recycle
City. An interactive site for students
with games, facts and activities to promote recycling. Sponsor: Environmental Protection Agency. Safer Alternatives
to Household Hazardous Products. A chart of alternatives for home cleaning and
pest control. What Goes Where? Find out what people in King County, WA can and can’t
recycle. The lists applies to most
communities. Where Does it Go? Photo
tours show where garbage and recycling goes after you take it to the
curb for pickup. Source: King County, WA. |
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Kids Bank
Calculators. Go to the calculator option to find out how much and how long you
will need to save to achieve a money goal: becoming a millionaire, buying a
car or having money for holiday spending. After taking a tour of Kids Bank,
students can also take the quizzes in the "Game Room" to test their
understanding and get a certificate recognizing success. Ask “Mr. Money” for
answers to questions about money, banks and saving. Calculators
- American Bankers Association. Personal
finance calculators to help decide what size mortgage, whether to refinance a
mortgage, size of auto loan payments, and how much to save for a goal. Calculators - Credit Union National Association. Dozens of calculators to help
make financial decisions concerning home mortgages, autos, budgeting, savings
and retirement. Calculators - Kiplinger's. Help in making decisions
concerning saving and investing, home ownership, automobiles, insurance,
taxes, education and more. Calculators - USA Today. More help in answering questions concerning auto
purchases, credit, housing, saving and investing, raising a child, retirement
and budgeting. Calculators -
Young Money. Budget, credit, savings, insurance and retirement
calculators. Choose to Save Calculators.
When it comes to calculators, the name of this site is a
misnomer. Hundreds of calculators
help answer questions on auto purchases, credit, home mortgages, and
insurance as well as saving and investing. TeachMeFinance.com. For the advanced student, an introduction to personal finance
calculations including the time value of money, the value of stocks and
bonds, and capital costs. |
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Aim
for a Healthy Heart. Designed to address the increasing problem of obesity in
the U.S., this federal web site offers risk assessment tools and a weight control section. The latter includes weight loss advice,
recipes, a menu planner and much more. The menu
planner lets users calculate calories consumed. BrainPop:
Nutrition. An online video and quiz provide an overview of the food pyramid
and the role of fats, carbohydrates, protein and nutrients. Some videos are
free while access to others requires membership. Diet, Health and Fitness. Publications
from the Federal Trade Commission advising consumers on the purchase of goods
and services in the health and fitness industries. Fast Food
Facts: Food Finder. Check out and
compare the nutritional value of fast foods. The Fast Food Nuttion Fact Finder. Nutrition
and caloric facts for food from nearly a dozen fast food chains. Fast
Food Calorie Counter. Calculate the calories and fat consumed when eating
at fast food restaurants. Fat Attack.
Students use this online worksheet to calculate the percentage of
calories consumed from fat. Fiber in Your Diet. A worksheet that has students matching the
benefits of dietary fiber with health problems then planning a day’s menu
that would provide about 25 grams of fiber. Food. The Federal Citizen Information Center's page of links to
government publications on nutrition and food safety. Food
and Nutrition Information. The American Dietetic Association offers fact sheets,
suggested reference books, answers to frequently asked questions and links to
other sources of info. Food Guide Pyramid. Advice from
the federal government on making health food choices. HealthyFridge.org. Advice
on eating for a healthy heart with recipes and a “Healthy Fridge Quiz” for kids. Healthy and
Unhealthy Foods.
Print out this handout and have students circle the unhealthy foods. How Many
Calories? Print this worksheet and have your students
calculate the number of calories eaten in each word problem. Interactive Healthy Eating Index. Enter the food you eat for a day and get a
"score" on the overall quality of your diet as compared to that
recommended by the USDA Food Guide Pyramid. The index also tells you how much
total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium you have in your diet. In Which Group Do
I Belong? Print
out this worksheet and let students match the foods with their food groups. KidsHealth.org. The Nemour Foundation offers this
site covering a broad range of health and nutrition information appropriate
for later elementary and middle school students. KidsKonnect:
Food Pyramid and Nutrition. Gateways to links that have been screened
as appropriate for young persons. KidsWorld: Food Safety. Nine
tips for safe food handling to make sure your family isn’t a vicim of
preventable food borne illness! Use the coloring page on what goes in the
refrigerator and the quiz as online assessment tools. KidsWorld:
Nutrition. A food guide pyramid with health snack
ideas, how to read a nutrition label, advice why eating our fruits and
vegetables is a good idea, and an online paint palette that lets you learn
about mixing colors while learning more about the bread and cereal group. Lunch Buddy Game. Using their computer mouse, students move their
“Lunch Buddy” to catch healthy foods and dodge the unhealthy ones. Make Your
Munchies Count.
