Colorado Financial Literacy Standards: Helpful Teacher Resource

Colorado Personal Financial Literacy Expectations Alignment

Find out which of our lessons or games reinforce the individual
knowledge statements from the Colorado Personal Financial Literacy Expectations.

Legend:

Long-Term Game
Comprehensive Chapter
Short Lesson
Interactive Calculator
Includes Automatically-Graded Assessment

Standard	Activity	Long-Term Game	Comprehensive Chapter	Short Lesson	Interactive Calculator	Graded Assessment
Design, analyze, and apply a financial plan based on short- and long-term financial goals
Develop a financial plan including a budget based on short- and long- term goals.	Budget Game – Core Component Lesson – Break Free From Money Stress with a Budget Lesson – Proven Techniques to Stop Overspending Lesson – Achieve Financial Goals with a Spending Plan Lesson – Pay Yourself First: A Simple Yet Powerful Way to Build Wealth Lesson – The Secret to a Comfortable Retirement
Analyze financial information for accuracy, relevance, and steps for identity protection.	Lesson – How to Read an Income Statement Lesson – How to Read a Balance Sheet Lesson – The Cash Flow Statement Explained Lesson – Receipts: What to Keep and Why
Describe factors affecting takehome pay.	Budget Game – Core Component Lesson – What’s in Your Compensation Package? Lesson – Income Tax Filing Tips and Tricks
Identify sources of personal income and likely deductions and expenditures as a basis for a financial plan.	Lesson – What’s in Your Compensation Package? Lesson – Income Tax Filing Tips and Tricks Lesson – Tax Basics You Need to Know Lesson – Tax Credits & Deductions You Need to Know Lesson – Uncovering Hidden Income Taxes You Owe
Describe legal and ethical responsibilities regarding tax liabilities.	Lesson – Income Tax Filing Tips and Tricks Lesson – Tax Basics You Need to Know Lesson – Sales Tax: Who Pays, Collects, and Why?
Analyze strategic spending, saving, and investment options to achieve the objectives of diversification, liquidity, income, and growth.	Activity	Long-Term Game	Comprehensive Chapter	Short Lesson	Interactive Calculator	Graded Assessment
Compare and contrast the variety of investments available for a diversified portfolio.	Stock Game – Core Component Lesson – What is Diversification and How to Spread Your Risk Lesson – How to Develop an Investing Strategy
Evaluate factors to consider when managing savings and investment accounts.	Investing101 – Chapter 1: Introduction to Investing Investing101 – Chapter 5: Now That I Own It, What Should I Do? Lesson – The Secret to a Comfortable Retirement Lesson – What is Wealth?
Explain how economic cycles affect personal financial decisions.	Lesson – The Business Cycle Lesson – Knowing Your Risks and Risk Tolerance Lesson – Demystifying the Impact of Interest Rates
Describe the appropriate types of investments to achieve the objectives of liquidity, income and growth.	Investing101 – Chapter 1: Introduction to Investing Lesson – What is Diversification and How to Spread Your Risk Lesson – How to Develop an Investing Strategy
The components of personal credit to manage credit and debt	Activity	Long-Term Game	Comprehensive Chapter	Short Lesson	Interactive Calculator	Graded Assessment
Analyze various lending sources, services, and financial institutions.	Lesson – What to Do When You Need Money Fast Lesson – A Beginner’s Guide to Borrowing Wisely Lesson – How to Use Debt to Your Advantage
Investigate legal and personal responsibilities affecting lenders and borrowers.	Lesson – How Borrowers Manage Personal Debt
Make connections between building and maintaining a credit history and its impact on lifestyle.	Lesson – What Your Credit Report Says About You
Identify, develop, and evaluate risk-management strategies	Activity	Long-Term Game	Comprehensive Chapter	Short Lesson	Interactive Calculator	Graded Assessment
Differentiate between types of insurance.	Lesson – What’s Not Covered in Renter’s Insurance? Lesson – What Damage Does Home Insurance Cover? Lesson – Rules for Renters & Homeowners Lesson – Car Insurance: How to Lower Your Rates Lesson – Life Insurance: The Ultimate Safety Net Lesson – Why Health Insurance is So Expensive
Explain the function and purpose of insurance.	Lesson – What’s Not Covered in Renter’s Insurance? Lesson – What Damage Does Home Insurance Cover? Lesson – Rules for Renters & Homeowners Lesson – Car Insurance: How to Lower Your Rates Lesson – Life Insurance: The Ultimate Safety Net Lesson – Why Health Insurance is So Expensive
