1. education
2. teaching and classroom resources
3. lesson plans

Welcome to
JA BizTown
Teacher Training
JA Capstone Programs
Capstone is the culmination of classroom study.
It provides on-site experiential activities that
allow students to apply knowledge they learned
in classrooms to real-world situations.
JA BizTown – Elementary grades
JA Finance Park – Middle and High School
Training Objectives
By the end of training, you will understand:
• The purpose of JA BizTown.
• How to effectively use the curriculum.
• Teacher responsibilities for a successful
student visit.
• Basic operation of the on-site
simulation.
Benefits to Educators
1. Lessons are easy to use.
2. Minimal preparation time is
needed.
3. Content is aligned with CCSS.
4. Curriculum is fun, interactive, and
engaging.
5. Application and extension
activities are in each lesson.
Student Goals
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Demonstrate a basic understand of the free enterprise
system.
Build money management skills.
Develop an understanding of basic business practices
and responsibilities.
Describe the role of citizenship, worker, producer,
consumer, and philanthropy in the economy.
Display the soft skills necessary for successful
participation in the world of work.
Program Components
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Teacher training
Classroom instruction
Volunteer training
Student on-site visit
Post-visit activities
JA BizTown Video
6
JA BizTown Curriculum Basics
• Financial Literacy
 4 class periods
• Community and Economy
 3 class periods
• Work Readiness
 2 class periods
• Business Management
 3 class periods
• Simulation and Debrief
JA BizTown Curriculum Materials
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Teacher Guide
Classroom Kit
Citizen Guide (workbook)
Online Resources
JA BizTown Classroom Kit
Curriculum Guide Tabs
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Overview/Getting Started
Financial Literacy
Community and Economy
Work Readiness
JA BizTown Jobs
Business Management
BizPrep
Visit and Debriefing
Visit Information
Volunteer Information
Overview/Getting Started
Overview (Pages 3-6)
Program Goals, Experiential Learning, Economics
Getting Started
Materials (Pages 7-9)
Lesson Format (Pages 10-16)
Simulation Prep (Pages 17-20)
Timeline and Checklist (Pages 20-23)
Master List of Materials (Page 24)
Timeline – Implementation Option 1
Timeline – Implementation Option 2
Lesson Format – Unit Overview
Lesson Features
Lesson Features
Lesson Features
Lesson Features
Lesson Features
Lesson Features
Application/Extension Activities
Financial Literacy
• Four core lessons
 5 lessons in the past
• Order flexibility
 Before or after
Community and
Economy lessons
• Checks and
electronic
payment methods
Lesson One: Financial Institutions
• Topic/Activities
 Services offered by financial institutions
 Connecting money and accounts
• Scavenger hunt
 Financial services ads
 Banks in an Economy Poster
• Bank account application
Bank accounts
Lesson One
• Application Activities
 Banking Bingo – bank services (game in kit)
 Vocabulary Review – (in Citizen Guide)
• Extension Activities
 Choosing a Financial Institution - financial
institution differences (in Citizen Guide)
 Bank Teller Computations – money skills
(practice)
Lesson Two: Checking Accounts
• Topic/Activities
 Endorse a check
 Complete a deposit ticket
 Record transactions in a check
register
 Insufficient account balance
consequences
Two paychecks
Lesson Two
• Application Activities
 Transaction Actions – deposit tickets/checkbook
registers (in Citizen Guide)
 Paycheck Practice – endorsement/deposits (in
Citizen Guide)
• Extension Activities
 Direct Deposit – (local JA Area option)
 Gordon’s Bounced Check – (in Citizen Guide)
Lesson Three: Savings Accounts
• Topic/Activities
 Check writing
 Benefits of saving
 Earning interest on savings
$1.50 saving required
Lesson Three
• Application Activities
 $1 Million or Double the Pennies? (option for
Getting Started)
 John’s Shopping Day – check writing/register (in
Citizen Guide)
 Savings Plan – Inquiry based (Internet required)
• Extension Activities
 Rule of 72
 Compound Interest
Lesson Four: Debit Cards
• Topic/Activities
 Debit card transactions
 Recording debit purchases
in a check register
 Comparing various
payment types
 Skill and vocabulary review
Debit cards
Lesson Four
• Application Activities
 Venn Diagram (compare/contrast)
 Let’s Go to the Bank
• Extension Activities
 The Debit Card Transaction (in Citizen Guide)
 Interest in Your Favor (Internet option) (in Citizen
Guide)
Unit Summary
• Check It Out!
