Introduction to YYC Immersion Camp Yes, You Can Immersion Camp is designed to engage 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students in activities that put them on the path toward financial independence. The experience is based on the Yes, You Can (YYC) Curriculum. While many of the concepts and lessons are from the curriculum, new activities have been integrated throughout to increase interactivity and create a fun camp experience. Effective instruction is an important part of student learning, so it is recommended that an educator facilitate the entire experience. If there are more than 25 students, two educators should be involved. In addition to educators, financial professionals from American Century Investments and other financial institutions have opportunities to deliver presentations on specific content giving students the opportunity to hear from these experts and to ask questions. Technology is an extensive part of the experience for both students and educators. Students use computers to conduct Internet searches, develop PowerPoint presentations, video record activities, and use FIT Tools (interactive Flash-based calculators) for their daily activities. Educators use technology to drive instruction by using YYC Slide Presentations, integrating FIT Tools into instruction, and showcasing whole class games. Students engage in individual and small and whole group activities and a variety of games, including unique interactive games in the YYC Curriculum and familiar board games. Games are used to introduce and communicate financial education vocabulary and concepts and are followed by discussion sessions to reinforce the learning. As part of daily activities, students complete activity sheets, and create PowerPoint presentations. These are typical tools used to facilitate learning. However, students are engaged in higher level thinking throughout as they are asked to synthesize information, generate ideas, evaluate presentations, and summarize their learning. A unique component of the experience is an activity regarding charitable giving. Many schools require students to complete community service projects, but charitable giving sometimes gets lost. Young people are aware of charitable giving especially in pop culture (i.e., American Idol Gives Back, Hope for Haiti), but reflection is required to engage in meaningful and responsible charitable giving. In the YYC Immersion Camp, students are provided a $25 Giving Card which they donate to a charity of their choice after doing research and discussing with parents/caring adults. Developmentally, middle school students have a lot of energy to spare. Even though they may be working on hands-on activities, they still need kinesthetic activities to get their blood flowing. Research shows that young people do better in cognitive tasks when they are engaged in physical activity. To take advantage of this, physical activity breaks are integrated into their day. For their final project, students create presentations which communicate the importance of financial independence. The presentations are a way for students to summarize what they learned. Parents are invited to be part of the audience and also enjoy a party to celebrate the students efforts. INTRO INTRODUCTION TO YYC IMMERSION CAMP Page 1
How to Use the Operations Manual Yes, You Can Immersion Camp is designed with the end-users in mind facilitators, students, and parents. American Century Investments created this unique learning experience to teach personal finance to students so they can establish a path toward financial independence. The experience is designed to be flexible and customizable to the needs of facilitators and students. The activities and games consist of collaborative team exercises. Facilitators should use the strategies that work best in their situation to ensure well-functioning teams. In addition, facilitators should communicate their expectations concerning writing samples and presentations. Facilitators are encouraged to tweak, modify, add to, and enhance the experience so it more closely aligns with their unique situation. Ultimately, the goal of the Yes, You Can experience is to challenge young people (and their parents/caring adults) to: examine their current personal financial behaviors establish new and financially rewarding habits learn about personal finance concepts create the foundation for financial independence The experience is aligned with the 8 th grade expectations of the Jump$tart Personal Finance Education National Standards. It is recommended for 11- to 14-year-olds (middle school students), although it is also appropriate for older students. Facilitators should customize the experience to the unique needs of their students. Foundation of the Immersion Camp The YYC Immersion Camp was designed with the following learning strategies to support the student-driven nature of the experience. Constructivist Learning Learners engage in experiences where they construct their own learning. This provides opportunities for learners to build on their existing knowledge and provides for a more powerful understanding of the content. Contextual Learning Learners relate subject matter content to real-world situations that emphasize problem-solving scenarios. Connections are made between knowledge and its applications to their lives as family members, citizens, and/or employees. Learners are encouraged to learn from each other individually and collectively as they monitor, direct, and self-regulate their learning. Collaborative Learning Learners work collaboratively with others to achieve a collective success for all. Learners have individual accountabilities, while working toward whole group goals. INTRO HOW TO USE THE YES, YOU CAN OPERATIONS MANUAL Page 2
