Florida Stock Market Challenge: In the Florida Stock Market Challenge (SMC), students participate in an exciting investment simulation by developing and maintaining a hypothetical $100,000 stock portfolio. Student teams from across the state compete for the most successful portfolio during a 7-10 week period. SMC is offered to students in grades 4-12 and is integrated into social studies, mathematics, language arts, business, science, and foreign language classes.
The Stavros Center offers SMC materials and training to participating teachers. Not feeling very Stock Market savvy yourself? Not to worry! Teachers don't need to be stock gurus, or even know much about the markets to be successful advisors. Many teachers encourage their students to follow the advice of investment experts such as Peter Lynch. From the Stavros Center materials, you can access many lesson plans explaining stocks and bonds. For instance, one lesson plan in our library uses McDonalds to teach about how stocks actually work. This lesson has been very successfully used with students in 3rd and 4th grade.
Teachers find that using the Stock Market Challenge is easy, time effective, flexible enough to fit any schedule or unit, and provides excitement that makes the world of investing come alive for their students. The simulation allows each team of 7 students to follow their own portfolio and keep track of their success in competition with other teams in their region and through the state of Florida. Teams pay a minimal fee of $14.00 to cover the cost of materials and supplies. Generous support by local businesses in Pinellas, Polk, and Pasco Counties pay the team registration costs. Additionally, stockbrokers and other investment professionals will volunteer to assist in advising classes. Rules and information are available on FCEE's website, or contact the Stavros Center for lesson plans, training, or additional information. The simulation is available each spring and fall.
Financial Freedom: Financial Freedom is a new, seven-part workbook on personal finance geared toward students in middle grades and high school. This program contains engaging materials covering the basics of money management, banking, credit, buying a car, car insurance, securing housing, and getting a job.
The seven units of Financial Freedom include:
Managing Cash, an introduction to budgeting and cash flow;
Banking Basics, a look at checking and savings accounts as well as choosing a financial institution;
Job Search, tips on resume writing, interviewing, and completing job application forms;
Consumer Credit, a discussion of credit cards and debt;
Automobiles, information on how to find and finance a first car;
Automobile Insurance, the basics of required car insurance and the various levels of coverage;
Finding a Place to Live, a glimpse into landlord and tenant rights, including an actual apartment lease.
Each free classroom set of Financial Freedom comes with a Teacher Guidebook. To order sets for your classes, call the Stavros Center at 813/974-2175, and the workbooks will be delivered directly to your school!
Strive to Drive: A new 90-minute simulation activity from FCEE, Strive to Drive teaches middle and high school age children the value of money. Using a large discovery map, players draw cards and make decisions on how to purchase a car, including how to purchase insurance, choose a mechanic, and other aspects of buying a new vehicle.
The USF Stavros Center conducts Strive to Drive demonstrations and workshops several times per academic year. Join us to learn to conduct the Strive to Drive Simulation with your students. You'll probably even get a kick at how Strive to Drive brings back fond memories of your first car-buying experiences! Strive to Drive may be used in conjunction with FCEE's Financial Freedom; both are available from the Stavros Center.
Zodiak: This Monopoly-type board game requires players to make critical business decisions about common business problems in publicly traded companies. Zodiak has been used by leading corporations across the country and is available to teachers to help them teach students how businesses operate, including concepts such as cash flow, inventory, labor issues, risk, and profit. Copies of this game (and training on its use) are available for check out through the USF Stavros Center.
To sign up for any of our workshops, seminars, institutes, or courses call the USF Stavros Center at (813) 974-2175 or e-mail us at StavrosCenter@tempest.coedu.usf.edu
