Life Choices Lesson Plan Life Choices and Financial Literacy
A Simulation-Based Learning Experience
Duration 55 MIN
Objective
Students simulate real-life scenarios using a board game to explore financial literacy and the consequences of everyday life choices.
Why This Matters
This lesson empowers students to connect decision-making with future outcomes, fostering responsible financial behaviors and thoughtful planning.
Teacher Preparation
Review the Life Choices and Financial Literacy lesson plan.
Familiarize yourself with the Life Simulation Activity setup.
Prepare materials: slide deck, game boards, and game pieces (resource tokens).
Plan discussion points for the Debrief and Reflect session.
Logistics
Audience
6th Grade Class
Approach
Interactive game simulation and guided debrief
Prep Time
10 Minutes
Materials
Lesson Plan
Literacy Slides
Game Board
Game Scenarios
Reflection Sheets
Instructional Sequence
1
Introduction
5 MIN
Introduce the lesson objectives and explain the importance of financial literacy and life choices.
Outline the game rules and how they simulate real-world decisions.
Hand out the Pre-Game Quiz and Financial Quest activity to activate prior knowledge.
2
Game Simulation
35 MIN
Divide students into small groups and assign roles or starting resources.
Facilitate the game using the Life Simulation Activity instructions.
Circulate among groups to encourage students to make strategic decisions, discussing potential long-term effects of choices like career paths vs. immediate salary.
Prompt groups with: "How does this choice affect your 'Life Credit' score or your bank balance?"
3
Debrief and Reflect
15 MIN
Lead a guided discussion using the Debrief and Reflect prompts.
Ask questions to help students connect in-game decisions (e.g., insurance, savings) to real-life financial literacy.
Summarize key takeaways: decision-making is a skill, and planning leads to resilience.
Collect the Post-Game Activity and Post-Game Quiz .
Financial Literacy Basics Slides Welcome to Financial Literacy Basics
Today, we will explore the fundamentals of financial literacy. We'll cover key terms and practical examples to help you make smart decisions about money.
Introduction
Key Financial Terms
Savings
Money kept for future use rather than spent immediately.
Budgeting
Creating a plan for how you will spend and save your money.
Income & Expenses
Income is money you receive; Expenses are money you spend.
Investing
Putting money into something with the expectation of a profit.
Understanding these terms is crucial for managing your finances wisely.
Real-Life Applications
Financial literacy helps in making everyday decisions, such as:
Saving for future goals (like college or a car)
Managing allowance, earnings, or gift money
Making informed spending choices vs. impulse buys
Linking to Our Game
In our game, you'll make choices that impact your financial future. Think about how each decision, like spending or saving, can change the outcome of your journey.
Challenge: Can you reach retirement with the most Life Credits?
Summary & Questions
We've learned about basic money concepts today.
Are there any questions?
Ask Anything
Ready to Play?
Life Simulation Teacher Guide Teacher Resource
Life Simulation Activity: Teacher Guide
Classroom Simulation Facilitation Instructions
Game Setup
Materials Needed
Game board for each group
Game pieces for each student/group
Decision card decks (Career, Finance, Life)
Resource tokens (Money, Life Credits)
Preparation
Arrange board on visible surface
Organize card decks separately
Ensure equal starting resources ($500 base)
Gameplay Objective
Students must make informed decisions to successfully navigate through life's challenges while accumulating the most resources or points by the end of the board.
Adaptations
Beginners: Simplify scenario card text and limit to two card decks.
Advanced: Introduce tax events or investment multipliers for resources.
Facilitation Steps
1
Starting the Game
Divide students into groups of 3-4. Explain that their "piece" represents their future self. Each group selects a piece and places it at START.
2
Simulating Scenarios
Each turn, a group draws a card. They must deliberate (30 seconds) and decide. Example: "Go to College (Cost: $200, +2 Income later)" vs "Work Now (Income: +$50 now)".
3
Consequences & Rewards
Advance pieces. Update the group's "Ledger" (if using). If they draw a "Setback" (Car break down), they must pay or take a loan (if allowed).
Strategic Inquiry Prompts
Risk Assessment
"What long-term effects might this decision have on your game piece's journey? How did you evaluate the risks before choosing?"
Learning Connection
"How does this game scenario relate to what your parents or guardians deal with in the real world?"
Refer to the 'Life Simulation Game Board' material for the visual layout.
Ensure students use the specific icons identified in the board key.
