(3rd–5th Grade) Lesson Plan: Money Management & Budgeting (Month 1) | Everyday Play N Learn Curriculum Series

Core Skills: U.S. Coin & Bill Value Recognition, Addition & Subtraction Money Math, Three-Jar Allocation (Save/Spend/Give), Needs vs. Wants Discrimination, Allowance & Expense Tracking, & Real-World Purchasing Scenarios

Build essential financial literacy skills early with the Month 1: Money Management & Budgeting Lesson Plan by Everyday Play N Learn! This detailed 21-page monthly curriculum guides 3rd through 5th graders through the step-by-step fundamentals of identifying currency, calculating change, prioritizing spending, and tracking income.

Designed for structured before-and-after school programming, this unit pairs daily interactive financial drills—such as coin tactile detective games, "Count the Money" jar math, and canteen budgeting challenges—with hands-on crafts like DIY piggy bank creation.

What's Inside:

• Week 1 (Identifying Coins and Bills): Explore U.S. coins (pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters) and dollar bills ($1, $5, $10, $20), perform tactile coin sorting, calculate bill/coin combination totals, and practice making store change.

• Week 2 (Budgeting Basics - Saving, Spending, Giving): Master the Three-Jar Money System, navigate canteen menu spending limits, craft customized DIY piggy banks, set savings goals, and track charity giving scenarios.

• Week 3 (Needs vs. Wants): Define essential needs vs. non-essential wants, analyze grocery trip spending stories, solve real-world "Needs-Based" budget challenges, and navigate SMART Money path mazes.

• Week 4 (Weekly Allowance Plan & Tracking): Log earnings through chore role-play, track expenses on Spending Tracker logs, manage "When Needs Arise" emergency savings scenarios, and celebrate progress with a Money Management Party.

Product Details:

• • Format: Digital Download (Printable PDF)

  • Page Count: 21 Action-Packed Daily Lesson Pages

  • Structure: Formatted for Before Care (7:00 AM–8:30 AM) and After Care (3:30 PM–6:00 PM) program schedules

  • Key Components: Coin/Bill Math Worksheets, Three-Jar System Templates, Canteen Budgeting Worksheets, Allowance/Expense Trackers, & DIY Piggy Bank Craft Guides

  • Publisher: Everyday Play N Learn Child Development