A worksheet that gives students
snack scenarios and asks what they would choose. Nutrient
Data. Information on up to 117 nutrients for
more than 6,000 food items compiled by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. Search the database online
or download it for use from your computer hard drive or
personal digital assistant. Nutrition Café. Three nutrition games for middle school
and up. In Nutrition
Sleuth, students must guess the nutrient based on clues. Grab a Grape
is a nutrition version of Jeopardy. Students can assess the nutritional value
of the foods they eat in the Have-a-Bite Café. Nutrition.gov. The federal government's web site
bringing together food and nutrition resources from a variety of agencies. Portion Distortion. Take
this quiz from the National Institutes of Health to see if you know how today's
portions compare to the portions available 20 years ago. Salt Factors. A worksheet that explains why sodium, or salt, is essential for health but too much can cause health problems. Students calculate the percentage of sodium provided by different foods and which foods are wise choices. Spending
Calories. Have students
calculate how many calories they would burn during exercise activities. TeensHealth.org. Articles for teens
on food, fitness, safety, mental health, drugs, alcohol, sexual health and
more in both English and Spanish. Test Your
Knowledge. Students
decide whether statements on this worksheet are nutritional fact or
myth. What Does This Label Tell Me? Students gather nutrition information and answer
worksheet questions using a food label. |
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Better Business Bureaus. A directory of these nonprofit
organizations supported primarily by local business members that encourage
honest advertising and selling practices and alternative dispute resolution. BBBs
also provide information whether a seller has unanswered or unsettled
complaints or other marketplace problems. Check out the BBB Consumer Information section
that offers advice on avoiding scams. Consumer Information. The Federal Trade Commission offers
dozens of publications warning consumers about fraudulent sales practices,
identity theft and more. Lost of advice on how to avoid being the next victim.
For those who have already been victimized, there is also information on
problem resolution. Identify Theft. The
federal government’s central web site for
information on identity theft that explains legislative efforts to protect
consumers, how you can protect yourself, and what to do if victimized. National Fraud Information Center. Tips on avoiding fraud, statistics on the extent of the
problem, and how to file a complaint if scammed. Of special note is advice on avoiding telemarketing and
Internet fraud. State, County
and City Government Consumer Protection Offices. The Federal Consumer Information offers
this directory of consumer protection offices. Charity Watchdogs Charity
Navigator. A web database that rates 5,000
charities plus tips on what works to get you off the lists. Give.org. The Council of
Better Business Bureaus provides donors with information on nationally
soliciting charitable organizations and advice on sound giving
practices. GuideStar. A huge database of charity reports
published by the non-profit Philanthropic Research, Inc. Each organization in
the database has a set of pages containing information about a charity's
mission, programs, leadership, and finances.
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Adolescent and School Health. Statistics on adolescent and teen
health from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. BAM! From the Centers for Disease Control, a web site for students
and teachers on fitness and safety (e.g., infection protection, sports
helmets, sun screens, and water sport safety). Clean Hands. Step-by-step directions how to
wash your hands. Diet, Health and Fitness. Publications
from the Federal Trade Commission advising consumers on the purchase of goods
and services in the health and fitness industries. Hardin
Meta Directory. Managed by the University of Iowa, links to web sites on a range of
health topics. Health. The Federal Citizen Information Center's page of links to
government publications on maintaining your health, staying safe and dealing
with medical problems. Health. Miscellaneous warnings on health fraud from the Better
Business Bureau. Health
Grades. HealthGrades offers annual ratings of
hospitals, nursing homes and physicians. HealthierUS.gov. The U.S. government’s
gateway to government information to help Americans live healthier lives.
