You're On Your Own program is a comprehensive consumer
education curriculum that has all the elements needed to simulate living
in the real world after high school. The program motivates students to
apply their knowledge and skills in a role-play situation that can last
for a semester or an entire year. The program includes 100 "real-life"
activities that teach responsibilities and competencies that help
students live independently and successfully.
You're On Your Own activities focus on everyday
scenarios that help students develop a clear understanding of the steps
they will need to take and the decisions they will need to make to set
up and manage their households after finishing high school. For example,
as part of the simulation, students find apartments and jobs, open bank
accounts, pay monthly bills, maintain budgets, as well as household
chores and more.
For each activity, there is a teacher page and a worksheet for the
students to complete. The teacher page explains what to prepare for each
activity. Some teacher pages include brief mini-lessons to help
introduce new topics and skills, such as calculating interest and
preparing for interviews. Most activities require minimal
student-teacher interaction so that students gain an understanding of
truly "living on their own."
In order to make the experience as authentic as possible, realistic
forms have been included. For example, students practice filling out tax
forms, reading and paying monthly bills, completing credit card
applications, and preparing budgets.
Topic |
Page |
Forms |
Checking Account Application |
1 |
Personalized Check Order Form |
2 |
Debit Card Application |
3 |
Monthly Budget Form |
4 |
Cash On Hand Form |
5 |
Job Application |
6 |
W-4 Form |
7 |
Apartment Rental Application |
8 |
Apartment Rental Agreement |
9 |
Home Furnishings Shopping List |
12 |
Garage Sale Flyer |
15 |
Newspaper Classified Section |
16 |
Monthly Menu Form |
17 |
Pantry Storage |
18 |
Refrigerator Storage |
19 |
Freezer Storage |
20 |
General Shopping List |
21 |
Under-the-Sink Storage |
23 |
Gas and Electric Bill |
24 |
Water Bill |
25 |
Phone Bill |
26 |
Gas and Electric Bill |
27 |
Water Bill |
25 |
Phone Bill |
26 |
Gas and Electric Bill |
27 |
Water Bill |
28 |
Phone Bill |
29 |
Vehicle Loan Application |
30 |
Vehicle Insurance Application |
31 |
Gas and Electric Bill |
33 |
Water Bill |
34 |
1040EZ Form |
35 |
Gas and Electric Bill |
36 |
Water Bill |
37 |
Credit Card Application |
38 |
Gas and Electric Bill |
39 |
Water Bill |
40 |
Gas and Electric Bill |
41 |
Water Bill |
42 |
Activity Sheets |
Activity 1: After High School |
43 |
Activity 2: Opening a Checking Account |
44 |
Activity 3: Writing a Check |
48 |
Activity 4: Using a Register |
51 |
Activity 5: Opening a Savings Account |
53 |
Activity 6: Using a Debit Card |
55 |
Activity 7: Setting Up a Monthly Budget |
56 |
Activity 8: Finding a Job |
57 |
Activity 9: Finding an Apartment |
58 |
Activity 10: Leasing an Apartment |
59 |
Activity 11: Furnishing an Apartment |
60 |
Activity 12: Grocery Shopping |
62 |
Activity 13: General Shopping |
63 |
Activity 14: Doing Laundry |
64 |
Activity 15: First Paycheck |
65 |
Activity 16: First Monthly Budget |
69 |
Activity 17: Quiz 1 |
70 |
Activity 18: Gas and Electric Bills |
72 |
Activity 19: Water Bills |
74 |
Activity 20: Phone Bills |
76 |
Activity 21: Meal Preparation |
77 |
Activity 22: Lunchtime |
78 |
Activity 23: Monthly Bank Statements |
79 |
Activity 24: Birthday Money |
82 |
Activity 25: Entertainment |
83 |
Activity 26: Quiz 2 |
84 |
Activity 27: Second Paycheck |
86 |
Activity 28: Second Monthly Budget |
87 |
Activity 29: Electronic Funds Transfer |
88 |
Activity 30: Organizing Your Bills |
90 |
Activity 31: Keeping a Daily Planner |
92 |
Activity 32: Buying a Vehicle |
95 |
Activity 33: Buying Vehicle Insurance |
99 |
Activity 34: Getting a Haircut |
101 |
Activity 35: Doing Laundry |
102 |
Activity 36: Buying a Birthday Gift |
103 |
Activity 37: Grocery Shopping |
104 |
Activity 38: General Shopping |
105 |
Activity 39: Vehicle Maintenance and Gas |
106 |
Activity 40: Monthly Bank Statements |
107 |
Activity 41: Doctors and Dentists |
108 |
Activity 42: Medical Insurance |
110 |
Activity 43: Keeping a Job |
111 |
Activity 44: Quiz 3 |
113 |
Activity 45: Third Paycheck |
116 |
Activity 46: Third Monthly Budget |
117 |
Activity 47: Utility and Phone Bills |
118 |
Activity 48: Grocery Shopping |
119 |
Activity 49: Getting Sick |
120 |
Activity 50: Vehicle Maintenance and Gas |
121 |
Activity 51: Having a Party |
122 |
Activity 52: Carpet Cleaning |
123 |
Activity 53: Buying New Shoes |
124 |
Activity 54: Doing Laundry |
125 |
Activity 55: Work Bonus |
126 |
Activity 56: Understanding Income Tax |
127 |
Activity 57: Getting a Pet |
129 |
Activity 58: Telemarketers and Junk Mail |
131 |
Activity 59: Keeping Records |
133 |
Activity 60: Monthly Bank Statements |
135 |
Activity 61: Quiz 4 |
136 |
Activity 62: Fourth Paycheck |
138 |
Activity 63: Fourth Monthly Budget |
139 |
Activity 64: Utility and Phone Bills |
140 |
Activity 65: Vehicle Maintenance and Gas |
141 |
Activity 66: Time Off From Work |
143 |
Activity 67: Mailing a Package |
145 |
Activity 68: Grocery Shopping |
146 |
Activity 69: Buying New Clothes |
147 |
Activity 70: Doing Laundry |
148 |
Activity 71: Cell Phones |
149 |
Activity 72: Going Back to School |
151 |
Activity 73: Entertainment |
152 |
Activity 74: Credit Cards |
153 |
Activity 75: Monthly Bank Statements |
155 |
Activity 76: When a Friend Is Sick |
156 |
Activity 77: Quiz 5 |
157 |
Activity 78: Fifth Paycheck |
159 |
Activity 79: Fifth Monthly Budget |
160 |
Activity 80: Utility and Phone Bills |
161 |
Activity 81: Grocery Shopping |
162 |
Activity 82: Buying Plants |
163 |
Activity 83: Vehicle Maintenance and Gas |
164 |
Activity 84: Buying a Gift |
165 |
Activity 85: Doing Laundry |
166 |
Activity 86: Monthly Bank Statements |
167 |
Activity 87: Getting Out of Debt |
168 |
Activity 88: Having an Office Party |
170 |
Activity 89: Quiz 6 |
171 |
Activity 90: Sixth Paycheck |
173 |
Activity 91: Sixth Monthly Budget |
174 |
Activity 92: Utility and Phone Bills |
175 |
Activity 93: Grocery Shopping |
176 |
Activity 94: General Shopping |
177 |
Activity 95: Doing Laundry |
178 |
Activity 96: Vehicle Maintenance and Gas |
179 |
Activity 97: Entertainment |
180 |
Activity 98: Utility Rebate |
181 |
Activity 99: Monthly Bank Statements |
182 |
Activity 100: Quiz 7 |
183 |