UNC-TV's Biz Kid$ Financial Literacy Project

Project Description:

Biz Kid$ is a television series designed to entertain and teach children how to make and manage money, while inspiring them to pursue their dreams.

Each season will contain 13 standards-based episodes that provide upper-elementary and lower-middle grades students with the knowledge and tools to succeed in a global economy.

The series demonstrates the importance of planning, goal-setting, risk-taking, and thoughtful decision-making within the context of financial decisions. The series also encourages the skills necessary to become a successful entrepreneur. Production and educational outreach funding is generously provided to Biz Kid$ by a coalition of America’s Credit Unions.

The curricular materials associated with Biz Kid$ build upon the lessons gained through the content of each television episode. These materials will cover relevant concepts, including money basics, planning to achieve financial goals, credit, income, expenses, starting a business, and more.

Following participation in the program, students will be able to:

• Make financial decisions by systematically considering alternatives and consequences.
• Communicate effectively about financial issues.
• Explain the role money plays in achieving lifelong personal goals.
• Effectively manage personal and business-related finances.
• Develop and actualize an entrepreneurial venture

Grant partners:

Carolinas Credit Union Foundation

State Employees Credit Union

EdForum: Biz Kid$ Financial Literacy:

With North Carolina’s unemployment rate nearing double digits, the next edition of Education Forum promises timely insights and innovative tools to navigate and adapt to new economic realities. Host Diane Lucas leads a panel of experts--including instructors and professors in higher education, community leaders and practitioners--in a discussion centering on such topics as work-related learning--the skills needed to get or retain a job--and financial literacy, a lifelong process of academic and practical components for assessing the right short-, medium- and long-term financial strategies.

Featured Panels:

Panel One

• Alice Denson, President of North Carolina Literacy Association
• Dr. Judy Cheatham, Director of the Teaching English to Other Languages Program, Greensboro College
• Pastor Michael Evans, Founder, Encouraging Word Church
• Lindsey Embrey, Senior Coordinator, Pathways to Employment, Central Piedmont Community College

Panel Two

• Bertha Gorham, National Technical Assistance & Evaluation Coordinator, Motheread
• Jennifer Johnson, Early Childhood Program Head, Lateral Entry Program, Vance-Granville Community College
• Sue Russell, President, Child Care Services Association, Chapel Hill, NC

Panel Three

• John Maron, Director, Investor Education Program, NC Department of the Secretary of State
• Sandy Wheat, Executive Director, National Council on Economic Education (NCEE)
• Leigh Brady, SECU, Senior Vice President, Education Services
• Tracey Greggs, Chief K-12 Social Studies, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

Resources:

The May 2009 Education Forum includes clips from Biz Kid$. Carolinas Credit Union and UNC-TV team up to make Biz Kid$ resources available to school media centers. In this fun, fast-paced public television series, kids teach kids about money and entrepreneurship. Biz Kid$ illustrates the importance of saving, budgeting, investing and giving back to the community. For more information and to request a case of DVDs with all the Biz Kid$ season one episodes plus a Biz Kid$ curriculum CD, contact Shannon Roley at the Carolinas Credit Union Association: sroley@carolinasfoundation.org or 336-217-4805.