Academy of Finance I
August 2014
I. COURSE
DESCRIPTION
The Academy of Finance 1 students will begin their journey in the academy with an introduction to
entrepreneurship, personal finance, and consumer law.
Entrepreneurship: The purpose of this segment is to expose students to the role entrepreneurship plays in a
market economy. Additionally, students will learn the skills and thought processes needed to run their own
businesses or function as productive employees.
Personal Finance: Provide a foundation of financial concepts to prepare students for financial responsibility
as they transition from student to becoming financially independent adults. Skills will be developed to prepare
students to be able to evaluate financial information and address money challenges as they occur.
Consumer Law: One of the roles a citizen plays is that of consumer. In a world where consumer fraud is
becoming more prevalent, it is important for students to gain the skills to be able to identify consumer fraud
and avoid it. Also, there will be times where consumers will need to find the proper channels to file
complaints and work for an equitable solution to the claim.
1
II.
Outline of course
PCTI Curriculum Unit 1 Planner
Content Area:
Academy of Finance I
Unit Plan Title:
Entrepreneurship
CCS Standards Addressed
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Grade
9
9.4.12.D.63,
9.4.12.D.5,
9.4.12.D.32,
9.4.12.D.22
9.4.12.D.23
9.4.12.D.24
9.4.12.D.25
9.4.12.D.26
9-10 WHST.4
9-10 WHST.8
9-10 WHST.10
9-10.RST.5
9-10.RST.7
Essential Questions
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What is entrepreneurship?
Are entrepreneurs born or are they made?
What encompasses an economic system?
What is the role of entrepreneurs in a market economy?
How are economics decisions made?
How are prices determined in a Market economy?
What are the legal forms of business ownership?
How are documents prepared using Microsoft Word?
How do entrepreneurs create presentations using technology?
Anchor Text
 Small Business Management: Launching & Growing Entrepreneurial Ventures – 16E Longenecker, Petty
Palich, and Hoy, South-Western Cengage Learning 2012.
Informational Texts
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A Little Help Goes a Long Way (Achieve 3000).
Good Ideas (Achieve 3000).
What’s for Lunch? (Achieve 3000).
Bigger Business, Better Lives (Achieve 3000).
Rich Man, Poor Country, Achieve 3000).
What it Means to be an Entrepreneur Now/ (video).
www.entrepreneur.com
Got Junk? (Achieve 3000).
Sizing Up a Franchise in Six Steps. (www.entrepreneur.com)
Self-Made Billionaires Around the globe: Where and Why They Thrive, www.entrepreneur.com
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Career and Life Skills
 Examine and apply business and economic principles and concepts in making informed business decisions
that support continued business operations.
2
 Operate writing and publishing applications to prepare business communications.
 Operate presentation applications to prepare and deliver business communications.
 Examine employment opportunities in entrepreneurship as an option for career planning.
 Explore, obtain, and develop strategies for ensuring a successful business career.
Suggested Writing Assessments
 Students will develop a written list of items they will be able to reasonably obtain in life and differentiate
between needs and wants.
 Students will create a research paper and a digital presentation illustrating the historical evolution of
entrepreneurs.
 Students will create a chart comparing the pros and cons of different forms of business ownership.
 Students will create a visual and written document representing economic systems in three basic market
structures.
Resources
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Blackboard.
Video from the History Channel – The Men Who Made America.
Achieve 3000.
Small Business Administration website – www.sba.gov
www.entrepreneur.com
Suggested Time Frame
10 Weeks
3
PCTI Curriculum Unit 2 Planner
Content Area:
Unit Plan Title:
Academy of Finance I
Entrepreneurship
Grade
9
CCS Standards Addressed
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9.4.12.D.(3).2,
9.4.12.N.(1)2,
9.4.12.D.68,
9.4.12.N.40,
9.4.12.D.22
9.4.12.D.23
9.4.12.D.24
9.4.12.D.25
9.4.12.D.26
9-10.WHST.1
9-10 WHST.4
9-10 WHST.6
9-10 RST.2
9-10 RST.5
9-10 RST.7
Essential Questions
 What are the components of a business plan?
 What is the importance of market research?
 How do work units and management styles affect organizations?
 How are businesses financed?
 How do you manage your employee’s payroll?
 How can you use Microsoft Excel in entrepreneurship?
 How do entrepreneurs create presentations using technology?
Anchor Text
 Small Business Management: Launching & Growing Entrepreneurial Ventures – 16E Longenecker, Petty
Palich, and Hoy, South-Western Cengage Learning 2012.
Informational Texts
 Conducting Market Research. www.entrepreneur.com
 An Introduction to Business Plans, www.entrepreneur.com
 Richard Branson on Finding Funding, www.entrepreneur.com
 Ten Ways to Finance Your Business, www.inc.com
 Elements of a Business Plan, www.entrepreneur.com
 Leadership Styles, www.wallstreetjournal.com
 Tips to Manage a Successful Sales Team, www.entrepreneur.com
 How to Calculate Payroll Taxes for Small Businesses, www.howtodothings.com
Career and Life Skills
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Examine and apply business and economic principles and concepts in making informed business decisions that
support continued business operations.