Select and evaluate strategies to mitigate risk.	Lesson – Knowing Your Risks and Risk Tolerance Lesson – How to Avoid Identity Theft, Scams and Fraud
Manage personal credit and debt	Activity	Long-Term Game	Comprehensive Chapter	Short Lesson	Interactive Calculator	Graded Assessment
Identify and differentiate between purposes and reasons for debt	Lesson – What to Do When You Need Money Fast Lesson – A Beginner’s Guide to Borrowing Wisely Lesson – How to Use Debt to Your Advantage Lesson – Mortgage Options for First-Time Homebuyers
Analyze benefits and costs of credit and debt	Lesson – What to Do When You Need Money Fast Lesson – A Beginner’s Guide to Borrowing Wisely Lesson – How to Use Debt to Your Advantage Lesson – Mortgage Options for First-Time Homebuyers
Compare sources of credit	Lesson – What to Do When You Need Money Fast
Describe the components of a credit history	Lesson – What Your Credit Report Says About You Lesson – A Beginner’s Guide to Borrowing Wisely
Graphs, tables and equations can be used to distinguish between linear and nonlinear functions	Activity	Long-Term Game	Comprehensive Chapter	Short Lesson	Interactive Calculator	Graded Assessment
Analyze how credit and debt impact personal financial goals	Budget Game – Core Component Lesson – How to Visualize Your Portfolio Data Lesson – Pay Yourself First: A Simple Yet Powerful Way to Build Wealth Lesson – How Borrowers Manage Personal Debt Lesson – How to Use Debt to Your Advantage Lesson – The Art of Juggling Many Bills in a Pinch
The distribution of resources influences economic production and individual choices	Activity	Long-Term Game	Comprehensive Chapter	Short Lesson	Interactive Calculator	Graded Assessment
Explain the role of taxes in economic production and distribution of resources	Lesson – Why Do Some Jobs Pay More Than Others? Lesson – What are Price Controls? Lesson – What Does Fiscal Policy Mean? Lesson – Government Impact on the Economy
Define the various types of taxes students will pay as adults	Lesson – Tax Basics You Need to Know Lesson – Sales Tax: Who Pays, Collects, and Why? Lesson – Income Tax Filing Tips and Tricks Lesson – What’s in Your Compensation Package?
Demonstrate the impact of taxes on individual income and spending	Lesson – What Does Fiscal Policy Mean? Lesson – Time Value of Money Lesson – Tax Basics You Need to Know
Various factors that influence production, including resources, supply and demand, and price, affect individual consumer choices over time	Lesson – The Cost of Raising a Family Lesson – Externalities Lesson – Demystifying the Impact of Interest Rates Lesson – Supply and Demand Examples in the Stock Market
Saving and investing are key contributors to financial well-being	Activity	Long-Term Game	Comprehensive Chapter	Short Lesson	Interactive Calculator	Graded Assessment
Differentiate between saving and investing	Budget Game – Core Component Stock Game – Core Component Lesson – Why Invest in Stocks vs. Keeping in Savings? Lesson – How to Choose Stocks Strategically Lesson – The Secret to a Comfortable Retirement Lesson – A Strategy to Build Wealth, Not Debt
Give examples of how saving and investing can improve financial well-being	Budget Game – Core Component Lesson – Pay Yourself First: A Simple Yet Powerful Way to Build Wealth Lesson – The Secret to a Comfortable Retirement Lesson – Evaluating Big-Ticket Purchases Lesson – The Cost of Raising a Family Lesson – A Strategy to Build Wealth, Not Debt
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of saving for short and medium-term goals	Budget Game – Core Component Lesson – Pay Yourself First: A Simple Yet Powerful Way to Build Wealth
Explain the importance of an emergency fund	Budget Game – Core Component Lesson – Pay Yourself First: A Simple Yet Powerful Way to Build Wealth Lesson – The Secret to a Comfortable Retirement Lesson – Evaluating Big-Ticket Purchases
Explain why saving is a prerequisite to investing	Budget Game – Core Component Lesson – Pay Yourself First: A Simple Yet Powerful Way to Build Wealth Lesson – The Secret to a Comfortable Retirement Lesson – Evaluating Big-Ticket Purchases
Explain how saving and investing income can improve financial well-being	Budget Game – Core Component Lesson – Pay Yourself First: A Simple Yet Powerful Way to Build Wealth Lesson – The Secret to a Comfortable Retirement Lesson – Evaluating Big-Ticket Purchases
