1. General Introduction / Course Learning Outcomes
General introduction:
Financial Literacy is a core life skill for meeting the financial challenges of the 21st century. As part of the school’s Graduate Profile, this course supports students in becoming “Ready for Life” by building practical career and life skills. Students learn how to analyze personal financial decisions, weigh costs and benefits, understand their rights and responsibilities as consumers, and apply classroom learning to real financial situations they will face later in life.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the course, students can:
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Analyze personal financial choices and evaluate the costs, benefits, and consequences of different decisions.
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Demonstrate practical skills in money management, including budgeting, banking, saving, and investing.
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Apply strategies for risk management and explain how risk affects financial planning.
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Understand and manage credit, including responsible borrowing and long-term financial impact.
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Recognize consumer rights and responsibilities and make informed decisions in real-world financial contexts.
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Connect financial learning to career planning and workplace realities to support long-term independence.
2. Content Overview
Financial Literacy focuses on essential knowledge and skills for real-life decision-making, including:
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Career decision-making: how career pathways influence income, lifestyle choices, and long-term financial stability.
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Money management: budgeting, banking, saving, and investing as tools for planning and financial security.
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Risk management: identifying financial risks and using strategies (including insurance concepts) to reduce potential harm.
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Credit management: understanding credit, debt, interest, and responsible borrowing.
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Consumer awareness: evaluating trade-offs, comparing options, and acting responsibly as a consumer.
Note: Within the broader Social Sciences program, financial learning is primarily delivered through Economics, especially topics related to money, banking, and finance, studied through both abstract principles and historical/real-world applications. The course also includes comparisons of economic systems and institutions in the U.S. and globally.
3. Learning and Teaching Approach
Financial knowledge is taught through practical, student-centered learning methods:
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Real-world application: students connect personal experiences to real financial challenges and global economic issues, making learning relevant and immediately useful.
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Inquiry-based learning: students investigate questions, analyze scenarios, and build understanding through problem-solving rather than memorizing definitions.
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CEE (Career, Exposure, Experience) pathway: aligned with Career & Technical Education (CTE) principles, students gain workplace exposure and experience through partnerships with local employers and real-world challenges that build career readiness and applied skills.
Lessons:
