Getting Started

Getting Started
TEACHING STRATEGIES
In an effort to address multiple learning styles, various teaching strategies are included
throughout the curriculum, including (but not limited to) concept definitions, cooperative
learning activities, role play, writing prompts, webbing, and various other contemporary
strategies to actively engage students in the learning process.

CURRICULUM MATERIALS
Note: This JA BizTown Curriculum Guide and all accompanying non-consumable Classroom Kit
materials are the sole property of JA Worldwide and are on loan to you and your school for the
express purpose of being used in the teaching of the JA BizTown curriculum. Because of their
intellectual value, as well as their dollar value, all are inventoried by the local JA Area office and
will be collected in their entirety should you or your school, for whatever reason, discontinue
teaching the JA BizTown curriculum.
The text of this publication, or any part thereof, may not be reproduced or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storing in
an information retrieval system, or otherwise except in the course of conducting a registered
Junior Achievement class or with the permission of the publisher.

Curriculum Guide
The Curriculum Guide is divided into 15 tabs.

Tab 1 Overview
The Overview Section of the JA BizTown Curriculum Guide provides a broad,
comprehensive summary of both the in-class curriculum and the on-site visit simulation.

Tab 2 Getting Started

The Getting Started section of the JA BizTown Curriculum Guide provides the teacher with
many curriculum helpful hints developed by other teachers who have taught similar
curricula.

Tab 3 Pret est/Posttest

The Pretest/Posttest tab of the JA BizTown Curriculum Guide contains the following master
copies:
JA BizTown Pretest/Posttest
Pretest/Posttest Answer Key
Pretest/Posttest Student Answer Sheets

Tab 4 Unit One: Co mmunit y and Econo my

Lesson One: What Is a Community?
Lesson Two: What Is an Economy?
Lesson Three: What Is Free Enterprise?

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Lesson Four: Why Do I Pay Taxes?

Lesson Five: What Is Philanthropy?

Tab 5 Unit T wo: Financial L iter acy

Lesson One: Why Use a Financial Institution?
Lesson Two: How Do I Make a Deposit?
Lesson Three: How Do I Write a Check?
Lesson Four: Why Open a Savings Account?

Tab 6 Unit Three: Wo rk -R eadiness

Lesson One: Will I Be Ready for Work?
Lesson Two: Why Is Teamwork Important?
Lesson Three: How Do I Get a Job?
Lesson Four: How Do I Get Paid?

Tab 7 JA BizTo wn Jobs

The JA BizTown Jobs Section of the JA BizTown Curriculum Guide provides information
essential to both the teacher and the student during the job application and job assignment
phases of the curriculum.

Tab 8 Unit Four: Busines s Management

Lesson One: What Is a Quality Business?
Lesson Two: How Do Businesses Succeed?
Lesson Three: What Are Business Costs?
Lesson Four: Which Price Is Best?
Lesson Five: Why Advertise?
Lesson Six: What Else Should Be Prepared?

Tab 9 BizP rep

The BizPrep section of the JA BizTown Curriculum Guide provides a sample of BizPrep
paperwork. This BizPrep paperwork is completed at school by each business group prior
to its JA BizTown on-site visit and must accompany the students to JA BizTown on the day of
their simulation.

Tab 10 Unit F ive: After -Vis it Debriefing

Lesson One: What Did I Learn About Business?
Lesson Two: What Did I Learn About Economics?

Tab 1 1 Glos sar y

The Glossary section of the JA BizTown Curriculum Guide provides an alphabetized listing
of all bolded vocabulary words referenced in the Curriculum Guide.

Tab 1 2 Extended Learning Opportunities

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Tab 13 Visit Infor mation

The Visit Information section of the JA BizTown Curriculum Guide identifies and explains
various steps and procedures that must be completed by the teacher before visiting the JA
BizTown facility; also found in this section are templates to be used when communicating
with parents.

Tab 14 Volunteer Information

The Volunteer Information section of the JA BizTown Curriculum Guide includes
information relevant to the necessity of, communication with, and management of
Volunteer Facilitators. Parent communication templates are also provided in this section.

Tab 15 Mis cell aneo us

The Miscellaneous section of the JA BizTown Curriculum Guide provides space for the
teacher to store any personal materials accumulated during the teaching of the curriculum.

Lesson Format for JA BizTown Curriculum

1.
2.
3.

4.

5.

6.
7.

8.

