Activity 1: Jimmy’s Story
Step-by-step instructions
1. Explain to the class that they are going to find out about bank statements. A bank statement is a snapshot of your account when the statement was prepared. It shows a record of all payments in and out of your accounts over a certain period with dates and method of payment.
2. Ask if anyone has ever received or seen a bank statement. What does it look like? What kind of information is given in a bank statement?
3. Divide the class into small groups.
4. Distribute one copy of Student worksheet: Jimmy’s story to each group.
Note: Depending on your class you may wish to firstly read through Jimmy’s Story as a whole group, ensuring students understand the task and terms used.
5. Distribute one copy of Student worksheet: Jimmy’s bank statement to each group.
6. Invite each group to create a bank statement for Jimmy, based on the information given in his story. At the end of the exercise they should be able to say what the balance on his account was on 30 March.
7. Ask each group to call out their final balance.
8. Display Teacher resource sheet: Jimmy’s bank statement.
9. Ask students to comment on the similarities and differences between their group’s version of Jimmy’s statement and the one on display.
10. Conclude by explaining that bank statements can vary from bank to bank but that they are very important to help you keep track of your finances.
