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InspireFinancialLearning.ca is an initiative of the Ontario Teachers' Federation to provide teachers with effective tools and strategies to help their students navigate the complex world of personal finances.

We welcome input at info@inspirefinanciallearning.ca.

Lesson Plan

Free Trade and Protectionism: Who Wins, who loses

In this lesson, students will learn how trade agreements between Canada and its economic partners work. Students will also learn how tariffs, customs duties and import taxes affect the price of consumer goods.

  • Grade Level: 9-10
  • Course(s)/Subject(s):

    Grade 9
    MFM1P – Foundations of Mathematics

    Grade 10
    CHC2D – Canadian History
    since World War I

    Grade 10
    CHC2P – Canadian History
    since World War I

Lesson Plan

Fair Trade: Not for All

In this lesson, students will learn how the concept of fair trade can sometimes lead to inequities that are as equally evident as those associated with conventional trade.

  • Grade Level: 10
  • Course(s)/Subject(s):

    Civics and Citizenship

Lesson Plan

What’s Your Score?

In this lesson, students will learn how to read and interpret a credit report and, in the process, they will develop an understanding of how their spending and use of credit/debt, affects their credit history.

  • Grade Level: 9-12
  • Course(s)/Subject(s):

    Introduction to Business (BBI1O/BBI2O)
    Exploring Family Studies (HIF1O/2O)
    Personal Life Management (HIP40)

Lesson Plan

Investing Basics

In these lessons, students will learn key financial terms and some basics rules to help them manage their money. Students will also learn investment vehicles and how to structure different types of investment portfolios.

  • Grade Level: 10-12
  • Course(s)/Subject(s):

    BBI1O/BBI2O – Introduction to Business
    MBF3C – Foundations for College Mathematics
    GWL3O – Designing Your Own Future
    GLS4O/GLE4O/GLE3O – Advanced Learning Strategies: Skills for Success After Secondary School
    CLE 3M – The Individual and the Economy

Lesson Plan

Urban planning and your finances

In this lesson, students have an opportunity to experience the effects of urban growth on their personal finances. The phenomena of urban sprawl, vehicle use, traffic congestion, and population density have distinct effects on personal finances. This lesson will serve as a bridge between urban geography and financial literacy.

  • Grade Level: 9-10
  • Course(s)/Subject(s):

    CGC1D – Issues in Canadian Geography
    CGC1P – Issues in Canadian Geography
    *Also applicable in Economics and Business.

Lesson Plan

What is credit?

In this lesson, students will investigate the various types of credit cards available and explore the pros and cons of buying on credit.

  • Grade Level: 10-12
  • Course(s)/Subject(s):

    BBI1O/2O – Introduction to Business
    HIP4O – Personal Life Management
    CIE3M – The Individual and the Economy

Lesson Plan

The flu and you!

In this lesson, students will learn how the flu attacks the body as well as how to prevent and treat it, and also consider its impact on society?

  • Grade Level: 10, 12
  • Course(s)/Subject(s):

    SNC2D Science (Academic)
    SNC4E Science (Workplace Preparation)

Lesson Plan

Assessing profit margins

When setting the price of a new product in the market, how can a business strike a balance between attracting consumers to buy its products and earning as much profit per unit as possible?

  • Grade Level: 10-12
  • Course(s)/Subject(s):

    MPM2D – Principles of Mathematics
    MCR3U – Functions
    MCF3M – Functions and Applications
    MBF3C – Foundations for College Mathematics
    MAP4C – Foundations for College Mathematics
    BDI3C – Entrepreneurship: The Venture
    BMI3C – Marketing: Goods, Services, Events

Lesson Plan

Setting priorities

In this lesson, students will brainstorm their expenses and categorize each as a need or a want. Using an example from current events, students will discuss the importance of setting spending priorities, and distinguishing between needs and wants to ensure financial security.