Lesson Description
Learning Objectives
Materials
a. If there is an asterisk, the item is located in the JA BizTown Classroom Kit.
b. Once the JA BizTown Circular Flow Map and Check It Out! posters are displayed,
please try to leave them displayed in the classroom until the teaching of the
curriculum is completed.
c. Occasionally, additional materials are required (e.g., citizen-provided
advertisements in Unit 2 and rolls of pennies in Unit 3).
Procedure
a. Bolded words are new vocabulary introduced for the first time. They are defined in
the page sidebars and also in the curriculum Glossary.
b. Various Notes are offered in the page sidebars to clarify and/or assist with
teacher planning.
Check It Out!
a. Beginning with Unit 2, Lesson 3, every lesson contains prompts for citizens to
practice skills pertaining to checks, deposit tickets, and registers.
b. These prompts do not appear in the Citizen Guide (i.e., student workbook);
therefore, teachers may want to read them aloud or write them on the board.
c. Practice checkbook materials, a sufficient number for completing all of the Check It
Out! prompts (one page per prompt), are provided at the end of the Citizen Guide.
Lesson Summary
Social Studies Connection
a. An historical fact is offered after each lesson.
b. An optional corresponding activity is also provided.
Additional Curriculum Connections
a. As time permits, teachers may wish to assign these additional activities.
b. All lessons have a Social Studies, Language Arts, and Math Connection. Some
lesson Connections extend to other subjects, as well.

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9.

10.

c. There are no Citizen Guide pages for Connections; therefore, additional paper may
be needed.
Unit Wrap-up (Referenced only at the end of each of the five Units)
a. Debriefing Script: This scripted text summarizes the Units lessons, and provides a
nice overview for students as learning is connected to real-world activities.
b. JA BizConnect: Students are encouraged to remove their copy of the JA BizConnect
(family newsletter) from the Citizen Guide and take it home.
c. Unit Assessment: This Assessment in the Citizen Guide is optional, but encouraged.
Additional Lesson Features
a. Citizen Guide pages: These workbook pages are included, for teacher
convenience, within the lessons of the Curriculum Guide.
b. Transparencies: These transparencies are included within the lessons and
referenced in the Materials section of each lesson.
c. Resource Pages: These resource pages are referenced in curriculum lessons to
provide teachers with additional background information necessary for the teaching
of the lessons. (In Unit 2, for example, a detailed explanation of Double-Entry
Accounting is offered as a resource page to assist teachers who may be unfamiliar
with check registers managed in this way.)
d. Extended Learning Opportunities: These are optional lessons and appear in a
separate tab in the Curriculum Guide. There are no corresponding workbook
pages; therefore, some materials may need to be prepared ahead of time.

Citizen Guides (Student Workbooks)

After students take the JA BizTown Citizen Pledge in the first lesson, they will be referred to as
citizens for the remainder of the curriculum. JA BizTown Citizen Guides are provided for each
student. The Citizen Guide contains worksheets used in conjunction with each of the curriculum
units as well as key items found below:
1. JA BizConnects (family newsletters): After each of the five units, citizens are encouraged
to remove the JA BizConnect from their Citizen Guide and take it home.
2. Practice Checkbook Materials: Near the back of the Citizen Guide, there are pages of
deposit tickets, check registers, and checks for citizens to use throughout the
curriculum. When required, the lesson plan will ask citizens to refer to their practice
checkbook materials.
3. Glossary: Near the back of the Citizen Guide is an alphabetized list of all bolded
vocabulary words referenced in the Curriculum Guide.
4. Unit Assessments: Optional Unit Assessments for Units 1, 2, and 3 are provided in the
Citizens Guide. These are written as stories, requiring citizens to apply their
vocabulary words within real-world situations.
5. Citizen Alerts: Throughout the Citizen Guide pages, Citizen Alerts help to form a link
between learning and JA BizTown and/or real-world activities.
Note: Answers or sample answers for Citizen Guide pages are located in the Curriculum Guide
with the corresponding lesson.

Classroom Kit
A classroom kit, containing other materials necessary for teaching the curriculum, is available.
Kit items are listed in the Materials section of each lesson and indicated by an asterisk. These
items are non-consumable and should be used year after year. Consider laminating paper

