For Teachers

Teaching by Topic: Investing

Here are a bunch of tips, learning objectives, worksheets, and pre-built lesson plans to help you build your curriculum to teach students how to invest!

teaching-investing

Investing is one of the proven ways people can build wealth, and it will benefit your students greatly to learn about it. Young children can start building related skills early, and older students can develop extensive knowledge about the topic and jump into investing ASAP.

You can find the materials you need to teach investing, regardless of your students’ levels. Here are investing lessons, worksheets, activities, games, and some crucial grade-level tips. We also include investing learning objectives for each grade, which are pulled straight from the National Standards for Personal Finance Education.

National Standards for Personal Finance Education

Download Our Free Teachers' Cheat Sheet

Our free cheat sheet covers every learning objective in the National Standards for Personal Finance Education and the corresponding Kids' Money Lesson Plans - we cover each and every standard!

Pre-K

Learning Objectives

Pre-K students may not quite understand how investing works, but you can prepare them for more advanced concepts with lessons on coin awareness and trade-offs. They should be able to:

  • Provide examples of financial choices that have opportunity costs.

Pre-K Investing Lesson Plans

  • KMLP Pre-K – Using Games In Money Education: Your students work on money awareness, play games, and learn about different coins while introducing them to the concept of opportunity cost (in pre-K terms). They see that money is limited, and they need to think about what they will do with their cash.

Pre-K Investing Worksheets

Pre-K Investing Games and Activities

Tips for Teaching Investing to Pre-K Students

  • Let students dream about specific large purchases they may desire in the future.
  • Include investing themes in songs, games, and activities.
  • Use real coins often.

For more resources on other topics, check out our Pre-K Money Lesson Plans Center.

Kindergarten

Learning Objectives

Kindergarteners see how money is limited and saving is key. They should be able to:

  • Explain why it is often harder to save than to spend money.

Kindergarten Investing Lesson Plans

  • KMLP Kindergarten – Goods: This lesson shows kids how goods cost money, and they need to save for specific purchases. Teachers can expand this information to cover investing, teaching students that the more they grow their money over time, the more financial success they will have.

Kindergarten Investing Worksheets

Kindergarten Investing Games and Activities

Tips for Teaching Investing to Kindergarten Students

  • Focus on sorting, a skill that can transfer to higher-level concepts like investing later.
  • Use play money and pretend stores to see how money is exchanged.
  • Role-play often.

For more resources on other topics, check out our Kindergarten Money Lesson Plans Center.

1st Grade

Learning Objectives

1st-graders learn about saving, building the foundation for investing later. They should be able to:

  • Map out a savings plan designed to achieve a future purchase objective.

1st Grade Investing Lesson Plans

  • KMLP 1st Grade – Saving: Students read a book about saving, showing them the importance of having a plan to stow and grow their money. They complete various activities, sing songs, and play games to show the power of saving and investing.

1st Grade Investing Worksheets

1st Grade Investing Games and Activities

Tips for Teaching Investing to 1st Graders

  • Use visual reminders of concepts taught.
  • Introduce coins slowly, with a focus on saving.
  • Have students skip count 5s and 10s first to improve money management skills.

For more resources on other topics, check out our 1st Grade Money Lesson Plans Center.

2nd Grade

Learning Objectives

2nd-graders learn about earning more money so they can invest it and watch it grow. They should be able to:

  • Brainstorm ways to improve one’s ability to earn income.

2nd Grade Investing Lesson Plans

  • KMLP 2nd Grade – Income: In this lesson, students watch videos, read a book, play a game, and complete hands-on activities to learn all about income. They see how earning money works and how to save that hard-earned cash for future returns.

2nd Grade Investing Worksheets

2nd Grade Investing Games and Activities

Tips for Teaching Investing to 2nd Graders

  • Use music and songs to get ideas across.
  • Let students work in groups frequently.
  • Build money math skills with repetition, flashcards, and online resources.

For more resources on other topics, check out our 2nd Grade Money Lesson Plans Center.

3rd Grade

Learning Objectives

In 3rd grade, students learn the different ways people can put their income to work or store it safely. They should be able to:

  • Identify the similarities and differences between saving and investing.