Operate writing and publishing applications to prepare business communications.
Operate presentation applications to prepare and deliver business communication.
4
 Examine employment opportunities in entrepreneurship as an option for career planning.
 Explore, obtain, and develop strategies for ensuring a successful business career.
Suggested Writing Assignments
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Students will describe their business venture detailing the products and services they will be provifind and
create a company description.
After conducting a marketing analysis, students will describe their target market, competition, and their
strategies to gain customers loyalty.
Students will write a marketing plan that will be used to promote a product/service.
Students will compose an executive summary for their business venture.
In outline form, students will identify detailed category information demonstrating knowledge and presentation
skills.
Resources
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Achieve 3000.
Microsoft Office Suite.
www.howtodothings.com (for calculating payroll).
Resources taken from the three day Marketing Summer Institute.
Suggested Time Frame:
10 Weeks
5
PCTI Curriculum Unit 3 Planner
Content Area:
Unit Plan Title:
Academy of Finance I
Personal Finance
Grade
CCS Standards Addressed
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9.2.4.A.4
9.2.4.B.1
9.2.4.B.2
9.2.4.C.1
9.2.4.C.2
9.2.4.C.3
9.2.4.C.4
9.2.8.D.2
9.2.8.D.3,
9-10 WHST.1
9-10 WHST.4
9-10 WHST.5
9-10 WHST.8
9-10 RST.1
9-10 RST.2
9-10 RST.5
9-10 RST.7
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Essential Questions
 What are the essential money management life skills?
 What are the consequences of financial decisions?
 How do consumers effectively use credit through various stages of life?
 What investment tools are available for consumers?
 What is the importance of tax planning?
 What are pre-tax and post-tax dollars?
 How do individuals use Excel to maintain personal financial documents?
Anchor Text
 Becoming Money Smart, Good Heart Publisher, 2012.
Informational Texts
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Right on the Money, Achieve 3000.
Money Tips for Teens, Achieve 3000.
What are Pre-Tax Dollars? www.financegourmet.com
Financial Decisions with Long Term Consequences, www.beatingtheindex.com.
Five decisions with Unexpected Financial Consequences, www.wisebread.com
Investment Vehicles, Insurance and Retirement. www.khanacademy.org
About the Consequences of Credit Card Abuse. www.ehow.com
Investing Streamlined. www.ehow.com
Use Your Credit Card Wisely. www.mappingyourfuture.org
Career and Life Skills
 Develop essential money management skills.
 Understand the consequences of financial decisions.
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 Explain the proper uses of credit.
 Discuss the characteristics of different investment tools.
 State the importance a well thought out tax plan.
Suggested Writing Assessments
 Students will describe in paragraph form three SMART financial goals.
 Students will analyze data presented in a case study and write a letter recommending financial advice.
 Using a table, students will compare and contrast the characteristics of financially responsible and irresponsible
people.
 Using well written paragraphs and a digital presentation, students will explain how to use credit during different
stages of life.
 Using charts and graphs, students will compare and contrast different investment tools.
 In a well written essay, students will explain the benefits of paying taxes.
Resources
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Microsoft Office Suite.
Achieve 3000.
www.practicalmoneyskills.com
www.themint.org
Suggested Time Frame:
10 weeks
7
PCTI Curriculum Unit 4 Planner
Content Area:
Academy of Finance I
Grade
Unit Plan Title:
Consumer Law and Personal Finance
9
CCCS Standards Addressed
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
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
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9.2.4.G.2
9.2.4.G.3
9.2.4.E.5,
9.2.8.E.6
9.2.8.E.7
9.2.12.E.6
9.2.12.E.7
9-10.WHST.9
9-10.WHST.4
9-10. RST.3
9-10. RST.5
9-10.RST.7
Essential Questions
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What is the importance of insurance in reducing personal loss?
What types of insurance are necessary?
What laws and regulations are necessary for both entrepreneurs and consumers?
How do laws protect the consumer from fraud, deceit, and misrepresentation in the sale of goods and services?
What avenues are available to settle consumer complaints?
What are common types of credit and banking fraud?
What are the regulations concerning protection of personal information?
Anchor Text
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Economic Education for Consumers, Cengage, 2010.
Informational Texts
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Getting the Lead Out! (Achieve 3000).
These Agents Have You Covered. (Achieve 3000).
Does Your Home Business Need Insurance? www.entrepreneur.com
Ten Ways to Avoid Fraud. www.consumer.ftc.gov
Ways Personal Information Is Stolen. www.lawyers.com
Are Websites Watching You? (Achieve 3000).
Got The Right Milk? (Achieve 3000).
8
Career and Life Skills
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Explain how insurance protects the policyholder from risk.
Identify different types of insurance that are available.
Identify and apply laws that affect the consumer and entrepreneur.
Illustrate the avenues available for consumes to resolve customer complaints.
Formulate an action plan to help prevent consumer fraud.
Interpret regulations that are designed to protect personal information.
Suggested Writing Assessments
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Students will analyze multiple case studies about risks, then write an essay debating the importance of insurance.
Students will create a table to represent the characteristics of different types of insurance.
