If you're accustomed to using NGPF's high school lessons, the different look and feel of the Middle School Course lessons may come as a pleasant surprise! We've been thrilled to hear that educators are loving the new structure as they're using the course with their students, so we thought we'd provide some more details on the four main components of a Middle School Course lesson! We'll be taking a look at MS-2.3 How to Read a Receipt as an example. 

#1 INTRO

The first section of any Middle School Course lesson is the Intro. This is a classic bell ringer activity that introduces students to the main topic of the lesson in an engaging way. In MS-2.3, you'll see that the Intro has students use their prior knowledge and personal experience to fill in missing parts of a receipt. 

#2 LEARN IT

The second part of the lesson is the Learn It section. This is where the key content delivery happens through a variety of resources including engaging videos and EdPuzzles, articles that have been adapted for a middle school lexile level, infographics, and more! There are typically 1-3 resources in this section, and students answer comprehension questions for each resource to ensure they have understood the content before moving on to the next part of the lesson. 

In MS-2.3, students read an infographic that breaks down the various components of a receipt. Then, they answer a few comprehension questions based on what they found. 

#3 DO IT

The third component of a Middle School Course lesson is the Do It section. This is the core activity of the lesson where students apply what they've learned in a real-world and engaging activity. You'll find a variety of activities across the lessons including: 

• MOVE - Students get up and out of their seats as they apply what they've learned. These can also be modified for an online learning environment. 
• MATH - These activities embed core math skills within the personal finance context of the lesson. 
• FINE PRINT - Students practice reading the fine print of a real-world document they are likely to encounter in their lives. 
• PROJECT - These in-depth activities have students research, create, and/or work with their classmates. 

...and more!

In MS-2.3, students do a FINE PRINT activity. They look at two real-life receipts from CVS and Trader Joe's and answer questions that help them analyze the transactions that were made. 

#4 EXIT TICKET

The fourth and final part of the lesson is the Exit Ticket, which checks for student understanding and helps you assess if students are walking away with the key objectives of the lesson. In MS-2.3, students reflect on what they've learned and answer the following question: In your own words, explain why it’s a good idea to review and sometimes keep your receipts.

PRO TIP:

While we explored the four components of a lesson by looking at the Student Activity Packet for MS-2.3, keep in mind that the Lesson Guide for MS-2.3 is filled with additional information that will be useful to you as the teacher! Be sure to check out the Lesson Guide for each lesson as it also includes Jump$tart National Standards Alignment, core Math and ELA skills that are covered, material prep information, teacher tips that can help guide facilitation, extension activities, extra resources, and more! Explore the Middle School Course more here!

About the Authors

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!

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Christian Sherrill

Former teacher, forever financial education nerd. As NGPF's Director of Growth & Advocacy, Christian is laser-focused on our mission to guarantee all students a rigorous personal finance course before crossing the high school graduation stage. Having paid down over $40k in student loans in the span of 3 years - while living in the Bay Area on an entry level teacher's salary - he's eager to help the next generation avoid financial pitfalls one semester at a time.

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