Over on the Innovative Teachers' Chat <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Innovative-Teachers/> a long time member Peachy asked recently about good Banking links to use with her students. I started digging and I was so pleased with what I was finding I thought this would make a great newsletter topic! I hope you'll find these links as helpful as I did.

I come away from researching this topic impressed that not all corporate websites are overly formatted and miss the personal touch. Many of these pages are not only slick, they are warm, fun and inviting for children, too. And if you get tired of all the content, try Banking Games for Kids at http://firstsouthwestern.com/games.asp. It's mindless fun on a money theme!

Thanks to Jerry for adding in his recommendations to make for a solid list of top sites! Thanks for the topic idea Peachy!

• About Checking - http://www.aboutchecking.com/
  Here's a very nicely formatted site that covers everything from the basic "how tos" of checking to more advanced topics of selecting a compatible financial institution, selecting a checking account that is best for you, and much, much more. The section on identity theft is especially timely and worthwhile in educating students.
• Kids & Money - http://www.familyeducation.com/subchannel/0,2794,65-189,00.html
  The Learning Network presents a great set of links and activities for teaching kids about banking and finance, including Understanding Money, Allowances and Chores and School-Related Finances. There's also a set of online calculators that help students to figure out budgets, savings and interest rates. This site is worth your time sifting through.
• Banking on our Future - http://www.bankingonourfuture.org/hope/default.htm
  Covering sections on 4th and 5th grade, middle school and high school, Banking on our Future covers savings, checking, budgeting, credit and investing. The site is completely Flash-based, so there's lots of opportunity for interaction and teacher support. I especially liked the inclusion of banking vocabulary and the assessment activities.
• Checking Account Math - http://www.burbank.com/checking.shtml
  Straight from Burbank.com, this site offers a dozen activities for learning about checking accounts and printable signature cards, deposit slips, checks and transaction registers. Fore other similar lessons and activities check out Teacher Created Materials at http://www.teachercreated.com/lessons/010810im.html, Harcourt at http://www.harcourtschool.com/teacher_resources/math/grade_05/g5_checking.html and Life Skills for Vocational Success at http://www.workshopsinc.com/manual/Ch4L3.html.
• Dollar Dragon - http://www.banksite.com/kidscorner
  BankSite presents this animated (Flash-based) dragon who helps elementary-aged children learn about checking, savings, bonds, budgets and ATMs. While the text is extensive at times, the information is nicely detailed and the animations may keep your students interested. Not for nonreaders.
• It All Adds Up - http://www.italladdsup.org/
  It All Adds Up is another nicely designed site that focuses directly at high schoolers to help them understand responsible personal finance management skills and the proper care and use of credit. There are five modules on getting and using a credit card, buying a car, budgeting, saving and investing and going to college. Activities are linked to NCTM standards and the teacher support is first rate.
• Jump Start Coalition - http://www.jumpstartcoalition.org/
  The Jump Start Coalition is an organization dedicated to teaching students money management, saving and investing and proper use of credit. I especially like the Reality Check activity, where students discover how much their "dream life" is going to cost them. There's also a downloadable .pdf file entitled Money Math: Lessons for Life which targets middle schoolers.
• Kids Bank - http://www.kidsbank.com/index_2.asp
  Sovereign Bank presents this elementary-level tutorial on money, savings and interest, checking and electronic funds transfer. The games are fun and educational and the calculators help kids understand how to save to become a millionaire, what to do to make sure you can afford a car and how pennies can add up to spending cash for the holidays.
• Moneyopolis - http://www.moneyopolis.com/
  Based on the NCTM standards, Moneyopolis Ernst & Young present this interactive game for middle schoolers that integrates math and social studies into the study of banking. You must register to play (it's free). Students start with $600 and try to make it grow to $1,000 by the end of the game. Along the way getting a job, banking, shopping and paying taxes all come into play.
• Practical Money Skills for Life - http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/index.php
  Visa offers this online curriculum to help students learn to manage their money responsibly. Topics include money responsibility, allowance, behavior and chores, banking services, saving and investing, debt and identity theft. The banking tutor provides lots of instructional substance and the games will be a big hit with kids.
• Unofficial Student Manual - http://www.student-manual.com/
  Ideal for high school students getting ready for college, and even for college freshmen, here's a site that covers everything from studying and social skills to living essentials and budgeting. It is full of succinct tutorials and great conversation starters for young adults getting ready to take care of themselves financially and otherwise.
• Young Investors - http://www.younginvestor.com/flash/
  Liberty Financial offers this Flash-based look at investing for elementary and middle school students. There are lots of interactive activities and opportunities for discussion, as well as links for parents. What I don't see is a lot of teacher support. That and the fact that they tout their Stein Roe young investor fund means that you'll want to use this site carefully with students.

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