Teachers Guide

Introduction:
Its not hard to understand why so many people are intimidated by investing and the stock market even to the point where they avoid information and simply hire others to take care of investments. But We Seed was built with the knowledge that people actually know a lot more about economics and the stock market than they think, and hopefully over the previous challenges youve discovered just how much you already know yourself. We Seed is here to encourage people to invest in what they know, not only because its a lot easier and less intimidating than investing in things you may not know about, but also because it makes sense. By going to a store, checking out the lines at coffee shops, knowing where to go to get good service, and what companies to avoid if you want to save money, you not only live as a smart consumer but also as a smart investor. Think about it: if everyone you know shops at one store and their brand is recognized around the world, and they cant keep products on the shelf, youve probably got yourself a winner in that company. By keeping your eyes open and your brain exercised on We Seed, youll be able to see how it all ties together (as well as impress everyone around you with your investing prowess). Now that youve been using We Seed for a little while, wed like you to look back on your time here and reflect on what youve done.

Overview:
This lesson wraps up the We Seed experience. After the students have completed their essays, they can debate either as an entire class or in smaller groups the validity of the Invest in What You Know philosophy. This would also be a good time to hand out awards/extra credit for or recognize some of the top earners in the class, discuss strategy, and look back at the overall experience of using the site.

Learning Objectives:
Re-evaluate the Invest in What You know philosophy Articulate their learning from the WeSeed experience

Learning Environment:
The exercise can be completed in any classroom setting. Students should complete the essay assignment prior to this class session, then use class time to debate the merits of each point of view, either in round-table discussion(s) or divided into two opposing groups.

Time requirement:
45 minutes: 5 10 to prepare for debate, 30 for debate, 5 10 for awards and recognitions.

Prerequisites:
Students should have satisfactorily completed all previous lessons

Student Worksheet

Challenge:
Look back at your experience using the We Seed site. Take a look at your investments, your comments, and the news stories you read. Think about what you knew about the stock market before you became a We Seed member and what you know now. Has your point of view about the stock market changed? Do you feel more confident about making investments in stocks, the same as before, or even less confident?

Write an essay taking each of the two following points of view:

1. Leave It to the Experts Investing is not for amateurs. Just because you like a product or a brand doesnt mean that you will make money by investing in the company that makes that product. You should only let someone who does this for a living make investments for you. Unfortunately, its very easy to make bad decisions and end up losing your hard-earned money! 2. I Invest in What I Know Every brand and product is made by a company. Many companies sell stock so that they can make more of their successful brands and products. I can give my money to a company in two ways: by buying their product and/or by buying their stock. I do a lot of research before I buy a product and I know a lot about the things I like. What I know about the products I like can help me make investments.