Does Investing in the Stock Market Scare You? A Few Tips!

I am one of a few teachers who decided to teach the stock market this year–to be specific the Stock Market Game.  Our state funds this to teach students more about economics.  To play this game, there is a $15 fee for each team to participate, but this is funded by grants from Economics Arkansas.  In your state there is sure to be a link to a game you can play and funding provided through grants.

The games begin at certain times of year.  For example, the game I am playing with my students began January 16th and will end April 20th.  AND NO FEAR!  The best part about playing this game is that you don’t have to know anything about the stock market!  I have even told my students that I am not an expert at the stock market, but I just know a little–I am learning along with them.  To be fair I have invested a few hundred dollars with Scott Trade in the past.  I made some money, and I lost some money.

There are TONS of ready made resources and after you get through the initial explanation of stocks and how the game works, the students will be completely engaged in playing.  They will want to look stocks up at home and learn about businesses.  What better way to teach math, social studies, geography, business, and economics than playing a real life simulation!  You will be fostering investors for life! 🙂

If you want to find out about playing in your state, you can go to stockmarketgame.org.  To find out who to contact in your state, you can type your zip code in here.  Now if you want some resources, the stock market game website has PLENTY of resources for you to use! I also will let you borrow some items from my state 😉 at economicsarkansas.  That link will take you to a live binder.  We have a wonderful lady leading the way in our state to provide us with all of these resources!

Now below, you will find a quick and easy bulletin board I threw together to make students think and also to reflect the stock market learning we will be doing.  After the first few lessons, the students figure out the “plexer” or message on the bulletin board.  The message is “Buy Low, Sell High”

I hope you have the opportunity to play with your students and are able to use some of these resources.  Initially it does take a lot of class time, but after you get your students started (2-3 weeks for about 2 hours a week), you will be able to spend just a few minutes of class to allow your students to look at their portfolios.  Happy Investing!