  • Grade Level: 9-12
  • Course(s)/Subject(s):

    HFL4E – Food and Healthy Living
    HIF1O/2O – Exploring Family Studies
    HIP4O – Personal Life Management
    CIE 3M – The Individual and the Economy

Lesson Plan

Cost of borrowing

In this lesson, students will learn how to read a credit card statement and the cost of using credit cards.

  • Grade Level: 9-12
  • Course(s)/Subject(s):

    BBI1O/2O – Business Studies
    HIF1O/2O – Exploring Family Studies
    HIP4O – Personal Life Management
    MEL3E – Mathematics for Work and Everyday Life
    CIE3M – The Individual and the Economy

Lesson Plan

Know your flow

In this lesson, students will identify and review their expenses and income and learn to create a budget.

  • Grade Level: 9-12
  • Course(s)/Subject(s):

    BBI1O/BBI2O – Introduction to Business
    HIF1O/2O – Exploring Family Studies
    HIP4O – Personal Life Management
    CIE 3M – The Individual and the Economy

Lesson Plan

Forever compounding

This lesson demonstrates various ways to incorporate financial literacy learning into the study of a novel, by asking the question, “Are any of the characters in a unique situation that would require a different approach to savings and investing in order to ensure their financial survival”?

  • Grade Level: 10-12
  • Course(s)/Subject(s):

    ENG2D (Academic English)
    Similar expectations are in many of the senior courses too

Lesson Plan

What’s up doc? Health care in Canada

In Canada, universal health care is something many of us take for granted. Given these tough economic times, can we afford to maintain the system in its current form? This lesson explores the financial implications of health care spending through a tableau activity.

This is intended as an introduction to the issue of health care policy as it relates to financial literacy and should be followed by further study about the intricacies of social policy.

  • Grade Level: 10
  • Course(s)/Subject(s):

    CHV2O – Civics and Citizenship

Lesson Plan

Understanding government spending

In this lesson, students review the functions and responsibilities of Canada’s three levels of government by participating in a role play to learn how public funds are spent at the municipal provincial and federal level.

  • Grade Level: 10
  • Course(s)/Subject(s):

    CHV2O – Civics

Lesson Plan

Cost of music piracy

This lesson explores the cost of music piracy from the point of view of artists, composers, consumers and other stakeholders in the Canadian music industry. The lesson includes a focus on Canada’s Copyright Act to clarify legal and ethical issues surrounding the licensing, reproduction and digital distribution of music.

  • Grade Level: 9-12
  • Course(s)/Subject(s):

    AMU1O/2O – Music
    ASM2O Media Arts
    Also Law and Canadian Studies courses
    CIC4E Making Personal Economic Choices

Lesson Plan

Online scams and schemes

In this lesson, students will learn ways to avoid financial scams and schemes designed to defraud customers.

  • Grade Level: 9-12
  • Course(s)/Subject(s):

    ENG2P – English Applied
    BTT1O/BTT2O – Information Technology
    BBI1O/BBI2O – Introduction to Business

Lesson Plan

Keep your spending in check

In this lesson, students examine how certain spending patterns, if gone unchecked, can lead to financial problems. By exploring factors that contribute to unhealthy behaviours, students learn how to use an action plan to adjust and resolve any issues.

  • Grade Level: 10-12
  • Course(s)/Subject(s):

    PPL20 – Healthy Active Living Education
    See also similar expectations in PPL1O, PPL3O, PPZ3C and PPL4O

Lesson Plan

Price it right!

In this lesson, students learn how companies use skim and penetration pricing models to maximize sales and increase profit.

  • Grade Level: 9-10
  • Course(s)/Subject(s):

    BBI1O/BBI2O – Introduction to Business Studies

Lesson Plan

Bank ads

In this lesson, students describe the roles of various financial institutions by analyzing bank advertisements. Students will research and then create a media product for a particular financial product or service of their choice.

  • Grade Level: 9-11
  • Course(s)/Subject(s):

    English-Academic/Applied – ENG1P/ENG1D
    English University/College – ENG3U/3C  EMS3O
    Introduction to Business – BBI1O/BBI2O

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