Use of financial institutions to manage personal finances	Activity	Long-Term Game	Comprehensive Chapter	Short Lesson	Interactive Calculator	Graded Assessment
Identify different financial institutions	Lesson – Choosing the Best Banking Option for You
Identify the products and services of financial institutions to include but not limited to: checking accounts, savings accounts, investments, and loans “	Lesson – Choosing the Best Banking Option for You
Compare and contrast financial institutions, their products, and services	Lesson – Choosing the Best Banking Option for You
The relationship between choice and opportunity cost	Activity	Long-Term Game	Comprehensive Chapter	Short Lesson	Interactive Calculator	Graded Assessment
The relationship between choice and opportunity cost	Budget Game – Core Component Lesson – What is Opportunity Cost? Lesson – Pay Yourself First: A Simple Yet Powerful Way to Build Wealth
Analyze different choices and their opportunity costs	Budget Game – Core Component Lesson – What is Opportunity Cost? Lesson – Pay Yourself First: A Simple Yet Powerful Way to Build Wealth
Give examples of the opportunity costs for individual decisions	Budget Game – Core Component Lesson – What is Opportunity Cost? Lesson – Pay Yourself First: A Simple Yet Powerful Way to Build Wealth
Identify risks that individuals face	Lesson – Knowing Your Risks and Risk Tolerance Lesson – Demystifying the Impact of Interest Rates Lesson – The Business Cycle Lesson – How to Prepare for Unexpected Expenses
Analyze methods of limiting financial risk	Budget Game – Core Component Lesson – Knowing Your Risks and Risk Tolerance Lesson – How to Avoid Identity Theft, Scams and Fraud Lesson – Life Insurance: The Ultimate Safety Net
Describe how to meet short term financial goals	Activity	Long-Term Game	Comprehensive Chapter	Short Lesson	Interactive Calculator	Graded Assessment
Identify sources of income including gifts, allowances, and earnings	Lesson – What’s in Your Compensation Package?
Recognize that there are costs and benefits associated with borrowing to meet a short-term financial goal	Lesson – What to Do When You Need Money Fast
Identify jobs children can do to earn money for personal, philanthropic, or entrepreneurial goals	Lesson – What’s in Your Compensation Package? Lesson – Planning Your Career Path Lesson – A Guide to Effective Charitable Donations
Create a plan for a short-term financial goal	Lesson – Break Free From Money Stress with a Budget Lesson – Achieve Financial Goals with a Spending Plan
Describe the steps necessary to reach short-term financial goals	Lesson – Break Free From Money Stress with a Budget Lesson – Achieve Financial Goals with a Spending Plan
Identify short-term financial goals	Activity	Long-Term Game	Comprehensive Chapter	Short Lesson	Interactive Calculator	Graded Assessment
Define a short-term financial goal	Lesson – Break Free From Money Stress with a Budget Lesson – Achieve Financial Goals with a Spending Plan
Identify examples of short-term financial goals	Lesson – Proven Techniques to Stop Overspending Lesson – The Art of Juggling Many Bills in a Pinch Lesson – A Strategy to Build Wealth, Not Debt
Discuss sources of income needed to meet short-term goals such as but not limited to gifts, borrowing, allowances, and income	Budget Game – Core Component Lesson – What’s in Your Compensation Package?
Quantitative reasoning is used to make sense of quantities and their relationships in problem situations	Activity	Long-Term Game	Comprehensive Chapter	Short Lesson	Interactive Calculator	Graded Assessment
Describe factors affecting take-home pay and calculate the impact.	Budget Game – Core Component Lesson – What’s in Your Compensation Package? Lesson – Income Tax Filing Tips and Tricks
Design and use a budget, including income (net take-home pay) and expenses (mortgage, car loans, and living expenses) to demonstrate how living within your means is essential for a secure financial future.	Budget Game – Core Component Lesson – What’s in Your Compensation Package? Lesson – Proven Techniques to Stop Overspending Lesson – Pay Yourself First: A Simple Yet Powerful Way to Build Wealth Activity – Calculate Your Car Loan Payments
How much money is enough for retirement?	Activity – Crack the Code to Becoming a Millionaire Lesson – The Secret to a Comfortable Retirement
What is the return on investment of post-secondary educational opportunities?	Lesson – Financing Your Education Lesson – Planning Your Career Path Lesson – Are Internships Worth It?
