Teaching Kids About The Stock Market

Many financial professionals believe that the earlier children begin learning about investing and the basics of economics, the better their chances for future financial stability. Children can start to understand the importance of investing at a young age, such as with an allowance or piggy bank. Wall Street lies in the center of the United States economy. Almost every large company in the United States and big businesses around the world is traded on a stock exchange, from McDonalds to Microsoft. The stock market can teach children how to tract their investments, monitor company performance, practice proper money management techniques, and follow trends in the market. These principals will be picked up by children quickly, and the financial results will show. Learn more about the stock market and its history.

History of the Stock Market

• The Stock Market – The Beginning - Here you will find details on the history of the stock market, how it works, mutual funds, rules, and crashes.
• History of Early Stock Market Trade - General details about the history of the stock market and share certificates.
• Stock Market Crashes & Market History - List of the biggest stock market crashes and their causes.
• Digital History – The Market Crashes - Overview of the major stock market crash that occurred on Thursday, October 24, 1929.
• History of U.S. Stock Market Crashes - Information on the stock market crash of 1929, 1987, and 2000.
• Visual History of the Stock Market - Information and graphs that show a visual history of the stock market from 1996 to 2007.
• History of the Stock Market Exchanges - Timeline of the most important stock exchanges that have occurred from 1698 to present day.
• The First Measured Century – Stock Market Crash - Brief summary of what made the stock market crash in 1929 and the results of the crash.

How the Stock Market Works

• Explaining the Stock Market to Kids - Parents can use this information to help explain how the stock market works to kids.
• Family Education – The Stock Market - Details on the three major stock exchanges in the United States.
• How Stock Markets Work - List of actions that are taken to purchase and sell stocks in the stock market.
• Financial Forecast Center – How Stocks Work - Detailed explanation of how exactly stocks work.
• How the Stock Market Works - Summary of how exactly the stock market works and factors that cause the average stock price to rise.
• Business – Stock Market - Why stock markets are used and how they work.
• How the Stock Market Works - List of topics related to the stock market, as well as Q&A’s, quizzes, and recommended readings.
• Guide to Stock Markets of the World - Learn what a stock and stockholder is, as well as a general summary of what the stock market is.

Lesson Plans and Learning Tools

• Stock Market Simulation - This stock market simulation lesson plan is appropriate for all grades and teaches beginners about investment.
• Stock Market Teaching Unit - Introductory teaching unit about understanding stocks created for grades 5 and up.
• Teachers Guide to Stock Market - Find lesson plans, worksheets, and other educational resources related to the stock market.
• The Stock Market – Risks and Rewards - Ideas for educators teaching students about the stock market with lesson plans and activities.
• Tips for Teaching Students about Saving and Investing - Series of topics that should be taught to students about saving, investments, and the stock market.
• Lesson Plan – Taking Stock of Market - High school students can develop a deeper understanding of important economic concepts.
• How to Choose a Stock - Printable lesson plan that allows students to match stock selections to stock purchasing methods.
• Stock Market Lesson Plan - Introduction to the stock market for grades 9 through 12.

Stock Market Games

• The Stock Market Game - Allows students to invest a hypothetical $100,000 to an online portfolio.
• Virtual Stock Exchange - Free stock market game where students can create private or public games with a set cash balance.
• Stock Market Simulation Game - This game features free stock quotes, market research, stock tips, stock news, and winning stock portfolios.
• How the Market Works - Free stock simulation game that allows virtual stock exchange and makes a great teaching tool.
• Wall Street Survivor - Online trading stock market game that allows you to manage $100,000 with paper trading.
• Stock Trak - This stock market game gives users fantasy money to invest and does not limit you to stocks.
• The Great Game – London Stock Market Game - Online educational stock market game where students can invest shares on the UK market with risks or costs.
• Virtual Trader - Stock market simulation game that allows you to choose from a list of companies to invest in.

Recommended Reading

• Learn to Trade Stock - Article on stock trading, types of mutual funds, and types of stocks.
• How to Win the Stock Market Game - Tips for students and teachers about how to win the stock market game.
• The Stock Market Course - Book for those just starting to learn about the stock market and mistakes to avoid.
• Stock Investing for Dummies – Cheat Sheet - Important points that one should consider when investing stocks.
• The Little Book of Common Sense Investing - Beginner book to learning about how the stock market works and how to get big returns.
• The Great Depression - Article on the beginning of the depression after the stock market crash of 1929.
• Learning the Stock Market - Self directed study guide on learning about the stock market and investments.