Categories include: physical fitness, nutrition, prevention and making health
choices. A directory also links visitors to other government health sites. Intellihealth. A comprehensive health information site vetted by medical
faculty at Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania. One caveat: products
sold at the site have not been reviewed. Health Topic: Adolescents. A web page from the Centers for
Disease Control addressing health issues for adolescents and teens. KidsHealth.org. The Nemour Foundation offers
this site covering a broad range of health and nutrition information
appropriate for later elementary and middle school students. Medicare Plan Choices. Search this federal site for
information on Medicare and consumer program options. MEDLINE
plus. Information
on diseases, wellness, drugs, safety and much more from the National
Institutes of Health. A great place
to start a search on a health topic. Quick Checks for
Quality. A checklist to use when choosing health plans,
doctors, treatments, hospitals, and long-term care. Science,
Tobacco & You. Select a state then download learning
modules for grades 4-5 on the harmful effects of tobacco, strategies for
handling peer pressure to use tobacco products, and the role that advertising
plays in promoting tobacco addiction.
Web links in the “Looking and Thinking” section take students to pages
that look at tobacco from scientific, health, advertising and historical
perspectives. Smoke Screeners. The Massachusetts Department of
Public Health and the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
offer print and online resources for middle school and early high school
students and their educators. The program draws attention to how smoking is
made to look cool, acceptable and commonplace via many forms of media. TeensHealth.org. Articles for teens
on food, fitness, safety, mental health, drugs, alcohol, sexual health and
more in both English and Spanish. These sites offer safety
information and current news on safety recalls: |
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Consumer Product Safety Commission (consumer products) Food
and Drug Administration. (food, drugs, medical devices and cosmetics) National Highway
and Transportation Safety Administration (automobiles) |
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Hazardous
Waste Teacher Page. Word
games, surveys, quizzes and other learning activities to help students
identify and reduce hazardous waste. (PDF) What Are Some
Common Hazardous Products, and How Can I Identify Others? Learn
what the words "caution,"
"warning," "danger," and "poison" mean. "What Can
Happen?" Game. Students
enter ideas what could happen in each scenario involving a potentially
hazardous product. What Makes a
Household Product Hazardous? Many products around the house
contain chemicals that can make people, plants and animals very sick, or even
kill them! Match hazardous terms with their definitions using this worksheet. |
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At
Home. Publications from the Federal Trade Commission
explaining consumer rights when purchasing housing, home furnishings and home
maintenance/improvement services. BankRate.com.
Up-to-date
rates and information on mortgages, auto loans, credit cards, home equity
loans, savings and other banking products. BanxQuote.com. Enter a dollar amount, a term and your location
for quotes for home mortgages and other loan interest rates. Buying
a Home. HUD offers this great starting point for anyone
seeking information on the purchase of a home. Advice is given on a full
range of home-buying topic. Domania. Research recent sale
prices for homes in a neighborhood. Home. Various publications from the
Better Business Bureau on buying, selling and maintaining a home. Housing. The Federal Citizen Information Center's page of links to government
publications on buying and maintaining a home—including how to keep your home
safe. Mortgage 101. Compare rates for mortgages,
refinancing and home equity loans. |
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Insurance Information
Institute. Short
articles on a wide range of auto, life, health, disability, home and business
insurance topics. State
Insurance Regulators. A directory of the offices that
enforce state insurance laws and often provide information to help you make
informed insurance buying decisions. Source: The Federal Citizen Information
Center. Next Generation: Insuring Your Future. Order a free teaching kit for
grades 9 through 12 introducing health, disability and life insurance
developed by The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. through its Life and
Health Insurance Foundation for Education. The kit includes a teen-to-teen
documentary-style video, a teacher's guide, student workbooks and poster.
