Inflation: High School Financial Literacy Lesson using Percentages

This Inflation: High School Financial Literacy Lesson can help develop financial literacy skills in high school students and show them how the math they learn in the classroom can be useful in everyday life. The resource offers a complete introduction to inflation and its implications. It's perfect for classrooms including consumer math, applied math, or financial literacy.

The 2-page handout and worksheet incorporates real-world math scenarios enabling students to develop their financial understanding and strengthen their mathematical skills.

Key topics covered include:

• Understanding inflation and why it may vary

• Learning what amount of inflation is desirable and how it is calculated

• Analyzing potential problems like decreased investment return when inflation is high or increased mortgage payments due to related interest rate hikes

Math Skills Required:

• Calculating with percentages written in decimal form

Grades to Use With:

This lesson is designed for students in high school in grades 8-12 who have learned about calculating percentages using decimals.

It can help your students meet standard CCSSMP4 (Model with Mathematics), making math more than just an abstract concept but a real world applicable practice.

What's Included:

This lesson is a user-friendly 5-page PDF: ready to print and use immediately. It includes a one-page handout with two versions – note-taking or pre-filled, allowing you to choose which is best for your students' engagement. Then, there is a worksheet with four different real world inflation math problems accompanied by an answer key to make marking a breeze.

How to Use:

The product fits various teaching arrangements from whole class learning to individual seat work or partner work.

I would go through the handout with the whole class, do a sample problem on the board, and then allow my students to work in pairs or small groups to complete the worksheet.

If you enjoy this financial literacy activity, check out others in my store:

• Household Budget

• Debit Cards vs Credit Cards

• Bank Statement and Credit Card Bill Practice

• Financial Literacy: Mortgage Effects When Interest Rates Rise