3rd Grade Investing Lesson Plans

  • KMLP 3rd Grade – Accounts: In this lesson, students see the difference between various accounts, including checking, savings, and investing. They read a book stressing the significance of having savings and investing money wisely.

3rd Grade Investing Worksheets

3rd Grade Investing Games and Activities

Tips for Teaching Investing to 3rd Graders

  • Start with general discussions of risk vs. reward.
  • Have them separate play money into thirds, showing them how to set aside consistent amounts to invest.
  • Show them how people can get money (work, gifts, allowances) and how their first reaction should be to invest some of it.

For more resources on other topics, check out our 3rd Grade Money Lesson Plans Center.

4th Grade

Learning Objectives

In 4th grade, students’ money math is more advanced and teachers can focus on investment more explicitly. They should be able to:

  • Identify long-term financial goals that are most likely to be achieved by people who regularly invest their money over many years.

4th Grade Investing Lesson Plans

  • KMLP 4th Grade – Investing: Students watch an overview of investing, learning essential terms and the basic principles. They create long-term financial goals and learn how investing can help them realize their dreams.

4th Grade Investing Worksheets

4th Grade Investing Games and Activities

Tips for Teaching Investing to 4th Graders

  • Use stories.
  • Try multiple learning styles and approaches.
  • Use online resources and digital tools to show kids how investing works.

For more resources on other topics, check out our 4th Grade Money Lesson Plans Center.

5th Grade

Learning Objectives

5th graders learn more advanced investment terminology and strategies. They should be able to:

  • Compare rates of return on different types of investments and order them by risk.

5th Grade Investing Lesson Plans

  • KMLP 5th Grade – Investing: Students continue to differentiate between saving and investing by watching videos and reading excerpts. They create poster boards to show their knowledge and participate in a stock market simulation.

5th Grade Investing Worksheets

5th Grade Investing Games and Activities

Tips for Teaching Investing to 5th Graders

  • Explain the reasons people buy certain stocks.
  • Show them how to track their investments with different apps and sites.
  • Provide a wide selection of investments with various risk levels.

For more resources on other topics, check out our 5th Grade Money Lesson Plans Center.

6th Grade

Learning Objectives

6th-graders see the power of investing and compound interest. They should be able to:

  • List the potential benefits of investing money in a financial asset.

6th Grade Investing Lesson Plans

  • KMLP 6th Grade – Surplus: Students watch a video about surpluses, which teachers can highlight as prime investing opportunities. They read a book, create a Google Slides presentation and a poster, and take an assessment.

6th Grade Investing Worksheets

6th Grade Investing Games and Activities

Tips for Teaching Investing to 6th Graders

  • Show kids real-life examples of investing and include them in conversations.
  • Explain that investing is not a get-rich-quick scheme.
  • Work with students to set goals in different time frames.

For more resources on other topics, check out our 6th Grade Money Lesson Plans Center.

7th Grade

Learning Objectives

7th-graders look into specific investment opportunities. They should be able to:

  • Define common types of financial assets.

7th Grade Investing Lesson Plans

  • KMLP 7th Grade – Personal Finance: Students learn about budgeting, including setting aside money for investing in various financial assets. They watch a video, read articles, watch a PowerPoint, and produce an artistic representation of their comprehension.

7th Grade Investing Worksheets

7th Grade Investing Games and Activities

Tips for Teaching Investing to 7th Graders

  • Hold group competitions to see whose investments perform best.
  • Create or participate in a year-long challenge to show how it takes time for money to grow.
  • Have students create detailed budgets with specific percentages to allocate to investments.

For more resources on other topics, check out our 7th Grade Money Lesson Plans Center.

8th Grade

Learning Objectives

8th-graders focus on compound interest to see how its effects can be so significant. They should be able to:

  • Students see the benefits of compounding for building wealth are greatest for people who invest regularly over longer periods of time.

8th Grade Investing Lesson Plans

  • KMLP 8th Grade – Investing: Students dive deeper into how they can invest money, including saving safely, putting cash into blue-chip stocks, or investing in speculative assets. They learn the importance of diversification and participate in stock market simulations.