Using Excel, students will analyze the prices of different insurance plans.
Students will create an informative digital presentation on how to prevent identity theft.
Resources
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The State of New Jersey (Department of Consumer Affairs) Consumer Briefs.
www.practicalmoneyskills.com
Suggested Time Frame
10 Weeks
9
III.
Methods of Student Evaluation (including assessment and evaluation)
To determine whether the learning objectives have been met, a combination of formal and informal
assessment methods is used.
Formal Assessment:
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Multiple choice exam.
Calculations.
Essays.
Short-answer or problem solving exam.
Research paper.
Performance based.
Oral presentations.
Comprehensive portfolio.
Projects.
Informal Assessment
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Teacher observations.
Questioning.
Do Now and Exit Slip tickets.
Peer teaching.
5 Minute Quiz.
Notebook/Journal reflections.
IV.Instructional Strategies Based on Instructional Goals (Applying Universal
Design for Learning)
A combination of various instructional strategies is used based on students learning styles and the
subject content. Examples of those strategies are:
 Collaborating with teammates to complete projects.
 Discussing text materials, newspaper articles, supplementary materials, PowerPoint
presentations and videos.
 Reading materials from a variety of reliable sources.
 Interviewing industry experts.
 Role playing authentic situations: business meeting, job interview, customer complaints, etc…
 Watching and responding to videos and presentations.
 Brainstorming to solve critical issues in the project.
 Journal writing.
 Free writing in response to written, visual materials and oral presentations.
 Researching current economic, finance, and marketing events.
 Researching solutions to authentic problems.
 Debating business ethics crisis.
 Providing peer with constructive feedback.
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V. SCOPE AND SEQUENCE
I = Introduce
D = Develop in
SKILLS TO BE LEARNED
Depth
R = Reinforce
M = Master
 Explain what entrepreneurship is and it relationship to the economy.
I
 Demonstrate the role of entrepreneurship in a market economy.
I
 Explain and give examples of what encompasses an economic system.
 Summarize how prices are determined in a market economy.
 Research the various leg forms of business ownership.
I
 Compose various business documents using Microsoft Word and Power
Point.
 Identify the components of a business plan.
I
 Explain the importance of market research.
 Explain how different management styles affect organizations.
 Illustrate different ways businesses may be financed.
I
 Process Payroll for a business.
 Demonstrate different applications for Excel in business.
I
 Create a presentation using Power Point or other presentation. Software.
 Develop essential Money Management Skills.
 Understand the consequences of Financial Decision Making.
I
 Explain the proper use of credit.

Discuss the different kind of investment tools available.
 State the importance of a well thought out tax plan.
I
 Explain how insurance protects the policyholder from risk
 Identify various types of insurance that are available to consumers.
 Identify and apply laws that affect the consumer and entrepreneur.
 Illustrate the avenues available for consumers to resolve customer
complaints.
 Formulate an action plan to prevent consumer fraud.
11
I
 Interpret regulations that are designed to protect personal information.
12
I
VI. Academy of Finance 1 Student Proficiencies Handout
Course Description
The Academy of Finance 1 students will begin their journey in the academy with an introduction to
entrepreneurship, personal finance, and consumer law.
Entrepreneurship: The purpose of this segment is to expose students to the role entrepreneurship
plays in a market economy. Additionally, students will learn the skills and thought processes needed
to run their own businesses or function as productive employees.
Personal Finance: Provide a foundation of financial concepts to prepare students for financial
responsibility as they transition from student to becoming financially independent adults. Skills will
be developed to prepare students to be able to evaluate financial information and address money
challenges as they occur.
Consumer Law: One of the roles a citizen plays is that of consumer. In a world where consumer
fraud is becoming more prevalent, it is important for students to gain the skills to be able to identify
consumer fraud and avoid it. Also, there will be times where consumers will need to find the proper
channels to file complaints and work for an equitable solution to the claim.
13
Academy of Finance I
Proficiencies
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Examine and apply business and economic principles and concepts in making informed business
decisions that support continued business operations.
2. Operate writing and publishing applications to prepare business communications.
3. Operate presentation applications to prepare and deliver business communications.
4. Examine employment opportunities in entrepreneurship as an option for career planning.
5. Explore, obtain, and develop strategies for ensuring a successful business career.
6. Examine and apply business and economic principles and concepts in making informed business
decisions that support continued business operations.
7. Operate writing and publishing applications to prepare business communications.
8. Operate presentation applications to prepare and deliver business communications.
9. Examine employment opportunities in entrepreneurship as an option for career planning.
10. Explore, obtain, and develop strategies for ensuring a successful business career.
11. Develop essential money management skills.
12. Understand the consequences of financial decisions.
13. Explain the proper uses of credit.
14. Discuss the characteristics of different investment tools.
15. State the importance a well thought out tax plan.
16. Explain how insurance protects the policyholder from risk.
17. Identify different types of insurance that are available.
18. Identify and apply laws that affect the consumer and entrepreneur.
19. Illustrate the avenues available for consumes to resolve customer complaints.
20. Formulate an action plan to help prevent consumer fraud.
21. Interpret regulations that are designed to protect personal information.
14