Junior Achievement is committed to a sequential approach to early childhood education, Pre-K through 5th grade. Fundamentals empower students to make a connection between what they learn in school and real-world application, enhancing the relevance of their classroom learning and increasing their understanding of the value of staying in school. JA volunteers deliver relevant, engaging hands-on activities that give students from Pre-K through 5th grade the knowledge and skills in financial literacy, careers, and entrepreneurship.
Pre-K-5 Fundamentals
JA Our Friends - Pre-K aims to cultivate essential skills such as decision-making, problem-solving, and teamwork, setting a strong foundation for their future academic and personal growth.
JA Ourselves - Kindergarten uses storybook characters in read-aloud and hands-on activities to introduce the role people play in an economy. Through engaging, volunteer-led activities, young students learn about individual choices, money, the importance of saving and giving, and the value of work.
JA Our Families - Grade 1 explains how family members' jobs and businesses contribute to the well-being of the family and of the community. The program introduces the concept of needs and wants and explores the ways families plan for and acquire goods and services. Students analyze their own skills to determine ways they can support their families.
JA Our Community - Grade 2 uses posters and games to offer practical information about businesses and the many jobs those businesses offer in a community. Students explore production methods through a simulation game, and they learn about taxes, decision making, and how money flows in an economy.
JA Our City - Grade 3 students will learn about the four key concepts of money: earn, save, spend, and donate. The program introduces how people manage their money, what methods of payment are available, and the importance of economic exchange within a city. Students will also talk about how entrepreneurial businesses meet the needs and wants of citizens.
JA Our Region - Grade 4 introduces students to entrepreneurship and how entrepreneurs use resources to produce goods and services in a region. Students operate a hypothetical hot dog stand to understand the fundamental tasks performed by a business owner and to learn about business profit and loss as well as revenue and payments.
JA Our Nation - Grade 5 provides practical information about the need for employees who can meet the demands of the 21st century job market, particularly high-growth, high-demand jobs. By program's end, students will understand the skills, especially in science, technology, engineering, and math, that will make their futures brighter.
For more information about our Pre-K-5 Fundamentals, please contact Gini Riese, SVP at griese@jascpa.org or (717)843-8028.