8th Grade Investing Worksheets

8th Grade Investing Games and Activities

Tips for Teaching Investing to 8th Graders

  • Keep the focus on their pending high school experience, including planning on career and college pathways to maximize income for investing.
  • Include research activities in most assignments.
  • Expose students to financial tools, investment apps, and sites.

For more resources on other topics, check out our 8th Grade Money Lesson Plans Center.

9th Grade

Learning Objectives

9th-graders explore the real world of investing, looking into sites and apps that they can invest in soon. They should be able to:

  • Explain the importance of having access to full and accurate information about potential investments.

9th Grade Investing Lesson Plans

  • KMLP 9th Grade – Investment: This lesson walks students through specific investment types and accounts; students create a class mural to show understanding and collaboration. They also play an investment game, see how their hypothetical portfolio would perform, and take an assessment.

9th Grade Investing Worksheets

9th Grade Investing Games and Activities

Tips for Teaching Investing to 9th Graders

  • Focus on companies teens know.
  • Teach them the benefits of a “buy and hold” strategy.
  • Remind them constantly that patience is the key to investing successfully.

For more resources on other topics, check out our 9th Grade Money Lesson Plans Center.

10th Grade

Learning Objectives

10th-graders focus on economic theories to boost their personal finance goals. They should be able to:

  • Students see that the prices of financial assets change in response to market conditions, interest rates, company performance, new information, and investor demand.

10th Grade Investing Lesson Plans

  • KMLP 10th Grade – Microeconomics: This lesson dives into economic theories focusing on how policies and markets impact investments. Students watch a video, participate in activities, and create a slideshow to show understanding.

10th Grade Investing Worksheets

10th Grade Investing Games and Activities

Tips for Teaching Investing to 10th Graders

  • Have students analyze their risk tolerances and spending and saving tendencies.
  • Work in groups, with partners, and individually to hone in on investment goals.
  • Show students the power of compound interest and investing early.

For more resources on other topics, check out our 10th Grade Money Lesson Plans Center.

11th Grade

Learning Objectives

11th-grade students see what drives markets and use that information to plan for investing. They should be able to understand:

  • Investors often compare the performance of their investments against a benchmark, such as a diversified stock or bond index.

11th Grade Investing Lesson Plans

  • KMLP 11th Grade – Supply and Demand: With a focus on supply and demand, this lesson shows how many factors contribute to investment performances. They use PowerPoint, videos, Jamboard, and games to demonstrate their understanding of supply and demand and its connection to price movements.

11th Grade Investing Worksheets

11th Grade Investing Games and Activities

Tips for Teaching Investing to 11th Graders

  • Keep lessons specific to student interest and their lives.
  • Show students how they can begin investing immediately.
  • Pick specific goals with students – saving for a house, car, etc. – and how investing can speed their process up significantly.

For more resources on other topics, check out our 11th Grade Money Lesson Plans Center.

12th Grade

Learning Objectives

12th-graders break down their risk tolerance and investing habits. They should be able to:

  • Students understand that when making diversification and asset allocation decisions, investors consider their risk tolerance, goals, and investing time horizon.

12th Grade Investing Lesson Plans

  • KMLP 12th Grade –Investing: In this lesson, students watch a video about investing for teenagers, read articles about risk tolerance, and use a risk tolerance tool to analyze their outlooks. They also look into discount brokerages, finding ways to keep costs down as they research investing opportunities.

12th Grade Investing Worksheets

12th Grade Investing Games and Activities

Tips for Teaching Investing to 12th Graders

  • Focus on diversifying portfolios.
  • Use real-life data about careers and incomes to estimate investment potential.
  • Take advantage of stock market and investing simulators.

For more resources on other topics, check out our 12th Grade Money Lesson Plans Center.

More Resources

About the Author

Peter Brown

Peter Brown is a National Board Certified teacher with over two decades of experience in the classroom. He loves working with students of all ages in many subjects, but particularly in practical areas like money education, to help kids achieve their goals. When he is not teaching or writing about financial literacy, you can find him surfing, hiking, skiing, or traveling to new places.

Last updated on: May 5, 2023