Classroom Resources / High School

Unit 3

Financing Your Future

For many young people, the path to higher education can be daunting with multiple deadlines to meet and forms to complete. Use these tools to help your students map out the journey and deftly navigate higher education ﬁnancing options.

Educator Guide: Unit 3

Family Connection

Education Beyond High School: A Family Conversation

10-minute read, plus discussion

Share this guide with parents to help them and their teens discuss career options as well as higher education and career training. The guide also provides links to resources for families to explore costs and financial aid options.

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Topic 1

Exploring Earning Potential

Students will explore how education and training impact future earning potential. They will also understand the relationship between education, training, and lifetime earnings.

Self-paced Module

Exploring Earning Potential

10 to 15 minutes (plus optional discussion)

In this module, students learn about factors that influence their earning potential. Students examine the relationship between education and lifetime earnings, how fields of study can have an impact on earning potential, and what to look for when researching earnings and careers.

Launch Module

Supplemental Resource Links

Learn to Earn

Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

In this lesson, students learn about the relationship between human capital (education and training) and income potential. They also discuss factors to consider when deciding on a career path.

Human Capital Infographic

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

This infographic compares how long it takes people with different education levels to earn a million dollars. It also shows the impact education has on both unemployment and weekly earnings.

Saving for College

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Your students can view a video of how one young person compares jobs and considers the return on investment of higher education.

Cost of Living Calculator

CNN Money

Students find out how much they would need to earn if they moved to a different part of the country.

Topic 2

Weighing Your Career Options

Help your students examine factors to consider when selecting a career or employer, such as potential earnings, job availability, opportunities for advancement, and education requirements.

Self-paced Module

Weighing Your Career Options

10 to 15 minutes (plus optional discussion)

Students will consider how to choose a career. The module will review important considerations, such as potential earnings, job availability, opportunities for advancement, and education requirements.

Launch Module

Supplemental Resource Links

Career Outlook

U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics

Your students can access up-to-date information on job trends including articles and graphic displays of data.

My Next Move

U.S. Department of Labor

Your students can explore this site to learn about careers by searching, browsing by category, or completing an interest survey. (Also available in Spanish.)

Will Your Job be Done by a Machine

National Public Radio

What are the chances a job you want will be done by a machine 20 years from now? Students discover the probability and learn what factors influence the answer. Spoiler alert: The chance of high school teachers being replaced by machines is calculated at 0.8%!

Career Exploration

University of Arizona’s Take Charge Today

In this hands-on lesson, students discuss their perceptions of certain jobs and then independently research a career of interest. Students report back in small groups. (To access these resources, you will need to register for a free account and verify that you are an educator. Once logged in, the link above will take you directly to the resource.)

Careers in the Military

U.S. Department of Defense

Students can explore information about military careers.

Topic 3

Choosing Your Path After High School

Your students will explore what education or training they will need to achieve their personal career goals. Use these resources to prepare students to develop an education and career plan.

Self-paced Module

Choosing Your Path After High School

10 to 15 minutes (plus optional discussion)

In this module, students explore their options after high school including further education and work. Students will consider their current plans and what might influence their decisions, learn about the options available to them, and view a series of questions that can help guide their decision-making process.

Launch Module

Supplemental Resource Links

Working Hard for the Money: Career Options

FDIC’s Money Smart for Young People

This lesson will help your students identify career options the education or training they will need.

College Scorecard

U.S. Department of Education

Help students find the right college fit for them, including the median salary of graduates by college and degree program.

Occupational Handbook

U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics

Your students can explore information on duties, education and training, pay, and the outlook for hundreds of occupations through this federal government website.

Virtual Field Trips: Careers

Discovery Education

With these videos, you can take your students on virtual field trips to meet individuals performing a wide range of jobs.

What Are The Most Lucrative Trades?

PBS Two Cents

Expose students to high-paying, in-demand careers in the trades that do not require a 4-year degree along with cautionary advice about for-profit schools and lifetime earnings.

Topic 4

Financing Further Education

What options are available to finance education and training after high school? Help your students discover options such as scholarships, grants, loans, work study, apprenticeships, and military service.

Self-paced Module

Financing Further Education

10 to 15 minutes (plus optional discussion)

This module will help your students consider how they and their families will pay for their education and training after high school. Your students will explore options such as scholarships, grants, loans, work study, apprenticeships, and military service.

Launch Module

Classroom Activity

Financial Aid: Just an Application Away

1 to 2 Class Sessions

After differentiating between student aid facts and misconceptions, students work in small groups to research and share information on applying for financial aid from various sources.

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Supplemental Resource Links

Payback

Next Gen Personal Finance and McKinney

Have your students play this game to learn about the issues involved with paying for higher education. This worksheet can be used to gather student insight.

It’s a Plan

Oregon GearUp

Find checklists for teachers, students, and families as students prepare for college. Checklists cover important tasks to accomplish during each grade in high school, broken down by month. Parents will find this information very helpful. (Also available in Spanish.)

Paying for College

Next Gen Personal Finance

This unit includes multiple lessons, activities, and projects focused on paying for college. (Portions available in Spanish.)

Tuition Tracker

The Hechinger Report

Dive into the difference between a college’s sticker price and the net price many students can expect to pay once various forms of financial aid are applied.

How America Pays for College

Sallie Mae

Explore information about how families are paying for college and what they think about their return on investment with the complete report or the infographic.

Topic 5

Understanding Education Financing Options

Self-paced Module

Understanding Education Financing Options

10 to 15 minutes (plus optional discussion)

Compare education financing options to make informed choices. Find out the difference between loans and grants/scholarships. Learn about loan terms, GPA requirements, and duration of aid.

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Classroom Activity

Not All Financial Aid is Created Equal

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Previous:Unit 2: Using Financial Services

Unit 3

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