An active, hands-on simulation project, "Welcome to the Real World," will give your students the opportunity to explore career opportunities and make lifestyle and budget choices similar to those that adults face on a daily basis.

The project provides teachers with lesson plans for five sessions focused on: career planning; decision-making; the implications of spending money; the importance of paying yourself first; checking; and credit.

Once lessons have been covered, students engage in a simulation during which they pretend they've completed basic educational requirements for the careers of their choice, are single, 25 years old, and independent with no financial support from family or others. Students are assigned monthly salaries for their chosen careers and make spending choices related to housing, transportation, insurance, utilities, groceries, clothing, and entertainment. They also draw "chance" cards which represent the unexpected expenses and incomes encountered in the real world. After each choice, they make deposits or write checks and balance their checkbooks. In the end, students evaluate the choices they've made.

Materials are available on a loan basis. Loan periods are flexible. Call the Extension office to reserve your dates.

Teachers are responsible for transportation of the materials to and from the Extension office.

Illinois State Goals & Learning Standards

05A. Locate, organize, and use information from various sources to answer questions, solve problems and communicate ideas.

05B. Analyze and evaluate information acquired from various sources.

05C. Apply acquired information, concepts and ideas to communicate in a variety of formats.

15A. Understand how different economic systems operate in the exchange, production, distribution and consumption of goods and services

15B. Understand that scarcity necessitates choices by consumers

15C. Understand that scarcity necessitates choices by producers

15D. Understand trade as an exchange of goods or services.