by StudentSavvy
5th - 8th Grade
Engage your students with this BONUS Financial Literacy This or That Google Slides activity! Designed for upper elementary and middle school classrooms, this resource encourages students to think critically about money management, budgeting, saving strategies, and smart spending. Each slide presents two real-world financial choices, prompting students to discuss, compare, and explain their reasoning while practicing essential decision-making and financial literacy skills.
This activity is completely editable in Google Slides, making it easy to customize scenarios for your classroom. It can be used digitally for distance learning or printed as a PDF for in-class lessons. Teachers love using it for bell ringers, warm-ups, exit tickets, stations, or full-class discussions.
What’s Included
- 25+ Editable This or That Scenarios on key financial literacy topics:
- Needs vs. Wants
- Short- vs. Long-Term Goals
- Saving Strategies
- Budgeting & Spending Wisely
- Marketing Tricks & Smart Spending
- Editable Google Slides™ for digital use
- Printable PDF version for classroom use
- Teacher guide with discussion prompts and extension ideas
Classroom Benefits
- Builds critical thinking, discussion, and problem-solving skills
- Helps students apply financial literacy concepts to real-world choices
- Great for collaboration, peer debates, or individual reflection
- Works for a quick 5-minute warm-up or a full lesson
- Easy-to-use and low-prep resource
This This or That Activity is an exciting way to get your students thinking about money, choices, and priorities. Use it on its own or pair it with a full Financial Literacy unit to give your students the skills they need for real-world financial success.
Standards Alignment
Financial Literacy Standards (Jump$tart / CCEE-aligned):
- Distinguish between needs and wants in financial decision-making.
- Set and evaluate short- and long-term goals.
- Explain opportunity cost and financial trade-offs.
- Demonstrate saving and spending strategies within a budget.
- Recognize financial pitfalls such as overspending and marketing influences.
ELA Common Core Standards:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.1 / 6.1: Quote or cite evidence to explain what the text says.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.4 / 6.4: Determine meaning of domain-specific vocabulary in financial literacy.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2 / 6.2: Write explanatory responses that examine a topic and convey ideas.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.1 / 6.1: Engage effectively in collaborative discussions, building on others’ ideas.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.4 / 6.4: Present claims and findings clearly with supporting evidence.
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