Classroom Economy Overview
Students will be able to experience and apply the lesson in this unit for
themselves. Through this experience, students will learn wants and needs,
budgeting, and long term verses short term spending. Students will be able to
engage in an interactive classroom economy to learn and apply economic skills
leading students to make smart economic choices now in the future.
Students will fill out the job application sheet (found below), defining their
preferences for particular available jobs listed below. Jobs will be assigned by the
teacher, but individual student’s skills and preferences will be taken into
consideration. Students will be responsible for their classroom jobs and will get
their salary on their first day of work since this is a week unit. Students will earn
and lose money based on bonuses, fines, the PBIS chart, and expenses made
throughout the week (all items found below).
Over the course of the unit, students will pay rent once and make purchases
of things they need (i.e.: food) and want (i.e.: video games). They will also receive
or lose money daily depending on their daily work and behaviors. Students will
write daily journal reflections responding to predetermined questions that get
students thinking about each daily lesson. The goal of the classroom economy is
not for students to end up with a positive amount of money at the end of the week,
rather for this to be a learning experience and chance for students to apply the
knowledge that they are learning throughout the unit. Students will be graded on
their participation and thoughtfulness of journal reflections.
Classroom Job Descriptions:
1. Banker: Keep banking records. Accept money transitions, deposits, and withdrawals.
2. Police Officer: Watch for student violations. Record the violation. Hand out tickets when
needed.
3. Clerk: Hand out papers to students. Collect student papers when needed.
4. Custodian: Keep classroom looking tidy. Put away materials when needed.
5. Board Manager: Clean white board when needed.
6. Hall Leader: Set positive example for other students at the front of the line.
7. Homework Helper: Work with classmates to help them better understand. Be resources
for other students that need assistance.
8. Postal Worker: Put papers into student mailboxes.
9. Librarian: Remind students to return library books and keep classroom library organized
and help students find books within classroom library.
10. Homework Monitor: Keep a record of students with completed and incomplete
assignments.
11. Substitute: Collect work and notes for students who are absent. Also take on absent
student’s classroom job.
12. Technology Supervisor: Help the teacher and students with technology related problems
within the classroom.
13. Waiter: Take lunch order and deliver order to office.
14. Caterer: Bring breakfast and other treats to and from the classroom.
15. Messenger: Deliver messages for the teacher to the office or other teachers.
16. Materials Manager: Pass out and put away classroom materials.
17. Electrician: Turn on and off lights when leaving and entering the classroom.
18. Recycler: Remind students to recycle and inform students about what can be recycled.
Take the recycling bin to be emptied when needed.
19. Waste Management: Monitor the cleanliness of the garbage area. Take garbage bin to be
emptied when needed. Take around garbage bin for students to deposit scrapes in.
20. Zoologist: Monitor and feed classroom pet.
21. Payroll: Collect and double check student bank logs to be given to the banker.
22. Attendance Secretary: Take classroom attendance and report to office.
*Multiple students may have jobs or additional jobs may be created based on number of
students.
Classroom Job Salaries
Banker: $600
Police Officer: $600
Clerk: $550
Custodian: $400
Board Manager: $350
Hall Leader: $350
Homework Helper: $550
Postal Worker: $500
Librarian: $500
Homework Monitor: $400
Substitute: $500
Technology Supervisor: $400
Waiter: $350
Caterer: $350
Messenger: $350
Materials Manager: $400
Electrician: $350
Recycler: $400
Waste Management: $400
Zoologist: $400
Payroll: $500
Attendance Secretary: $350
Name:
Date
Classroom Job:
Transaction
Deposit
(+)
Withdrawal
(-)
Balance
PBIS System: