Active Learning Resources for Economic wellbeing

Active Money offers a coherent, active programme linking finance, aspirations, careers, enterprise and citizenship, and includes the popular board game Turning Points. 

“It was a very valuable resource, because students were able to learn about the real world of money in relation to their lives. It was real and was delivered in a fun, active way; not lots of worksheets to fill out, which the students really enjoyed. This approach worked, as the students have retained the information that they learnt and their evaluations of the programme were very positive.” Eileen Dunks, Hastingsbury School.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Active Money? Active Money provides over 10 hours worth of activities around economic wellbeing divided into 10 sessions with learning objectives and detailed guidance. The activities can be combined in a variety ways. The programme includes a board game (Turning Points) which can also be used as a standalone activity. Resource sheets are photocopiable and these are also on a CDRom for ease of use and adaptation. Active Money can be purchased with one game or with 5 games at a discounted price.

2. What makes Active Money different? It starts with what matters to each person and is based around a series of fun activities (not worksheets) that encourage young people to work with others and think for themselves. It is unique in connecting the different aspects of economic wellbeing and makes effective links with other aspects of PSHE, so it can achieve a number of outcomes at the same time.

3. How does the Turning Points game work? 6 people can play (or 12 if people work in pairs). Players move along different life paths and when landing on certain squares take a card which poses a problem or question. The outcomes are a mixture of chance and choice and lead to players gaining or losing happiness and/or money and sometimes to a change of life path. The winning person or team is the one with the most happiness!

4. Can Active Money and Turning Points be used with different ages and abilities? Yes, although designed for key stages 3 and 4 the activities can be used with ages 10 to 19. Variations are given for different abilities and the programme has been used in special schools and alternative curriculum groups as well as with academically able students. It works well with mixed ability groups because of the opportunity to recognise the different qualities that people have to offer and can give less academic young people a chance to shine.

5. How can I use Active Money and Turning Points in a youth work setting? Alot of the activities draw on youth work techniques and suggestions are given for how to use them with different group sizes. They are effective in stimulating discussion and can also provide a starting point for young people devising projects and applying for funding.

6. How does Active Money weave finance, careers, enterprise and citizenship together?The different aspects of economic wellbeing are linked by looking at what is important in young people’s lives, what they are interested in and where their strengths lie. This is the starting point in looking at future choices, in terms of money, work and making a difference. In the second half of Active Money, participants develop  proposals for community enterprise projects that involve them in thinking about how they can make a difference, creating a project plan, budgeting and developing teamwork and other skills for work.

7. How can I use Active Money and Turning Points to help connect personal finance with other aspects of PSHE? The resources consider money in relation to young people’s lives as a whole, their priorities, choices and values. Some of the activities can be used to broach subjects such as drugs and sex and there is a general emphasis on raising confidence and encouraging communication and supportive relationships.

8. How much do I need to know about finance to deliver the Active Money programme? The financial information covered is intended to generate an interest, so that young people will want to find out more. Hence it is pitched at a basic level and specialist financial knowledge is not required. You might opt to invite a financial expert in to answer more detailed questions that may arise. Contact pfeg for details of volunteers willing to visit schools.

9. Can I run Active Money as a conference day? Yes, Creative Paths can provide suggestions about which sessions or activities to combine, depending on the outcomes that you would like from the day. This is offered free of charge.We can also provide staff training and support you in the delivery of the day for which there is a cost. Email us for more information

10. How much does Active Money cost per student? During one of our workshops a teacher decided to calculate the cost per student of using Active Money and Turning Points and having worked out that it was only 15p per student per lesson she gave us her calculations! This low cost per pupil reflects the fact that there are no extra booklets and no licence fee, so once you have purchased it you can use it as many times as you wish. The only restriction is that it should only be used by the school that has purchased it. However if you are a small school or youth group we will be happy to authorise you to share the resource.

11. Is training necessary to run Active Money? The resources are designed to be self-explanatory, however, people have found the training extremely valuable as it gives the opportunity to experience the activities and the confidence to adapt and utilise the sessions in a variety of contexts: 
    “The session showed how to use a range of activities to stimulate individual thinking and provided a means of self reflection.” ”Excellent course. Well prepared, well presented. Thank you.” ”Good insight into how the topic of economic wellbeing can be brought to life and taught interactively to students”.