 Continuous scenarios
• Family Newsletter
 Citizen Guide page
• Assessment
 Optional
 Not included in Citizen Guide
• CCSS References
• Vocabulary
Community and Economy
• Three core lessons
• Order flexibility
 Before or after Financial
Literacy lessons
• Circular flow
 Organizing construct
Lesson One: Circular Flow of an
Economy
• Topic/Activities
 Vocabulary
 Citizenship
 Circular flow of economy
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Citizen Pledge
Lemonade Stand activity
 Resources
 Circular flow demonstrated
JA BizTown citizens
Lesson One
• Application Activities
 Circular Flow Game (game cards in kit)
 My Business (in Citizen Guide)
• Extension Activities
 Discovering Character Traits
 Code of Ethics
Lesson Two: Free Enterprise
• Topic/Activities
 Businesses produce goods and
services
 Scarcity
 Basic economic questions
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Prototype production
Production
Lesson Two
• Application Activities
 What is Free Enterprise? (in Citizen Guide)
(homework option)
 Jim’s Popcorn Daydream (in Citizen Guide)
• Extension Activities
 Economic Freedoms Poster
 Family Resources (money cards in kit)
Lesson Three:
Public Goods and Services
• Topic/Activities
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Gross pay vs. net pay
Taxes
Public vs. private goods
Philanthropy
Taxes
Lesson Three
• Application Activities
 Word Search
 Public and Private Goods and
Services (in Citizen Guide)
• Extension Activities
 Philanthropy
Unit Summary
• Family Newsletter
 Citizen Guide page
• Assessment
 Optional
 Not included in Citizen Guide
• CCSS References
• Vocabulary
Work Readiness
• Two core lessons
• Career exploration
 Interests/skills
• JA BizTown Jobs Tab
 Local jobs
 Elections
(Application Activity)
 Job interviews
(Application Activity)
Lesson One: Interests and Skills
• Topic/Activities
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Recognition of skills and interests
Career types
STEM careers
Workplace behavior
Lesson One
• Application Activities
 Career Types
 Education Pays Off (in Citizen
Guide)
• Extension Activities
 Soft Skills – Teamwork
 Soft Skills – Problem Solving
Lesson Two: Applying for a Job
• Topic/Activities
 Job application
 Speed interviews
 Job interview evaluation
Lesson Two
• Application Activities
 Job Interviews
 Elections
• Extension Activities
 Writing a Resume
 Career Exploration
JA BizTown Jobs Tab
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Staffing Model
Job Descriptions
Employment Letter
Job Assignments
Classified Ads
JA BizTown Staffing Model
JA BizTown Jobs – By Business
JA BizTown Jobs – Assignments
• Fill positions based on
group size
• JA staff will specify
priority for “between”
group sizes
• One student per line
JA BizTown Jobs – Employment
Business Management
• Three core lessons
 Business expenses
 Price setting
 Visit preparation
• BizPrep Tab
 Shop envelopes
 Budget
 Ads
Lesson One: Business Costs
• Topic/Activities
 Customer service
 Budget – operating costs
 Payroll
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Business Costs Sheet
 Business group
 CEO in charge
Lesson One
• Application Activities
 Customer Service (in Citizen Guide)
 Ranking Criteria (in Citizen Guide)
• Extension Activities
 Quality Task Committee (in Citizen Guide)
 BizBriefs (in Citizen Guide - businesses in
simulation)
Lesson Two: Setting Prices
• Topic/Activities
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Selling price
Revenue
Inventory
Profit
Divide products into equal groups –
all students have same opportunity
Lesson Two
• Application Activities
 Wants and Needs
 Business Costs and Profit (in Citizen Guide)
• Extension Activities
 History Connection – Inquiry-Based Lesson
(Internet required)
 Identity Theft
Lesson Three: Visit Preparation
• Topic/Activities
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Advertisements
Philanthropy Pledge
Checkbook Prep
Friendly Letters
(Extension Activity)
 Letter to the Editor
(Extension Activity)
Lesson Three
• Application Activities