Happy Gaming and Learning!
Life Simulation Game Board Visual Life Quest: The Simulation
Navigate your future. Choose wisely. Grow your wealth and wisdom.
Game Board
Begin
START
College Choice
Job Hunt
Event Space
Expense!
Savings Bonus
Rent Due
Milestone
PROMOTION
Big Purchase
Insurance Option
Life Event
Car Repairs
Investment Payoff
Family Event
Opportunity!
Goal
FINISH
Retirement
Pension Check
Vacation Cost
Life Milestone
Career/Education
Opportunity
Financial Gain
Financial Loss
© 2026 LIFE QUEST SIMULATION Grade 6 Tier 1 Support Financial Literacy Unit
Pre Game Quest Worksheet Financial Quest
Student Name
Date
Pre-Game Activity
Welcome to the Financial Quest ! This activity is designed to kick off our lesson on financial literacy and life choices. Explore the scenarios below and choose the options that best fit your thinking.
1
The Candy Dilemma
Imagine you have $10 to spend on snacks during a field trip. You really want a candy bar that costs $3 , but you also want to buy a healthy snack that costs $5 . What do you choose and why?
A) Buy the candy bar to treat yourself.
B) Buy the healthy snack to keep your energy up.
C) Try to find a way to afford both by planning carefully.
Explain your reasoning:
2
Saving for a Surprise
You're given a chance to save part of your allowance. If you save 50% , you'll receive an extra bonus at the end of the month. What do you decide?
A) Save 50% and get the bonus.
B) Spend all your allowance now.
C) Save less than 50% to have some money for fun today.
Think about how saving now can lead to bigger rewards later!
3
Future Vision
Imagine you are planning for a future vacation. What is one choice you would make to help ensure you have enough money saved up?
Write your answer below:
Ready to start the simulation?
Pre Game Quiz Assessment Financial Literacy: Initial Check
Pre-Simulation Assessment
Name
Date
1
On a scale from 1 to 5, how confident do you feel about making money-related decisions?
1 Not at all
2
3
4
5 Very Confident
2
What does it mean to save money?
A) Spending it immediately
B) Keeping some money for future use
C) Giving all your money away
D) Borrowing money you don't have
3
What is one decision you think is important when planning for your future?
Explain your reasoning below.
End of Initial Check • Part of Tier 1 Literacy Support
Debrief and Reflect Discussion Guide Debrief and Reflect
Connecting Simulation to Reality
Phase POST-GAME
Guidelines
1
Share Your Experience: Explain the decisions your group made during the game.
2
Reflect on Impact: How did your game choices parallel real-life situations?
3
Respect & Listen: Give constructive feedback to your peers.
Strategic Decision Making
What were some of the key decisions your group had to make? What factors did you consider?
Evaluating Risks and Rewards
Can you describe a situation where you had to weigh risks versus rewards? How did that decision affect your progress?
Lessons Learned
Based on your experience, what did you learn about financial literacy and managing unexpected challenges?
Real-World Connections
How do you see the scenarios in the game relating to real-life situations you might encounter in the future?
Future Planning
If you could play the game again, what strategies would you change? Why?
Your insights will help us understand real-world choices!
Be ready to share your reflections with the class.
Post Game Reflection Worksheet Reflection Quest
Student Name
Simulation Role
Post-Game
How it Works
Now that you've played the game and made various financial decisions, it's time to think back on your journey. Reflect on the successes, challenges, and surprises you encountered.
1
Impact Assessment
What decision during the game do you think had the biggest impact on your journey? Explain why this decision was significant to you.
2
Lessons on Savings
Describe a moment when saving (or not saving) money changed the outcome of your game. How do you think this scenario relates to real-life situations?
3
Future Financial Choices
After reflecting on your decisions, what is one change you would make if you could play again? How might this change benefit your overall financial journey?
Great Job, Explorer!
Share your thoughts with your group to finish the quest.
Post Game Quiz Assessment Financial Literacy: Mastery Check
Post-Simulation Assessment
Name
Date
1
After playing the game, how much do you feel you understand about managing money?
1 Not at all
2
3
4
5 Completely
2
Which part of the game did you find the most fun and informative?
A) Making surprising life choices
B) Playing with resource tokens
C) Navigating unexpected challenges
D) Discussing strategies with friends
3
Describe one decision you made in the game that taught you an important lesson about financial planning.
Why was it significant?
End of Assessment • Tier 1 Classroom Supports
