Lesson Title: A Financial Literacy Scavenger Hunt

Remember the first time you got your hands on some serious money—whether it was a paycheck from your first job or birthday cash from a relative—and suddenly realized you had no idea what to do with it?

This lesson plan is here to help high school students avoid that “What now?” moment when it comes to managing their money. Through interactive discussions, hands-on activities, and a scavenger hunt that makes learning fun, students will dive into important financial concepts like saving, credit cards, checking accounts, taxes, and investments.

By the end, they’ll walk away with approachable, practical money skills that they can actually use—no more guessing when it comes to making smart financial moves!

Grade: 9 - 12

Subject: Mathematics, Financial Literacy

Objective:

• By the end of this lesson, students will: 
  • Understand the importance of saving and different savings strategies.
  • Compare the benefits and drawbacks of credit cards.
  • Describe the functions of a checking account.
  • Calculate basic tax obligations and understand the role of taxes in personal finance.
  • Understand basic investment options and the concept of risk vs. return.
  • Apply financial literacy concepts in real-life situations through an educational Goosechase activity.

Materials:

• Computers or tablets for online research
• Mobile devices with the Goosechase app downloaded (one per team).
• Financial literacy worksheets (saving strategies, tax forms, investment portfolios, sample checking account statements etc.)
• Tax calculators or apps
• Projector for class discussions and presentations
• List of Missions (created beforehand in the Goosechase app)
• Prizes for the winning team (optional).

Preparation:

• Create an Experience on the Goosechase app with a series of financial literacy focussed Missions
• Develop Missions that require students to demonstrate their understanding of concepts you have taught.  Example Missions:
  • Find two different credit cards offered by banks or retailers and compare their interest rates and fees. Take a picture of the two cards (or their offers online) and explain which one is better for a high school graduate starting college.
  • Research and find a savings account with a high interest rate. Take a screenshot of the account information and calculate how much interest you would earn if you deposited $1,000 for one year.
  • Using an online tax calculator, estimate how much income tax you would owe if you earned $30,000 in a year. Submit the estimated tax amount and the tool you used to calculate it.
• Find example Missions in the Goosechase Templates below. 

• Run your Experience during one class period or for the entire week.
• Adapt the difficulty of the Missions based on the proficiency levels of your students to keep the activity inclusive and engaging for everyone.
• Prepare hints or resources that might help students solve the Missions if needed.
• Divide students into teams and assign each team a mobile device with the app, or have students complete the scavenger hunt individually.
• App Set-Up 
  • Dedicate time to ensuring all students have the Goosechase app downloaded and joined to the Experience to avoid any tech issues.

Lesson Plan Outline:

• Day 1: Introduction to Financial Literacy Concepts
  • Warm-up Discussion:
    • Ask students what they know about financial literacy.
    • Discuss the importance of managing personal finances.
  • Interactive Presentation:
    • Present key concepts of saving, checking accounts, credit cards, taxes, and investments.
    • Use real-life examples (e.g., compound interest on savings, the pros and cons of using credit cards).
  • Group Activity:
    • Divide students into groups to research one financial literacy topic.
    • Each group will create a short presentation summarizing their findings.
• Day 2: Applying Financial Literacy Concepts
  • Presentations:
    • Each group presents their financial literacy topic to the class.
  • Class Discussion:
    • Engage students in a discussion about the differences between saving and investing, the risks of credit card debt, and tax implications.
  • Worksheet Activity:
    • Students complete a worksheet where they calculate savings interest, review a sample checking account statement, and estimate income taxes based on a mock paycheck.
• Day 3: Goosechase Financial Literacy Scavenger Hunt
  • Overview:
    • Go over the rules and expectations for the scavenger hunt, including safety guidelines and respect for school property.
    • Read through Missions with students, emphasizing the importance of evidence and analysis in their responses.
    • Monitor progress and provide assistance as necessary.
    • If working in teams, encourage them to strategize and collaborate to solve the Missions.
    • Sit back and enjoy watching your students collaborate and demonstrate their learning. 
• Debrief and Reflection 
  • After the hunt, students share their answers and experiences with the class. Discuss the importance of making informed financial decisions.
  • Gather students and discuss their experiences.
  • Ask students to share their favorite Mission and their most creative submission.
  • Reflect on how the activities helped reinforce their understanding of financial literacy.

Optional Post-Experience Activities:

• Personal Budget 
  • Have students create a personal budget using a sample income.
• Interactive Workshop 
  • Invite a guest speaker (e.g., a financial advisor or banker) to discuss the importance of managing personal finances.

Assessment

• Assess students’ personal budget assignment.
• Observe students' participation and collaboration during the Goosechase activities and whole-class discussions. 
• Review the submissions in the Goosechase app to assess understanding of financial literacy.
• Assess students through a financial literacy quiz.

Ready Made Experience Templates to Try

Want a copy of this lesson plan to use with your class?

What is Goosechase EDU?

Goosechase is an online platform that helps educators create and run interactive learning experiences in their classrooms and beyond. Sign up and try creating an Experience, or contact us to learn more about our school and district-wide solutions!