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materials for re-use. Please be careful to store them appropriately when you have completed
JA BizTowns curriculum. The Classroom Kit includes:
1. JA BizTown Maps: The JA BizTown Circular Flow Map is introduced in the first lesson and
should hang in the classroom during all lessons, if possible. Most lessons refer to the
Map, using it as a vital organizing construct to represent a communitys circular flow of
economic activity. There also is a two-sided poster with two maps for specific lessons:
Government in an Economy and Banks in an Economy. The Materials section of each
lesson refers to the map and/or poster to be displayed for that lesson.
2. Assorted Activity Cards: Various activities require curriculum cards. An activity in Unit
1, Lesson 1, for example, requires Rights Cards, Responsibilities Cards, and Letter
Cards. Please note that these cards have pictures for other lessons on the reverse side.
3. Check It Out! Poster: The Materials section of Unit 2, Lesson 2 refers to this poster. Once
displayed, it should remain posted during the entire JA BizTown curriculum.
4. Banking Bingo Card Pads: Student teams will use one or two pages from each of the six
colored pads, each year, for Unit 2, Lesson 1.
5. JA BizTown DVD: This DVD is used in the first lesson to introduce students to JA BizTown.

Transparencies
Transparency masters are provided throughout the curriculum to complement the teaching and
learning process.

JA BizTown Checkbooks
JA BizTown Checkbooks are provided for use with on-site simulation activities.

BizPrep
BizPrep is provided for each JA BizTown business and contains paperwork necessary for
operation of the JA BizTown business on the day of the on-site visit. Instruction for preparation of
this paperwork is provided in Tab 9 BizPrep.

Business Envelope
A Business Envelope may also be provided for each JA BizTown business. This envelope may be
used to collect and store BizPrep paperwork, JA BizTown Checkbooks, and other materials to be
brought to JA BizTown on the simulation visit date.

BizBriefs
BizBriefs booklets are provided by your JA Area Office and contain brief summaries of several
businesses for use in the teaching of Unit 4.

Assessment Tools

A JA BizTown Pretest/Posttest has been provided. In addition, Units 1, 2, and 3 include an

assessment.
Citizen Guides include numerous worksheets that may be collected for grading.
Individual and/or group grades may be assigned for participation and successful
completion of in-class group activities, such as preparation of the BizPrep paperwork.

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Student JA BizTown Checkbooks may be collected at the end of the simulation for
assessment of checkbook management skills.
Several writing prompts and assignments are offered throughout the curriculum and
would be suitable for grading.

JA BIZTOWN SIMULATION PREPARATION

Preparing for the JA BizTown Visit
If they havent already, your local JA Area Office will contact your school administrator with a
simulation visit date(s). Scheduling is based on student numbers, curriculum schedules, and
school start times. Shared visits (i.e., visits to the JA BizTown facility with other classes and/or
schools) may be scheduled to maximize the effectiveness of the simulation experience for your
students. Please make sure that all school personnel (paraprofessionals, office staff, cafeteria
staff, etc.) are aware of your schools visit date(s).
Please see the JA BizTown Teacher Checklist and Timeline provided to you in this Curriculum
Guide for recommendations regarding when to begin teaching the curriculum and when to
provide information to Junior Achievement throughout the curriculum implementation process.

Business Assignments

Teachers should use the Staffing Model found in Tab 7, JA BizTown Jobs, to determine the
job positions needed for business assignments. If additional job positions are needed,
please contact the local JA office. Do not randomly assign student positions.
We recommend that teachers divide all of the businesses evenly among all team
members to facilitate ease of working in business groups during the preparation of
BizPrep paperwork.

Check Writing

Check writing is a skill that requires practice.

Consider assigning check writing and check register activities as homework.

Job Applications and Special Training

Give equal importance to all JA BizTown jobs.

Select a Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer for each business assigned to
your school unless designated otherwise in the Staffing Model found behind Tab 7,
JA BizTown Jobs.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Position

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For the CFO position, select students who have strong math skills, good organizational
skills, and who are able to work independently.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Position

CEOs should be able to function in multiple roles to assist all other business employees.

Salaries

Reinforce that students are working to earn their salaries.

The money they earn is for purchasing goods at JA BizTown. The goods are not free;
students purchase them with money they have earned.
Payroll taxes (2% of salaries) are deducted from each students payroll check.

JA BizTown Banking Practices

Students are allowed to withdraw a maximum of $2 in cash from each of their two payroll
checks.
Only cash may be used for snack items, newspapers, and charitable giving.
Three items are necessary when students interact with the bank: an endorsed payroll
check, a completed deposit ticket, and a balanced checkbook register.
During the first break of the day, students will open a savings account by writing a check
for $1.50.

JA BizTown Price Setting

Prices are set in 25-cent increments.

Nothing is priced under $1.
JA BizTown Volunteer Facilitators will guide students on the pricing of goods, unless your
JA Area has made different arrangements with you.
JA BizTown goods and services are authentic. Prices may or may not be.

