A credit game for financial education classes
The Good Credit Game helps financial educators teach great credit classes. Although the credit curriculum contains a credit board game, it also has a number of other fun, hands-on activities. It helps students learn about credit reports, credit scores and credit cards.
A fun credit game
The Good Credit Game makes it fun to teach credit classes – a financial education offering that can otherwise prove to be dry and un-engaging. The Road to Good Credit board game is the second part of the curriculum, although it can be sued as a stand-alone activity. It's meant to be used by small groups of 3-5 participants in a credit class.
Using the credit game with a class of students produces lots of laughter, engagement and learning. The credit board game is a mix of Trivial Pursuit and Chutes and Ladders. It's appropriate for adults and young adults (including military and college classes).
A flexible credit game
The Good Credit Game can be played in a number of different ways. Here are some options to customize the credit game to suit your own credit class:
Use only the 80 "basic" cards. These ask participants fundamental questions about credit reports, credit scores and credit cards. A teacher can easily tell if a card/question is "basic" because of a green icon on the back of each card.
Use only the more advanced questions. The credit game makes these easy to find because these 120 cards all have a red icon on the back of the cards. Only using the more advanced cards is good for credit classes where participants have lots of financial experience. They can also be added in when doing a train-the-trainer session for other financial educators and volunteers.
Choose to mix up the basic and more advanced questions when playing the credit game.
Focus on certain credit topics; leave others out. You might have a class where "credit and couples" is really important or a class where "bankruptcy" issues are key. Choose which of the 39 credit topics to use. They're clearly shown on each card.
Use the yellow discussion questions. Land on a yellow square in the credit game? Pick up a yellow card to start small group discussions on a variety of credit topics. For example, students might discuss whether it's good to co-sign a loan for a friend or relative.
Add a star card. The Good Credit Game comes with star stickers; add one to a card/question that you find particularly important so students know to ask more about it when they're moving their piece around the credit game board.
Let students just play the credit game – or add in supplemental teaching modules and credit lessons. Tons of these are included – pre-written – in the teacher's guide.