Source Video
Placement Worldwide. Health
Insurance Choosing and Using a Health Care Plan. Information on choosing
a health plan and using health care from the federal government. In a
question and answer format. Check the
financial stability and soundness of insurance companies at these sites: |
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A.M. Best
Ratings |
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Many web sites provide calculators to help determine life
insurance needs. WARNING: The sites listed have not been screened for the
quality of the estimates offered -- they are provided strictly as a sampling
of the calculators available on-line. |
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Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education |
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In an August 2001 report on websites offering comparative term life
insurance, the Consumer Federation of America suggests five sites that can
help consumers conveniently compare and purchase term life policies. Term4Sale was the highest
recommended site because of its very complete list of insurers, including
no-load insurers, and ease of use. AccuQuote, InsWeb, and Insure.com are also recommended. |
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American
Savings Education Council. Educational
materials to encourage saving by young persons and adults. Are
You a Risk Taker? A
questionnaire in PDF format to help students examine their risk tolerance.
Answers help categorize respondents as a conservative, average, or aggressive
investor. Source: National Endowment for Financial Education. BankRate.com.
Up-to-date rates
and information on mortgages, auto loans, credit cards, home equity loans,
savings and other banking products. BanxQuote.com. Enter a dollar amount, a term and your location
for quotes for home mortgages and other loan interest rates. Basics
of Saving and Investing. Download a copy of this free high school
curriculum guide on the basics of saving and investing from Financial
Literacy 2010. Bureau of the Public Debt.
Part of the U.S. Treasury, the BPD explains the different types of
treasury securities/savings bonds, how to buy them, and much more. Be
a Dream Achiever. Create
a plan to buying a car at graduation. Use the calculator to find out how much
must be saved then read on for tips on reaching your savings goal. Check Out Brokers and Advisors. The Securities and Exchange
Commission tells how to research individual brokers, brokerage firms, and
investment advisor firms. Links to state securities regulators are also
provided. Ed's
Bank. Help Ed save money in his piggy bank so he can go
shopping. Then watch his quirky reactions as he interacts with his purchases.
A cute game that helps elementary students identify the value of coins. The
Facts About Online Investing. How to invest online with an
online simulator, broker ratings, a complaint center, and more for anyone. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Find out which bank accounts are
insured and information on the laws protecting the privacy personal financial
information. FDIC: Learning
Bank. A young
person’s guide to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation including what
the agency does and why it was created. Investing
for Your Future. An on-line course on saving and investing for adults from
Cooperative Extension. Investing 101. PBS offers an explanation of stock markets, socially
responsible investing, stories of teen investment woes/triumphs. . . and
more. Investing
101. SmartMoney.com offers short articles on a
broad range of investment topics. InvestingInBonds.com. The Bond Marketing Association
offers the basics on corporate, treasury and municipal bonds. A calculator
helps compare the yield on tax-free vs. taxable bonds. Investments. Publications from the Federal Trade Commission
warning consumers about fraudulent investment schemes. Investopedia.com. An encyclopedia of investment
terms and fundamentals. InvestorGuide.com. Business and investing
news, price quotes, and the basics of investing. Links to hundreds of related sites. The Investor's Clearinghouse. The Alliance for Investor Education offers this
on-line clearinghouse offering the basics of investing in stocks, bonds,
futures and mutual funds plus advice on-line investing, avoiding stock market
fraud, and choosing a financial advisor Kid$ Inve$t. A guide to the stock market,
investing and money management from the state of Illinois. Games, puzzles and
other activities for grades 3-12. Kids Bank
Calculators. After taking a tour of this site, students can take the quizzes in the
"Game Room" to test their understanding and get a certificate
recognizing success. For answers to questions about money, banks and saving
they can ask "Mr. Money".
Calculators tell how much and how long one will need to save to
achieve a money goal: becoming a millionaire, buying a car or having money
for holiday spending. Learning, Earning and Investing. A collection of lessons that teachers can
print and use in the middle and high school classroom that focus on saving and investing—particularly
investments on stocks and bonds. Source: National Council on Economic
Education. Money. The Federal Citizen Information Center's page of links to government
publications on money management with special sections on credit, saving,
investing and retirement planning. Money. BBB publications on choosing a
financial advisors and avoiding investment scams. Mutual Fund Investor's Center. The basics on mutual funds,
lists of no-load and low-fee funds and links to many fund sites. National Association of Investment
Clubs.
