In a unique educational initiative, tenth-grade students from Lenoir County Early College High School recently led financial literacy workshops for younger children at Northwest Elementary. These high schoolers were tasked with breaking down complex economic concepts into engaging and relatable lessons for second- and third-grade students. Under the guidance of their teacher, Travis Towne, the teens developed interactive modules on topics like borrowing, lending, budgeting, and saving.

The sessions were designed to be both informative and entertaining, using real-life scenarios that children could easily understand. For instance, during a lesson on loans, students acted out situations such as lending money for an ice cream cone or sharing a drink with a friend. A game involving Monopoly money helped reinforce the idea of giving and receiving funds, with a spinning wheel deciding who would borrow or lend during each round. After repaying debts, participants received a fresh set of play cash to continue learning about responsible financial behavior.

As the program progressed, students were introduced to the concept of budgeting by distinguishing between needs and wants. In one exercise, they were given a hypothetical sum of money and asked to decide how to spend it—choosing between items like books, clothes, or electronics. Some children even demonstrated early wisdom in financial decision-making by opting for essential items over costly gadgets. Another session focused on the value of patience and saving, where kids had the choice to either spend a small amount immediately or wait for a larger reward later. Over time, more students chose to delay gratification, showing an emerging understanding of savings and long-term gain.

These efforts highlight the importance of introducing financial education at an early age, especially in communities where such knowledge may not be readily available at home. By empowering young learners with basic economic principles, educators aim to equip them with the tools needed to make smart financial decisions in the future. The collaboration between high school mentors and elementary students also fosters leadership skills and reinforces the idea that learning is most impactful when shared. Through programs like these, schools are planting seeds of financial responsibility that can grow into lifelong habits of thoughtful money management.