Learn to Earn
Materials:
Instructions:
- Begin by telling students that money earned in jobs is often influenced by the amount of education/skills yo have (examples below). Entry-level wages are approximately:
- Non-high school graduate – FAST FOOD WORKER = $6.15/hr.
- High school graduate DENTAL ASSISTANT = $11.00/hr.
- Two-year college graduate GRAPHIC DESIGNER = $15.35/hr.
- Four-year college graduate DIETICIAN = $19/hr.
- Master’s degree SPEECH PATHOLOGIST = $23.90/hr.
- Have students pick a career from the above (or similar) list.
- Lets’s play a game. Choosing a career on the list above, ask students to figure out what is the estimate daily salary for an 8-hour day. Then have students estimate the weekly salary for a $40-hour week, then a month.
- Have students discuss salaries and other advantages or disadvantages to educate and skill training. Feel free to use a phone to look up other wages during the discussion here.
- The goal is to motivate students to stay in school and take advantage of everything opportunity.
- If there is time, have students assist you in creating a bar chart that compares the number of occupations in 3-4 wage ranges or degree required.
Download this activity here.