Resources on investing and how to establish an investment club. National Association of Securities Dealers. Choose the investor information
tab for advice and tools for safe investing--for example--how to choose a
financial advisor and avoiding scams. Path to Investing.
The Securities Industry Association offers investing
basics, financial tools, and insights from industry experts. Saving
and Investing. The U.S. Mint offers several web pages
encouraging young persons to save. Interest, risk, banks and various savings
and investment options are explained. Information is also given on creating a
saving/spending plan. Savings Bonds for Kids. The U.S. Treasury tells what a bond is, how people buy and sell them, and what they are worth. Savings Bonds Redemption Calculator. Find
out how much your
savings bonds are worth. SEC Investor
Information. A good place for both
teachers and students to begin when looking for information on saving and
investing. This site offers teaching tips, an interactive quiz for students,
online publications and informative tutorials on a full range of related
issues. Don’t miss the Roadmap to Saving and
Investing which covers establishing a financial plan, savings and
investment options, risk tolerance, diversification, choosing a professional,
fraud and more. The Securities and Exchange Commission requires public
companies to file periodic reports and other information electronically. Anyone can access and download this
information for free through the SEC’s EDGAR. SEC: Teachers and Students.
Tips and fact sheets on the basics of saving and investing.
Other features include retirement calculators, posters, and a Money Smarts
quiz on investing. SocialFunds.com. A site
devoted to socially responsible investing. Socially Responsible Investing.
Information, contacts & resources on socially responsible
investing. Click on the “Guide to SRI” for
information on strategies including screening investment opportunities and
shareholder advocacy. State Banking
Authorities. The Federal Citizen Information Center provides
a directory of the agencies responsible for regulating and supervising
state-chartered banks. State
Securities Administrators. Each state has its own laws
and regulations for securities brokers and for all types of securities,
including stocks, mutual funds, commodities, real estate offerings, uninsured
investment products sold by banks and others. The Federal Citizen Information
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Travel. The Federal Citizen Information Center's page of links to government
publications on travel rights and responsibilities, keeping safe and national
recreational facilities. Travel. Information from the Federal Trade Commission
on fraudulent travel offers and how to avoid being victimized. Travel. The Better Business Bureau offers
articles on dealing with lost luggage and how to avoid travel and vacation
scams. |
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EnergyShop.com
.
Comparison shop for natural gas and electricity using this commercial web
site created by M3 & W Inc. Rural
Utility Programs. The USDA offers
this site to introduce young persons to rural programs for electricity,
telecommunications and water. Of
special note are the pages that give an historical perspective on
these programs and an explanation how utilities are
delivered to people’s homes. State Utility
Commissions. The
Federal Citizen Information Center lists the state agencies that regulate
consumer service and rates for gas, electricity and a variety of other
services within your state. These services include rates for telephone calls
and moving household goods. In some states, the utility commissions regulate
water and transportation rates. Telephone Service Comparisons BrainPOP:
Comparing Prices. Use this
cartoon video clip to learn the basic math of comparing telephone
services. Membership required. Consumer
Jungle: Jingle in the Jungle.
Students use interactive computer activities to learn how to choose the best
wireless service plan, consumer rights, and resources. Parent and teacher versions of
this site are available with tips and a unit plan. The
Federal Communications Commission. Information on regulatory changes, how to
choose a long-distance carrier, how to understand new fees and taxes on phone
service, what to do if you're "slammed" (switched to a different
long-distance carrier without your knowledge or consent), and more. Telephone
Services. Advice from the Federal Trade Commission on choosing telephone services and
warnings about telephone scams plus information on consumer rights. Comparison shop for telephone
services at these web sites: |
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10-10Phonerates.com. Rates from 10-10
dial-around long-distance service.
LowerMyBills.com compares rates and
plans in your area. The
Telecommunications Research & Action Center (TRAC). Rates for long-distance calls when you provide call-from
and call-to phone exchanges. |
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