Welcome to the Real World simulation is available for eighth grade and up. This active, hands-on real-life simulation gives people the opportunity to explore career opportunities, make lifestyle and budget choices similar to those we face on a daily basis and evaluate the choices they have made. During the "Real World" program, students explore potential careers they would like to pursue in the future. They choose a career; they receive a monthly salary for that career and then proceed through the "Real World" simulation, deducting taxes, determining a savings amount, and spending their monthly salary on the necessary and luxury items that reflect the career and lifestyle they have chosen. Students also learn check writing and balancing, savings, budgeting and developing a spending plan. Within these lessons, students will:

• Analyze and evaluate information acquired from various sources
• Apply acquired information, concepts and ideas to communicate in a variety of formats
• Understand how different economic systems operate in the exchange, production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services
• Understand trade as an exchange of goods or services