Banker Playbook Teacher Guide Banker Playbook
The Great Bank Run Simulation • Teacher Facilitation Guide
Duration
45 MIN
Learning Objectives
Explain the concept of fractional reserve banking and how banks use deposits to create loans.
Analyze the role of trust and liquidity in a functioning economy.
Identify how the FDIC prevents bank runs and protects consumer deposits today.
Materials
Simulation Kit (Money & Role Cards)
Reflection Journal Worksheets
Presentation Slides
Timer / Whistle
Step-by-Step Facilitation
1
Warm-up: The Trust Factor (5 min)
Ask: "If I gave you $1,000 today, would you put it in a bank or under your mattress? Why?"
Teacher Note: Look for keywords like "safety," "security," "insurance," and "interest."
2
The Video Context (5 min)
Play the video segment (2:45 - 3:22). Focus on the 1930s crisis.
Ask: What happened when people lost faith in the 1930s?
3
The Great Bank Run Simulation (25 min)
Setup
Assign 1 Banker (at a desk), 2 Borrowers (waiting to the side), the rest are Depositors .
Distribute $500 in "Sim-Money" to each Depositor.
Phase 1: The Deposits
Instruction: "Everyone, deposit your $500 in the bank for safekeeping." Banker records totals.
Phase 2: The Lending
Banker keeps 10% (reserves) and lends the remaining 90% to the Borrowers for "New Business Projects." Borrowers physically take the money to the back of the room.
Phase 3: The Panic Rumor
"Stop! I just heard a rumor. The bank invested in a surf shop that just went out of business! They've lost all the money! Everyone, get your cash back NOW!"
Action: All depositors race to the Banker's desk to withdraw.
The Result
The Banker will quickly run out of money (because 90% is with Borrowers). Declare the bank closed while people are still in line.
4
Reflection & Wrap-up (10 min)
Distribute Reflection Journals. Discuss: "If we had the FDIC during our game, would you have panicked?"
Post-Simulation Debrief
Why did the bank run out of money?
Because of Fractional Reserve Banking . Banks don't keep every dollar in a vault; they keep a small percentage (Reserve) and lend the rest to help the economy grow.
How do we fix this today?
The FDIC . Since the government guarantees your money up to $250,000, there is no reason to panic and run to the bank, even if there are bad rumors.
Bank Run Simulation Slides The Great Bank Run
Trust, Risk, and the Foundation of Banking
Where's Your Cash?
Under the Mattress
Secure? Accessible? Growing?
In a Bank Account
Secure? Accessible? Growing?
Why do you TRUST a bank with your money?
The Banking System
Embedded media
Focus: 2:45 – 3:22
Topic: The 1930s Crisis
Vocabulary Check
Reserves
The portion of deposits a bank must keep in its vault, ready for cash withdrawals.
Bank Run
When a large number of people try to withdraw their money at the same time .
Liquidity
How easily "stuff" (like a house or loan) can be turned back into spendable cash .
FDIC
The government agency that insures your money if the bank fails.
Simulation: The Big Panic
Depositors
You have money. You want to keep it safe.
The Banker
You take deposits. You lend most of it out.
Borrowers
You take loans to start businesses.
Setup Phase
Phase 1 & 2
1
Deposits
Everyone hands their $500 to the Banker. The Banker keeps the cash in the vault.
2
Lending (Fractional Reserve)
The Banker keeps 10% ($50) of each deposit. The other 90% ($450) is given to Borrowers for their projects.
PANIC!
Rumor has it the bank just lost everything!
The Aftermath
Did everyone get their money back?
Why or why not? Where was the money?
How did it feel to be at the back of the line?
Did your trust in the bank change once the rumor started?
How could the bank have paid everyone?
Is it possible for a bank to pay everyone at once?
The Modern Solution: FDIC
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Bank Run Simulation Kit Simulation Role Cards
The Banker
You are the manager of Trust-First Bank . Your job is to keep deposits safe and earn money by lending.
Your Task:
Collect $500 from every Depositor.
Keep 10% ($50 per person) in the Vault.
Lend the rest ($450 per person) to Borrowers.
The Borrower
You are an entrepreneur starting a new bakery. You need cash to buy ovens and flour.
Your Task:
Wait for the Bank to open for loans.
Take the loan and "spend it" at the back of the room.
You don't have the cash anymore once you've "bought" your supplies.
The Depositor
You have $500 in savings. You want to keep it in the bank for safety.
Your Task:
Hand your $500 to the Banker.
Trust the bank to have it when you need it.
If you hear a panic rumor, try to get your cash back!
The Depositor
You have $500 in savings. You want to keep it in the bank for safety.
Your Task:
Hand your $500 to the Banker.
Trust the bank to have it when you need it.
If you hear a panic rumor, try to get your cash back!
Classroom Currency Print and cut out for depositors ($500 per student)
100 100
Trust First Bank
Official Simulation Currency • Middle School Series
100 100
100 100
Trust First Bank
Official Simulation Currency • Middle School Series
100 100
100 100
Trust First Bank
Official Simulation Currency • Middle School Series
100 100
100 100
Trust First Bank
Official Simulation Currency • Middle School Series
100 100
100 100
Trust First Bank
Official Simulation Currency • Middle School Series
100 100
100 100
Trust First Bank
Official Simulation Currency • Middle School Series
100 100
Trust First Bank: Official Vault Ledger
Confidential • Banker's Use Only
Bank Run Reflection Journal Bank Run Reflection
Post-Simulation Analysis • Personal Journal
Name:
Date:
1 Emotional Response
Think back to the "Panic Rumor" during the simulation. How did you feel when you realized the bank might run out of money?
2 The "Missing" Money
In your own words, explain why the Banker couldn't pay everyone back at once. Where was the "missing" cash?
The FDIC Shield
Imagine if our classroom bank had been insured by the FDIC . Write a short paragraph explaining how this insurance would have changed the behavior of the depositors during the rumor phase.
Financial Fluency
Match the term to the concept:
A. Liquidity
B. Reserves
C. Bank Run
1. Money kept in the vault for daily withdrawals.
2. A mass rush to withdraw cash due to fear of failure.
3. How quickly an asset can be turned into spendable cash.
"Trust is the bridge between the saver and the borrower."
