Retirement Savings Project – Future Me at 63 – Personal Finance Financial Literacy Activity

Description

Help students think long-term and visualize their future with this engaging, no-prep Retirement Savings Project: “My Future Me at 63.” This discovery-based digital lesson encourages middle school and high school students to explore retirement planning in a meaningful, age-appropriate way by connecting today’s choices to tomorrow’s outcomes.

Using a Google Slides–based lesson (that easily converts to Microsoft PowerPoint), students are introduced to retirement concepts and then apply their learning creatively through a personalized project that blends financial literacy, goal-setting, and reflection.

✅ Perfect for 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades (Middle School thru High School alike)

What Are the Learning Objectives❓

Students Will Learn To:

• Reflect on and describe what they envision for their retirement
• Identify and understand six (6) retirement savings options
• Apply financial concepts through the “Future Me at 63” project
• Develop a long-term investing strategy appropriate for their future goals
• Reflect on their financial choices through a student reflection
• Present their ideas clearly through a creative presentation format

🧠 What Do Students Do❓

Students create a retirement savings project titled: “My Long-Term Investing Strategy – Future Me at 63”

Students may choose to present their work as:

• A poster
• An infographic
• A slide presentation

The project encourages creativity while reinforcing financial planning concepts. Students also complete a written reflection and share their work through a presentation, making this an excellent blend of written, visual, and oral communication skills.

❤️ Why Teachers Will Love This Lesson

• NO PREP Required: Everything is ready to assign
• Student Choice & Creativity: Multiple presentation options increase engagement
• Clear Expectations: Students receive project guidelines and a rubric upfront
• Real-World Relevance: Encourages students to think about saving early and long-term planning
• Critical Thinking Focus: Students connect goals, strategies, and outcomes

🏫 What Class Is This Resource For❓

• Personal Finance
• Personal Financial Literacy
• Texas TEKS Personal Financial Literacy & Economics Course
• Family and Consumer Science (FCS)

✅ What’s Included❓

• 6-slide Google Slides Student file (easily converts to Microsoft PowerPoint)
• 12-slide Google Slides Teacher file w/ Grading Rubric and Student Examples
• Project Guidelines for the “Future Me at 63” project
• Project Guidelines, Grading Rubric and Student Examples included so students clearly understand expectations
• Student reflection

⭐ This personal financial literacy lesson meets Texas TEKS standards for High School:  PFLE.8H:  Develop a long-term investing strategy to achieve a goal such as financially secure retirement. This lesson is also included in my Texas TEKS Personal Financial Literacy & Economics Semester Course.

⏱️ Teaching Duration: ~90 minutes
(Project work may extend over multiple class periods.)

🚀 A Must-Have Personal Finance Project

This Retirement Savings Project helps students understand the value of starting early, planning ahead, and making intentional financial decisions — lessons that truly last a lifetime.