Formulate, represent, and use algorithms to compute with flexibility, accuracy, and efficiency	Activity	Long-Term Game	Comprehensive Chapter	Short Lesson	Interactive Calculator	Graded Assessment
Using the four operations analyze the relationship between choice and opportunity cost	Lesson – What is Opportunity Cost?
The scarcity of resources affects the choices of individuals and communities	Activity	Long-Term Game	Comprehensive Chapter	Short Lesson	Interactive Calculator	Graded Assessment
Decisions must be made if there is a limited amount of income and the need for a costly good or service. For example, you may borrow, save, or get a new job to make the purchase.	Lesson – Planning Your Career Path Lesson – The Art of Juggling Many Bills in a Pinch Lesson – Pay Yourself First: A Simple Yet Powerful Way to Build Wealth Lesson – Achieve Financial Goals with a Spending Plan
Apply decision-making processes to financial decisions	Activity	Long-Term Game	Comprehensive Chapter	Short Lesson	Interactive Calculator	Graded Assessment
Identify components of financial decision-making including gathering, evaluating, and prioritizing information based on a financial goal, and predicting the possible outcome of a decision	Lesson – How to Prepare for Unexpected Expenses Lesson – Evaluating Big-Ticket Purchases Lesson – How Do You Stop Impulse Purchases?
Differentiate between a long-term and a short-term goal	Activity – Model Your Financial Future Lesson – How to Develop an Investing Strategy Lesson – How to Prepare for Unexpected Expenses Lesson – Pay Yourself First: A Simple Yet Powerful Way to Build Wealth Lesson – Evaluating Big-Ticket Purchases
Functions model situations where one quantity determines another and can be represented algebraically, graphically, and using tables.	Activity	Long-Term Game	Comprehensive Chapter	Short Lesson	Interactive Calculator	Graded Assessment
Knowledge of how to interpret rate of change of a function allows investigation of rate of return and time on the value of investments.	Stock Game – Core Component Activity – Model Your Financial Future Lesson – Time Value of Money Investing101 Certification
Quantitative relationships in the real world can be modeled and solved using functions	Activity	Long-Term Game	Comprehensive Chapter	Short Lesson	Interactive Calculator	Graded Assessment
Analyze the impact of interest rates on a personal financial plan.	Lesson – Demystifying the Impact of Interest Rates
Evaluate the costs and benefits of credit.	Lesson – How to Use Debt to Your Advantage
Analyze various lending sources, services, and financial institutions.	Lesson – Choosing the Best Banking Option for You Lesson – What to Do When You Need Money Fast
How much would today’s purchase cost tomorrow?	Activity – Net Present Value (NPV) Calculator
Number patterns are based on operations and relationships	Activity	Long-Term Game	Comprehensive Chapter	Short Lesson	Interactive Calculator	Graded Assessment
Use patterns to solve problems including those involving saving and checking accounts	Lesson – How Debit Cards Work Activity – Watch How Your Savings Could Grow
Explain, extend, and use patterns and relationships in solving problems, including those involving saving and checking accounts such as understanding that spending more means saving less	Budget Game – Core Component Lesson – Proven Techniques to Stop Overspending Lesson – Achieve Financial Goals with a Spending Plan Lesson – Pay Yourself First: A Simple Yet Powerful Way to Build Wealth
Probability models outcomes for situations in which there is inherent randomness	Activity	Long-Term Game	Comprehensive Chapter	Short Lesson	Interactive Calculator	Graded Assessment
Analyze the cost of insurance as a method to offset the risk of a situation.	Lesson – Car Insurance: How to Lower Your Rates Lesson – Life Insurance: The Ultimate Safety Net Lesson – Why Health Insurance is So Expensive
How does probability relate to obtaining insurance?	Lesson – Car Insurance: How to Lower Your Rates Lesson – Life Insurance: The Ultimate Safety Net Lesson – Why Health Insurance is So Expensive
Comprehension of probability allows informed decision making, such as whether the cost of insurance is less than the expected cost of illness, when the deductible on car insurance is optimal, whether gambling pays in the long run, or whether an extended warranty justifies the cost.	Lesson – What’s Not Covered in Renter’s Insurance? Lesson – What Damage Does Home Insurance Cover? Lesson – Car Insurance: How to Lower Your Rates Lesson – Life Insurance: The Ultimate Safety Net Lesson – Why Health Insurance is So Expensive