Product Availability

Some goods will be relatively scarce, and the availability of items will decrease during
the day.
Students will need to save money to purchase higher priced goods, which are limited.

Final Visit Preparations

Reference your Teacher On-Site Visit Preparation Checklist found behind Tab 13
Visit Information.
o Students must know their account numbers.
o Students should prepare their first deposit ticket prior to their arrival at
JA BizTown. (See Unit 4 Lesson 6 What Else Should Be Prepared?)
o Students should write a check for $1.50 in preparation for opening savings
accounts at JA BizTown. (The check should not be removed from the checkbook
prior to their arrival at JA BizTown.)
Be sure to remind your students of the various opportunities they will have to
demonstrate good citizen behavior during their visit to JA BizTown. Students will receive
reminders about voting, personal philanthropy, and other functions at JA BizTown.
School attire is appropriate for the JA BizTown visit. However, students may dress as
business professionals.

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On the Day of the JA BizTown Visit

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Make every effort to depart the school at the designated time.

Experience the day with students; encourage and support the business CEOs and CFOs,
circulate among the businesses, and assist whenever possible.
At the beginning of each break, please report to the Bank to assist students with
individual banking responsibilities.
Enjoy the day!

JA BizTown
Suggested Curriculum Timeline
Four weeks: Daily 45-minute classes
Nineteen lessons over 19 days prior to the on-site simulation visit
One day on site
Two lessons over 2 days after the on-site simulation visit
TOTAL: Twenty-one lessons and the on-site visit over 22 days

WEEK 1

MONDAY

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Unit 1
Lesson 1

Unit 1
Lesson 2

Unit 1
Lesson 5

Unit 1
Lesson 3

Unit 1
Lesson 4

Send home JA BizTown

Volunteers Needed Form
WEEK 2

Unit 2
Lesson 1

Unit 2
Lesson 2

Unit 2
Lesson 3

Unit 2
Lesson 4

Unit 3
Lesson 1

Send Volunteer Assignment Form to JA BizTown

one week prior to volunteer training.
WEEK 3

Unit 3
Lesson 2

Unit 3
Lesson 3

Unit 3
Lesson 4

Unit 4
Lesson 1

Unit 4
Lesson 2

Return Student Account Number

Assignments Form to JA BizTown.
WEEK 4

Unit 4
Lesson 3

Unit 4
Lesson 4

WEEK 5

Unit 5
Lesson 1

Unit 5
Lesson 2

Unit 4
Lesson 5

Unit 4
Lesson 6

On-Site
Visit

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JA BizTown
Teacher Checklist and Timeline
At least 8 weeks before simulation visit
_____ Attend JA BizTown teacher workshop / training session. Arrange for substitute if necessary.
______
______

Arrange for bus transportation on simulation day. (Students need 4 hours at JA BizTown.)
Send Introduction to JA BizTown Letter to parents. This letter introduces the program, informs
parents of lunch options for their child, and notifies them of the need for volunteers.

4 5 weeks before simulation visit

_____ Introduce JA BizTown to students and begin teaching the JA BizTown curriculum.
______

Send Volunteers Needed at JA BizTown letter to parents. (You will need a minimum of one in
each business on simulation day.)

3 weeks before simulation visit

______
______
_____

Assign volunteers to businesses using the appropriate form. Fax the completed form to JA
BizTown.
Send the Volunteer Confirmation Letter to parents/volunteers telling them what business
they are assigned to and when the JA staff expects them to attend the mandatory training.
Distribute Permission Slip/Photo Release to students for parent signature.

1 week before simulation visit

_____ Fax Student Job Assignments and Account Number Assignment Sheet to the JA office.
______ Fax or e-mail school logos to JA office.

1-3 days before simulation visit

______ Assure that all BizPrep paperwork is being completed.
______ Assure that each Student Checkbook has deposit ticket completed, check written for $1.50 to
open savings account, and register updated.
______ Send Volunteer Reminder concerning arrival time at JA BizTown.
______ Remind students of lunch plans (no drink) for JA BizTown simulation visit.
______ Remind students of behavior expectations/code of conduct expected during the visit.
______ Remind students that they may purchase souvenirs at JA BizTown. (if applicable)

JA BizTown Simulation Visit

Remember to bring:
______
______
______
______
______

BizPrep Paperwork/Envelopes
Student Checkbooks
Sack lunches (if appropriate)
Medication (Teachers must dispense medication while at JA BizTown.)
Directions to JA BizTown facility (for bus drivers).

Following Simulation Visit

______

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Complete the debriefing and follow-up activities.