Economics for Kids - The Stock Market - Games, Activities, Free Use K-12 Lesson Plans for Teachers Illustration

Economics for Kids
The Stock Market

For Kids

The stock market is a place for investors to buy or sell one or more shares of stock. To be listed on the stock market, companies must be public, meaning their shares are open to anyone who wants to buy or sell their shares.

What is a share of stock? When you buy a share of stock, what you are buying is a piece of a company. You become a stock holder. At a share holders meeting, you have a voice in how the company is run and who is running it. Your stock gives you a vote, one vote per share of stock that you own.

The value of a share of stock goes up and down. The price of a stock changes based on the demand for shares from investors who want to buy, or the supply of shares from existing investors who want to sell. Investors decide to buy or sell based on the company’s performance, economic conditions, the current price of the shares, and other factors. Buying stock is a financial risk. But it's also a great way to build wealth. You can begin buying stocks in minutes with just a little bit of money to invest.

Click here to see the hours the stock market is open.

For Kids - Free, Online, Interactive

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For Teachers - Free Use Lesson Plans and Classroom Activities

Lesson Plan: This is so easy. Simply assign $1,000 in imaginary dollars to each student to use to buy and sell stocks over a two week period. Tell them they have to sell at least twice, and then reinvest the monies on hand from their imaginary cash. Use daily newspapers to check stock prices or use Google Finance or Yahoo! Finance. Stocks do not have to be current. But if you can find a day-or-two-old free newspaper source that would be best. There is so much on the web.

  • On the first day, hand out a sheet of paper to each student to serve as a record.

  • Direct your students to title this page: My Stock Options with their name.

  • Horizontal Line One: This record will list the company, the price at which you bought the stock per share, and how many shares. Then over the next two weeks, I have them mark + or - next to their purchase if there has been any change. The actual amount up or down doesn't matter until they sell. They need to note the final sales price and compare to their purchase price. The difference is their profit or loss on that stock.

  • Horizontal Line Two: When they sell, they get money back from the sale of their stock that they can then reinvest in other stocks.

  • Continue this with Horizontal Line Three, Four, or however many stocks they buy. This is all noted on their recon.

Students will need an example to kick this off. Create a record sheet. Line One: Make up an imaginary company with an imaginary stock price that goes up on Monday after you buy it, but down on Tuesday, Wed, Thurs, and then, getting a bit nervous, you "sell" it on Friday. Make a notation of the imaginary sales price. Line Two: Buy something else. Unfortunately, on the following Monday, you notice the stock you sold recovered and shot up. That is a pity but you already sold it so there is nothing to note. Also unfortunately, the stock you bought in its place (line two) went down. So you lost twice - selling too early and losing money with your first stock purchase, then buying another stock with whatever money you had left just as it dropped. Then ask: Who would like to create an imaginary stock purchase from an imaginary company with the money I have left, and do your best to make money instead of lose money? Mark Line Three on your record, and let your student create an example to add to your record. Let make a million, or whatever they choose. Nice job!

Tell the kids this is an introductory offer, so the company handling your buying and selling activity is not charging a handling fee. So the only prices you need to record is what you paid for the stock and what you received when you sold the stock. Then tell your class: Okay, let's get to work. You each have $1,000 in imaginary money to invest. Your money is imaginary, but your stock choices and prices must be real.

Except for the first day, when you will take more time, use about 10 minutes of each day or class period to do this. Distribute daily newspapers for the kids to use. Many students chose to buy stock in companies with which they were familiar - Microsoft, Amazon, etc. But some were true gamblers.

During this two week activity, wander the room. See who needs help, and check to see if kids are making or losing money. At the end of the two week period - ask if anyone wants to talk about their total. It was interesting to see who made imaginary "money" and who lost it.  Most kids tried very hard not to lose money even though it was imaginary.

The Stock Market Game, Teacher Instructions & Handouts (fresno.K12)

The Stock Market Game, Teachers Guide

Stock Market Savvy - from the New York Stock Exchange and the Weekly Reader - 8 lessons, FREE

Here's Your Chance to Make Millions in the Stock Market - Part 1

Here's Your Chance to Make Millions in the Stock Market - Part 2

Here's Your Chance to Make Millions in the Stock Market - Part 3

New York Stock Exchange Made Easy

Stock Market Lesson Plans (free from TPT)

Stock Market Price History

Market Watch - Free Virtual Stock Market Game, Middle School and High School

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Free to Use Original Clipart for Economics for Kids and Teachers

Resources

FREE Stock Trading EBook for Beginners

Stocks for Beginners, FREE Download