Financial Education K-8
Every scholar deserves financial literacy. We teach budgeting, saving, investing, and entrepreneurship from kindergarten through 8th grade.
Financial Education at Legends
Legends Public Charter School in Lanham, Maryland teaches comprehensive financial education from kindergarten through 8th grade. Scholars learn age-appropriate concepts in budgeting, saving, investing, and entrepreneurship. These skills are integrated throughout our ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies curricula. We believe that financial literacy is not a luxury — it's a fundamental right that enables scholars to build wealth, make informed decisions, and pursue their futures with confidence.
Why Financial Education Matters
Closes Equity Gaps
Scholars from low-income backgrounds often lack access to financial education. We're intentional about teaching wealth-building skills that create pathways to economic mobility.
Builds Agency
When scholars understand money, they feel empowered. They learn that smart decisions compound. They see themselves as capable of building the future they want.
Improves Life Outcomes
Research shows that financial literacy correlates with higher earnings, better credit scores, and more stable employment. It matters for life success.
Builds Civic Understanding
Understanding economics helps scholars engage with the world. They learn how markets work, how communities build wealth, and how policy affects opportunity.
Grade-by-Grade Curriculum Overview
Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
Foundations of Money Awareness
- •Identifying coins and bills; counting money
- •Simple exchanges: buying and selling in classroom stores
- •Introduction to saving: piggy banks, goals
- •Needs vs. Wants: understanding choice and trade-offs
- •Community helpers and jobs: what do people do for work?
3rd – 5th Grade
Building Financial Literacy
- •Creating and following a budget; tracking income and expenses
- •Introduction to banking: savings accounts, interest, deposits
- •Earning money: allowance, chores, part-time work
- •Introduction to credit and debt (age-appropriate)
- •Entrepreneurship: running a classroom business or market
- •Introduction to stocks and investing through games and simulations
6th – 8th Grade
Advanced Financial Decision-Making
- •Advanced budgeting and financial planning; net worth calculations
- •Understanding credit scores and long-term financial health
- •Investment strategies: stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs
- •Compound interest and how wealth builds over time
- •Entrepreneurship projects: business plans, pitches, market analysis
- •College costs and education financing; understanding student loans
- •Career exploration: income potential, job market trends
How We Teach Financial Education
Project-Based Learning
Scholars don't just learn theory — they run businesses, create budgets, and make real financial decisions in classroom simulations.
Real-World Relevance
We connect to scholars' lives and families. Guest speakers, field trips, and community partners make financial concepts tangible.
Integrated Curriculum
Financial concepts show up in Math (percentages, compound interest), ELA (reading about money), Science (resource economics), and Social Studies.
Family Engagement
Families receive resources to continue financial conversations at home. Scholars learn that money talk is normal and healthy.
Questions About Financial Education?
Building Economically Confident Scholars
Our goal isn't to make scholars rich — it's to give them tools to build the futures they want. By teaching financial literacy K-8, we're equipping our scholars to understand money, make informed decisions, and believe in their power to create economic opportunity. That's liberation through education.