If you’re looking to kick off the semester with a great activity that will have your classroom buzzing with excitement and conversation, look no further than the activity, INTERACTIVE: Living Paycheck to Paycheck.

Through the arcade game Spent, students are presented with the following scenario: They are unemployed, have lost their house, and are down to their last $1,000. Their goal? They must try to make it 30 days without running out of money.

Not only does this popular activity get students making financial decisions, but it also has them reflect on their values and builds empathy. The game takes about 10 minutes to play and the full Interactive: Living Paycheck to Paycheck worksheet takes about 30 minutes. Watch NGPF's Teacher Tip video about how you can use the game with your class.

This activity is a great kickoff for a personal finance class and facilitates conversation around budgeting, personal finance decisions, and more! 

About the Author

Sonia Dalal

Sonia has always been passionate about instruction and improving students' learning experiences. She's come a long way since her days as a first grader, when she would "teach" music and read to her very attentive stuffed animals after school. Since then, she has taught students as a K-12 tutor, worked in several EdTech startups in the Bay Area, and completed her Ed.M in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is passionate about bringing the high quality personal finance content and instruction she wished she'd received in school to the next generation of students and educators. When she isn't crafting lesson guides or working with teachers, Sonia loves to spend her time singing, being outdoors, and adventuring with family and friends!

More posts by Sonia