Operations Manual Components Financial Independence Today (FIT) Work To deepen and reinforce the classroom learning, FIT Work sheets are provided, which can be found in the FIT Enrichment section of the operations manual. These sheets offer opportunities to explore concepts through individual or full class work. Each day in the experience has FIT Work, which consists of a variety of problem-solving exercises that introduce and/or reinforce content and/or vocabulary covered in the classroom. Facilitators should decide upfront when and how students will complete the FIT Work homework, small groups or as a classroom discussion. A system for turning in/assessing FIT Work should also be established and communicated with students. In addition, facilitators may want to review completed FIT Work as a class. The themes discussed in each FIT Work sheet provide a variety of rich content ideas to review, explore, and discuss. Yes, You Can Slide Presentations There is a Slide Presentation for each of the five days of camp. These presentation slides are designed to complement the activities and games in the operations manual. Facilitators are encouraged to modify them in order to meet the unique needs of their classrooms. Speaking points and comments are included in the Notes section of the slides to assist facilitators in conveying the content to the students. Financial Independence Today (FIT) Tools Facilitators can use the FIT Tools to illustrate concepts in the classroom and students can use them for their class activities. There are five different FIT Tools: Compound Interest Debt Reducer Calculator Savings Goal Calculator Spending Plan 1 Spending Plan 2 Assessments Included in the experience are pre- and post-assessments. Facilitators can use the multiple choice assessment to first determine student knowledge of financial education content and then after the completion of the experience to measure student gains. A Note About Mathematical Computations If students are asked to complete mathematical computations by hand and by using hand-held and online calculators, solutions to mathematical problems will more than likely vary depending on the method used for the calculations. This especially comes to play in computations involving numbers beyond three decimal points. Depending on the calculator used and the expectation concerning how answers are rounded, answers will vary. This is most apparent in compound interest calculations when fractions of cents can make a significant difference in the total. Facilitator Evaluation After the completion on the experience, facilitators are encouraged to complete the Facilitator Evaluation found at. Constructive feedback is essential to the on-going improvement of the YYC Immersion Camp. INTRO HOW TO USE THE YES, YOU CAN OPERATIONS MANUAL Page 3
Before You Get Started 1. Confirm the technology equipment (Internet access, computers, and LCD projector). 2. Purchase/acquire all materials, supplies and equipment necessary to implement the camp experience. INTRO HOW TO USE THE YES, YOU CAN OPERATIONS MANUAL Page 4
Materials & Supplies Monopoly deluxe edition board game 4 @ $20/game $80 The Game of LIFE board game 4 @ $17/game $68 Payday board game 4 @ $18/game $72 Community Foundation Giving Cards 15 @ $25/card $375 Celebration for 40 people (bottle water & cookies) $50 Sets of dice (8 sets) $8 One cereal box marketed to kids (i.e, Frosted Flakes, Trix); $8 one marketed to adults (i.e, Special K, Fiber One); and one generic box/bag of cereal (i.e, Always Save, Best Choice) Ream of plain paper $5 Calculators (one per student; maybe students will bring their own?) Photocopies of handouts Pens and pencils Art supplies for student presentations (check the school for availability of some items) Construction paper Glue Markers Scissors Poster board Presentation display (i.e., flip chart, whiteboard, chalkboard, SMART Board ) Coins or buttons (for BINGO play pieces) Small, opaque container (i.e., coffee can, basket, bowl) Multiple computers with Internet access and speakers for student use LCD projector/screen CD player or mp3 player attached to speakers; music CD or mp3 music INTRO MATERIALS & SUPPLIES Page 5
YYC Immersion Camp At-A-Glance YYC Immersion Camp At-A-Glance MONDAY 0:00 Welcome & Housekeeping (including Personal Finance Survey) 0:30 The Game of LIFE 1:40 1:55 2:05 Debrief LIFE Game Take Five! (five-minute break) Introduction to Financial Independence Whaddayaknow? Game Show 2:35 2:50 Physical Activity Break Making Wise Financial Decisions 3:15 Create Skits 3:40 4:00 Perform & Discuss Skits End of Day INTRO YYC IMMERSION CAMP AT-A-GLANCE Page 6
YYC Immersion Camp At-A-Glance TUESDAY 0:00 Manage Your Money and Keep Track of Where It Goes 1:00 1:15 Physical Activity Break Make Your Money Work for You! 2:00 Take Five! (five-minute break) Bank Research 2:30 Be the Financial Advisor! 3:30 Debrief Skits 4:00 End of Day INTRO YYC IMMERSION CAMP AT-A-GLANCE Page 7
YYC Immersion Camp At-A-Glance WEDNESDAY 0:00 Let s Play Monopoly 1:30 Debrief Monopoly Game 2:00 2:15 Physical Activity Break Give Money to a Good Cause! 2:40 Take Five! (five-minute break) Yes, You Can BINGO 3:45 4:00 Charitable Giving Homework Reminder End of Day INTRO YYC IMMERSION CAMP AT-A-GLANCE Page 8
YYC Immersion Camp At-A-Glance THURSDAY 0:00 0:15 Redeem Giving Cards My Charity-of-Choice 1:15 Charitable Giving Presentations 2:15 2:30 Physical Activity Break Buy This! Buy That! 3:10 Take Five! (five-minute break) My Investment Portfolio 4:00 End of Day INTRO YYC IMMERSION CAMP AT-A-GLANCE Page 9
YYC Immersion Camp At-A-Glance FRIDAY 0:00 Let s Play Payday 1:00 1:15 Debrief Payday Oh No! Negative Cash Flow! 1:45 Take Five! (five-minute break) Would You Rather? 2:30 2:45 Physical Activity Break Post-Personal Finance Survey 3:15 Financial Independence: In My Own Words 4:15 Students Practice Presentations 5:00 Time to Celebrate / Student Presentations begin at 6:00pm INTRO YYC IMMERSION CAMP AT-A-GLANCE Page 10
FIT Tools INTRO FIT TOOLS Page 11
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