Change Happens
GRADE 5 LESSON 2
Time Required: 30 minutes
Content Standards: (7.3.1. Standard 7): Students will acquire the
attitudes, knowledge and interpersonal skills to help them
understand and respect self and others.
Indicators:
b. Students will identify personal values, attitudes, and beliefs.
l. Students will identify and recognize changing family roles.
GOAL:
Students will understand the financial
impact of a change in family dynamics.
Activity Statements: Students will work in collaborative groups to review scenarios and
determine ways in which a change in family dynamics might impact the family financially.
Materials:
1. Instructor Resource #1 – “Scenarios” (copy, laminate, and cut out to distribute to each
collaborative group). (2 pages)
2. Handout #1 – “Questions to Consider for Scenario”s
3. Instructor Resource #2 – “Scenarios (Instructor Copy)” with discussion prompts. (3
pages)
4. Pencils or pens
Procedures:

Students will break into collaborative groups of three to five, depending on the number
of students, to discuss the scenarios included in this lesson.

The instructor will pick scenarios to assign to each group. The instructor may wish to
copy and/or laminate the scenarios to distribute to the class.
Author: Kelly Mordecki (Kanawha County Schools)
Change Happens
GRADE 5 LESSON 2

SAY: Today we are going to discuss how changes that might occur in a family can cause
changes in the financial resources of the family. Some of the scenarios might be
beneficial changes and some might have a negative impact.

SAY: We will work in collaborative groups to brainstorm ways in which the change in
the family dynamics would impact each family we discuss.

The instructor will distribute copies of Handout #1 – “Questions to Consider for
Scenarios” to each group.

Next, each group will collaboratively answer the questions.

SAY: We are now going to take a few minutes to work together to review our assigned
scenarios and then we will discuss the findings as a group.

Ask each group to come forward to speak on their specific scenario.

Have one student read the scenario and then each member can read one or two
questions from the handout and let the class know how the group answered each
question.
Discussion:
The instructor will ask each group to consider the following in regards to each scenario:
Note: The instructor may wish to refer to Instructor Resource #2 –Scenarios – Instructor
Copy for discussion ideas.
1. Why do you think a change in the family dynamics has an effect on the finances of the
family?
2. What do you think was the biggest factor in your scenario that affected the family’s
finances?
3. How could each member of the family assist to help the family adjust to the changes
they have encountered?
Author: Kelly Mordecki (Kanawha County Schools)
Change Happens
GRADE 5 LESSON 2
4. What are some other options the family might have in order to deal with the financial
changes?
5. How would you help the family if it were your family?
Additional Resources:
1.
My Money.gov at http://www.mymoney.gov/
2.
360 Degrees of Financial Literacy at http://www.360financialliteracy.org/
3.
MoonJar.com at
http://www.moonjar.com/?ref=gg_april&gclid=CMysxbG11ZkCFWNM5QodvkImXQ
Extension Activities:
Have students take home the Handout 1 – “Questions to Consider for Scenarios” and ask their
family to think about any changes they might have had and how they were affected by the
changes. Have students discuss with their parents how they may be of help to the family
should a change occur in their family that would affect their personal finances.
Author: Kelly Mordecki (Kanawha County Schools)