Career · Lesson Plan
Introduction to Earning Money
An elementary introduction to earning money. Students learn why they might want to earn their own money, simple ways to earn it based on their interests and skills, and what they can do with what they earn — a first step toward saving and budgeting.
For Teachers
Lesson at a glance
- Topic
- Career & Earning
- Grade Level
- Grades 4–6
- Resource Type
- Lesson + Worksheet
- Estimated Time
- 30–45 minutes
- Format
- Reading + worksheet
- Materials
- Printable lesson, worksheet, whiteboard
What Students Learn
Learning objectives
- Explain why a young person might want to earn their own money
- Identify simple ways to earn money based on interests and skills
- Explain what you can do with money you earn (spend, save, give)
- Connect choosing a money-making idea to one’s own likes
- Recognize earning money as a first step toward saving and budgeting
Materials
What you’ll need
- Printed copies of the lesson reading and worksheet (one per student)
- Whiteboard or projector for discussion
- Optional: materials to make brochures or business cards
Key Terms
Vocabulary
- Earn
- To get money in return for work or a service.
- Income
- Money you receive, including money you earn.
- Allowance
- Money a parent or guardian gives a child, often regularly.
- Service
- Work you do for someone, such as walking a dog or raking leaves.
- Saving
- Setting money aside instead of spending it.
- Customer
- A person who pays for a good or service.
For Teachers
Lesson plan
Estimated time: one 30–45 minute class period.
Lesson sequence
- Introduction (5 min). Ask students what they’d buy or save for if they earned their own money.
- Read the lesson (10 min). Students read about why and how to earn money based on their interests.
- Discussion (10 min). Cover matching a money-making idea to your likes, and what to do with earnings (spend, save, give).
- Worksheet (10 min). Students complete the worksheet exercise.
- Wrap-up (5 min). Students sketch one earning idea that fits them.
Extension activity
- Mini business. Students design a brochure or business card for a simple service they could offer, then share it in a class ‘job fair.’
Assessment
Assess participation and the completed worksheet.
Discussion
Discussion questions
- Why might you want to earn your own money?
- What are some ways a kid your age could earn money?
- Why does it help to pick an idea that matches your own interests?
- What three things can you do with money you earn?
- How could earning money help you reach a savings goal?
Printable Lesson & Worksheet
Introduction to Earning Money — Lesson & Worksheet
Printable lesson reading plus a student worksheet exercise.
Unlock the full Money Instructor library
Members get unlimited access to worksheets, lesson plans, and teacher resources across every financial literacy topic — budgeting, taxes, credit, banking, and more.