As we celebrate National College Savings Month this September, it’s a good time for educators to introduce and remind students and their families about the importance of planning for higher education expenses. Celebrating National College Savings Month in the classroom raises awareness and equips students with valuable financial literacy skills. Whether you’re teaching middle or high school seniors, here are ten creative ways educators can integrate college savings concepts into their classroom activities.
Start the month with a school-wide assembly dedicated to saving for college. Invite a guest speaker, such as a financial advisor or a representative from a local college, to discuss the benefits of early saving and the various savings plans available. This event can be informative and motivational, setting a positive tone for the month ahead.
Follow up with a Q&A session where students can ask questions about college savings and financial planning. Use interactive tools like audience response systems to engage students and gauge their understanding.
Use College Savings Month to incorporate financial literacy into your math curriculum. For instance, students can calculate how much money they need monthly to reach a college savings goal. Create real-life scenarios where students can practice budgeting, interest calculations, and savings projections.
Involve students in a project where they create savings plans for a hypothetical college fund. They can use spreadsheets to track their progress and visualize how different savings and interest rates affect the total amount saved.
During an advisory period, encourage students to search for scholarships at the national and state levels, along with any local opportunities available. For those who utilize Kuder Navigator for college and career planning, students can easily access thousands of scholarships available and favorite the ones they wish to pursue.
Have each student in your advisory or class research and choose ten scholarships they want to apply for. Utilize class time for students to ask questions about the application process.
Design a bulletin board dedicated to College Savings Month in your classroom or school. Include information about college savings accounts (like 529 plans), tips for saving money, and success stories from people who have benefited from early savings. Encourage students to contribute their ideas and thoughts on saving for college.
Feature a “Savings Tip of the Day” where students are assigned a different day to add their researched tip. This will decorate the board and involve students in actively thinking about and contributing to the topic.
Host a workshop or informational session for parents and guardians to learn about college savings and application options. Provide resources on how to start a college savings plan, the benefits of different savings accounts, and financial aid options. Encourage parents and guardians to attend with their children to foster a collaborative approach to saving.
Offer practical tips and handouts for parents, including a checklist of steps to start a college savings plan. You could also provide online resources or have financial advisors or local college representatives attend for further assistance.
Discuss how different careers have varying educational and financial requirements as part of career development lessons. Emphasize how planning for college expenses can influence career choices and long-term economic stability. This helps students understand the connection between their future goals and the importance of saving.
Have students research the cost of education for different careers and create a presentation on how saving early can impact their future career choices and financial independence.
Encourage students to express their understanding of college savings through art. Hold an art contest where students create posters or drawings illustrating the importance of saving for college and how it can benefit their future. Display the artwork in the classroom or school hallway to promote awareness.
Provide categories for different age groups and reward creativity and originality. You could also include educational messages in the art to reinforce the financial concepts.
Host a mock college fair where students learn about various colleges and universities, including the costs associated with each. Include a section dedicated to financial aid options and savings plans. Invite local colleges to participate and provide information on scholarships and savings plans.
Create interactive booths where students can “shop” for colleges based on different factors such as tuition costs, living expenses, and available financial aid. Use this activity to highlight the importance of planning and saving early.
Incorporate college savings concepts into other subjects, such as social studies, science, or language arts. For instance, have students write essays on the impact of saving for college or research the economic benefits of higher education. This integration helps students see the relevance of financial literacy in various contexts.
Develop cross-curricular projects where students use different subjects to explore aspects of college savings. For example, a business project might investigate the impact of inflation on college costs, while a language arts project could involve writing persuasive essays on the importance of saving.
Leverage technology by creating a virtual hub or website with resources on college savings. This can include articles, videos, interactive calculators, and tips for students and parents. Share the link with students and parents, encouraging them to explore and use available resources.
Kuder Navigator users can quickly post resources and quick links to allow students to access their college and career readiness resources from one platform!
Incorporate online quizzes or interactive tools that allow students to calculate how much they need to save and explore different saving strategies. This can make learning about college savings more engaging and accessible.
Overall, celebrating College Savings Month in the classroom provides a valuable opportunity to engage students and their families in financial literacy and planning for higher education. By integrating these activities into your teaching, you help students understand the importance of saving early and equip them with essential skills for their future. Whether through interactive lessons, creative projects, or involving the whole school community, these strategies foster a culture of financial awareness and responsibility that will benefit students long after College Savings Month.
