Smart Money Education

Smart Money Education

Age appropriate financial learning videos.

Welcome to Smart Money Education by Directions Credit Union. Here you will find helpful activities and book readings designed to help you level up your understanding of money and finances. Each activity has been assigned an age group to help you choose the appropriate activity.

People Helping People

We are all part of something bigger.

Directions gives back to the community through financial literacy education, in kind donations, scholarship support and more.

Activities

Activity: Muffin Tin Coin Counting

Description: A great activity involving different types of coins to teach your child how to count money and the different ways to make the same amount.

Age Group: Preschool – 3rd Grade

Activity: Money Hunt

Description: A fun activity that teaches kids about the name of the coins and how much they are worth

Age Group: 3rd & 4th Grade

Activity: Making a Piggy Bank                      

Description: A fun activity that shows kids how to make a piggy bank to put their money.

Age Group: 1^st – 5^th grade

Activity: Money Toss       

Description: A fun activity that teaches kids the coins name and how much they are worth by tossing coin into a cup.

Age Group: 2nd - 4th Grade

Activity: Grocery Store   

Description: A fun way to teach kids about wants, needs, and budgeting through playing grocery story.

Age Group: 2nd - 4th Grade

Smart Money Sweepstakes!

The benefits of teaching financial education to young children are indisputable. In fact, research shows that teaching financial literacy to kids as soon as they are of school age is the perfect time to begin! This was our motivation for creating the Smart Money Education webpage for our community. Here, you’ll find a variety of resources to help you start teaching your kids about money. And during July and August 2020, we would love to get your feedback!

Teach Your Kids with Smart Money Education and WIN $150!

To enter, watch a Smart Money Education video with your little student and then complete a short survey entry form about your experience. We created a collection of fun book readings and money activity videos for children 4-12 years old to choose from – which means - the more videos you watch and complete a survey for, the more chances you have to win each month’s $150 prize!

Plus, we’ll be adding new videos in August, giving you and your money star more opportunities to learn and win!

Participants must be 18 or older to enter. Limit one survey entry per video. Multiple survey entries submitted for the same video will not be accepted. There will be (2) two winners total, randomly selected at the end of each month for July and August 2020.

Smart Money Sweepstakes Official Rules

Book Readings

Book: Pigs will be Pigs

Author: Amy Axeirod Illustrated by: Sharon McGinley‐Nally

Description: Listen to the book about a pig family and how to hunt for money around their house. Learn
to budget and spend money wisely

The worksheet that goes with this book is (there are 3) Castle Café, Pigs will be Pigs budget and the tax paper.

Age Group: 3rd & 4th Grade

Book: Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday

Author: Judith Viorst Illustrated By: Ray Cruz

Description: i.e. Listen to the story of Alexander and help me count how much money he loses along the way!

Age Group: Preschool – 3rd Grade

Book: A Dollar for Penny

Author: Dr. Julie Glass Illustrated by: Joy Allen

Description: Penny has a lemonade stand! Let’s listen along and count together to find how much money she earns! What do you think she’ll do with her money at the end?

Age Group: Preschool – 2nd grade

Book: Curious George Saves His Pennies                               

Author: Margret & H.A.Rey's                                                     

Description:  Listen to the book about saving, spending and the different ways George earns his money

Age Group: Pre-K – 4^th graders           

Book: Pete The Popcorn                       

Author: Nick Rokicki and Joseph Kelley     

Illustrated by:  Ronaldo Florendo                      

Description: Pete and Patty are back in this 5th installment of the Pete the Popcorn series! This time, Patty's grandfather joins the fun to teach the friends all about saving your money. This book is a partnership with Directions Credit Union in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. In the story, Pete the Popcorn urges Patty to store her birthday money in a piggy bank. Laughs are shared while the duo peruse their options at Pablo Popcorn's Peso Plaza. Once the piggy bank is overflowing, Paw Paw Popcorn steps in to teach the friends about banking.

Age Group: 2^nd and 3^rd graders   

Book: Just Saving My Money                       

Author: Mercer Mayer                 

Description: Listen to the book about saving, spending and earning.

Age Group: Pre-K – 3^rd graders       

Book:Rock, Brock, and the Savings Shock                  

Author: Sheila Bair Illustrated by: Barry Gott

Description: Listen to a book about twins very different and a plan that their grandpa creates to show how fast money can grow if you save.            

Age Group: 3rd & 4th Grade  

Book: You Can't Buy A Dinosaur with A Dime                        

Author: Harriet Ziefert   

Illustrated by:  Amanda Haley                  

Description: Listen to the book about a little boy who loves dinosaurs and works to get money to buy some. Teaches about adding and subtracting coins.

Age Group: Kindergarten & 4th Grade