 Slogans and Logos
 Jingles
• Extension Activities
 Friendly Letters
 Letters to the Editor
Student Checkbooks
• Classroom preparation
 Name written on book and on checks and
deposit tickets throughout
 Account number on checks and deposit tickets
Student Checkbooks
• Ready for first visit to the bank
 First deposit ticket ready
o Payroll taxes have been deducted
o Cash back maximum of $2.00
o Net deposit
o Gross pay amounts:
$9.00, $8.50, and $8.00
o Net pay amounts:
$8.82, $8.33, and $7.84
Student Checkbooks
• Deposit Ticket
Caleb Lents
8 82
April 1
8 82
15
2 00
6 82
Caleb Lents
127
Student Checkbooks
• First check and register transactions
 First check for savings
o $1.50 – required for each student
o Pay to the order of “Bank”
o Memo: savings account
 Check Register
o Beginning balance is $0
o Two entries – net deposit and savings
o Show math
Student Checkbooks
• Check Register
4/1
4/1
0.00
Deposit 1
Bank
8 82 + 8 82
8 82
1 50
- 1 50
7 32
Business Startup
• CFO begins working
 BizPrep
Simulation Visit
• 4½- to 5-hour day
• Volunteers
 1 – 2 per business
 1 hour before
student arrival
• Student Welcome
Business Startup
• Students read and
begin jobs
Business Startup
• Pricing activity
 Nothing under $1.00
 Price popular items highest – record on inventory
supply sheet
 Consider bank loan
• Speech preparation
 CEOs may have opening speech template
• Printing payroll (CFO)
 CEO signs/checks are filed
 Do NOT distribute yet!
Opening Town Meeting
• Students gather in
town center
• Mayor’s welcome
speech
• CEO’s opening
speeches
Staff Meeting #1
• All students and volunteers in business
 No one should be out in town!
• CFO hands out first payroll check
 Endorse – remove stub
 Tear out deposit ticket and savings check
• Remind students of break order
• Remind students they must visit the
bank before shopping or eating
Work/Break Rotations #1
• Three break sessions, 20 minutes each
 Red – Yellow – Green
• Students on break go to bank first
 Teachers: help at banks
• Students not on break continue to work
– follow the job simulations
• As income begins to come in, CFO to
make deposits
Staff Meeting #2
• CFOs pass out second payroll check
• Prepare students for next bank deposit
 Deposit ticket (no cash back)
 Enter net deposit in checkbook register
• Discuss how things are going
• Remind students that on their next break
they will eat lunch and go shopping
• Remind students to record purchases in
their checkbook register
Work/Break Rotations #2
• Three break sessions, 30 minutes each
 Red – Yellow – Green
• Students on break go to bank first
• Students not on break continue to work
– follow the job simulations
• As income begins to come in, remind
CFO to make deposits
• Assist with Closing Town Meeting speech
prep, if applicable
Business Cleanup
• Final business deposits made to the bank
• Business cleanup
 See list posted in business
 Students return uniforms, JA BizTown cash, break
buttons, etc.
• Unused materials and supplies remain
• CFO prints accounting report
• All paperwork goes in BizPrep envelope
 Including checkbooks – return to school
Closing Town Meeting
• JA staff calls everyone to
town center
 Students bring all personal
belongings with them
• Mayor leads meeting
 A few, specific CFOs/others
give reports/speeches
 Students return uniforms, JA
BizTown cash, break buttons,
etc.
Reminders
• Everyone brings a sack lunch
 No time to “go out” for lunch
 Teachers cover for volunteers during breaks
• Teachers responsible for medications
• Schedule transportation ASAP
Debriefing
• One core lesson
 Team meeting
 Quality business
 Review
Debriefing
• Application Activities
 Rank Your Business
 BizQuiz (game cards in classroom kit)
 Fact Tag
• Extension Activities
 Business Letter (in Citizen Guide)
Teacher Resources
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Video – Introduce program
Pre/Post-Test
Posters
Illustrations
www.juniorachievement.org/web/programs
Questions?
Thank You!
We’ll see you on simulation day –
Be prepared for a day of fun!