37 Websites For Teaching Kids About Money and Finance

Students today have no idea how important it is for them to learn about money and finances. They'd be surprised to find out that they could easily amass one million dollars by the time they retire if they would start investing and saving right now while they are still in high school. This type of class should be mandatory for all students, so that when they are out on their own they will understand how to balance their own checkbook, and make sound investments in the stock market. If you teach personal finance, I hope you can use some of these wonderful resources.

Awesome Island- financial education

Banking Lessons and Worksheets- covers mortgages and interest, personal savings, checking accounts and more.

Biz Kids- interactive site "where kids teach kids about money and business"

Bloomberg Business and Financial News
Budgeting 101

Check Writing, Checkbook, Checking Account Lesson Plans

Do Something.org- Citigroup and Do Something.org created this site where high school students are taught about money management, personal finance, taxes, credit and budgeting.

Economic and Financial Literacy Lesson Plans- by grade level 

Fantasy Stock Market- get $100,000 in fantasy money to trade and compete against other traders. ($$)

Financial Aid- the best on the Web for information

Financial Football- online game for students to learn about managing money; interactive site

Google Finance

H.I.P. Pocket Change- interactive part of the U.S. Mint site; games, activities, puzzles, trivia

The Inflation Calculator (Consumer Price Index)

It All Adds Up-personal finance for teens; interactive site

Jumpstart.org- the Jump-start coalition for personal financial literacy offers the following on this site: money management basics; money math, kids, cash, plastics and you; 101 financial lessons; money management tips every college student should know.

Kids Money- money-related articles for kids; surveys about allowances etc.

Managing Money

The Mint- "fun financial literacy activities"

Money and Finance- video tutorials from Khan Academy

Money Games for Kids- Wall Street Journal

Money Instructor -money skills, budgeting, finance etc.

The Motley Fool

Personal Budget Excel Spreadsheet

Personal Finance for Teens

Planet Orange- "helps kids, from 1st to 6th grade, learn about earning, spending, saving and investing."; interactive site

Practical Money Skills- starts at pre-school and covers all ages; site is run by VISA USA.

Printable Blank Check Register for Checkbook Practice

Rich Kid Smart Kid- covers grades K-12; interactive site

Savings Quest- interactive site

Secret Millionaires Club

Sense and Dollars-interactive site with money games

The Stock Market Game- your students get to "invest" $100,000; competition

Tools to Teach Kids Money Management Skills

Understanding the Federal Reserve- many tools include interactive resources to help students understand the Federal Reserve.

Using an ATM- lesson and worksheet

The World of Paper Money- thumbnails of paper money from countries around the globe

Young Investor- games, crossword puzzles and brainteasers are used to teach kids about investing.

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Fundraising This Year? Try These 37 Resources

During any given month in the school year, there always seems to be a fundraiser going on. As budgets decrease in size, schools will be resorting to more creative ways to raise money. The list I've put together for you covers everything from bracelets to gift cards. I personally have been using Amazon SchoolRewards for the past two years. It's a great fundraiser because no one has to buy that $2.00 bar of chocolate; they just shop at Amazon for things they were already going to purchase. Our library media center has used the money to buy new books.

ABC Fundraising Movie Ticket Fundraiser

All Fundraising -1200+ companies listed

Amazon School Rewards- students, staff, parent and people with your link can enter the Amazon.com site and when they make a purchase, your organization earns referral fees

America's Fundraising- discount cards, gift catalogs, scratch cards

TheaWRISTocrat- bracelets, tee shirts, backpacks, dog tags

Automobile Air Fresheners

Better Fundraising- fantastic school fundraising ideas

Big Event Fundraising- products, prize programs

Boxtops for Education- find them on many products

Buy For Charity- restaurant cards, gourmet cookie dough, flower bulbs

Easy Fundraising Ideas- very extensive listing

eFundraising- scratch cards, popcorn, lollipops, gift cards

ESC Promotions- fundraisers for specific activities and sports

FastTrack Fundraising- profit guaranteed

Fun Pasta Fundraising

Fundraiser Help and Resources

Fundraiser Insight

Fundraising Ideas (A-Z)

Fundraising Ideas for Middle School

Fundraising Ideas and Products -from cookie dough to magazines!

Fundraising Ideas for Schools Using Print- calendars, posters

Great Lakes Scrip Center- gift cards

Maredy- cookies, candles, candy, school spirit tags

Morris Press Cookbooks- publish your own school cookbook

Nature's Vision- green fundraising ideas; hats, tee shirts, jewelry

Online Fundraising Tools- wiki from ALA (American Library Association)

Paperless PTO- website builder for parent-teacher groups; accept credit cards for fund raisers etc.

Sample Fundraising Letters

School Picture Fundraising- vintage photos of your kids
Step-by-Step Fundraising- ideas, strategies, videos

SpiritLine- bracelets, cheer gear, flags, key tags

Target's Take Charge of Education Program- get your REDcard and shop at Target; school gets a percentage

Top 5 School Fundraising Ideas- from USA Fundraising

Top School Fundraisers- snacks, smencils, candy bars

We Care! Coffee Company

WOW! Fundraising- 21 must see fundraisers

Yahoo! Directory of Fundraising Businesses

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40 Ways to Obtain Information on Grants and Grant Writing

Money is being cut from school budgets and we are scrambling to provide our students with the necessary tools to get a good education. Things are the same whether you are teaching in New Jersey or Oregon. Most teachers shell out lots of their own personal dollars to purchase things for their classrooms. Now that it is summer break for most of us, I put together a list of resources on where and how to apply for grant money. Competition is tougher than ever for these dollars, so get a head start now:

The Chronicle of Philanthropy- the newspaper of the nonprofit world

Classwish- teachers create their own wish lists for classroom supplies; donors assist in the purchase

Digital Wish- currently 50 grants available

DonorsChoose- submit your request and donors can choose your school and contribute to your project

Donors Forum- tips on fundraising and more; free webinars

Education Funding Watch

GivingGetting- donors are linked with school in need 

Grant Gopher -free and $$ for services

Grant Information:Resources to Get You Started- from Edutopia

Grant Resources -extensive listing from Google

Grant Wrangler

Grant Writing Resources -from About.com

Grants Alert

Grants Web

Grantwriters.com

Guide to Writing a Funding Proposal

iLoveSchools- "nonprofit online donation center that connects new, used and in-kind resources with our nation’s schools all year long."

K-12 Technology Grants

NEA Foundation Grants to Educators

New Jersey Office of Grants Management

The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation- designated for instrumental music education in schools.

School Grants

Target Field Trip Grants-  since 2007 they have awarded $9.76 million dollars in grants!

Technology Grants

Tips and Resources for Successful Grant Writing- from Education World

Top 10 Grant Writing Tips For Teachers From #ISTE2010 

Touching Lives Through Theatre Grants

Writing a Grant Proposal- extensive information from Columbia University

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