Money Week - Pénz7 (L1)

The Hungarian version of the European Money Week (Level 1) promoting students’ financial literacy and awareness has been implemented since 2015 through an exemplary cooperation between the private and public sectors, coordinated by the ministry responsible for education. Since 2017, MoneyWeek has a separate “track” that explicitly aims to promote entrepreneurship education. Since that time, MoneyWeek has been integrated into the official school year as a “thematic week”, when (on a voluntary basis) primary (and secondary) schools provide lessons, lectures, workshops etc. in financial and entrepreneurship education using free resources available for different age groups: years 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 in financial literacy, and years 7-8 in entrepreneurship education. For students in years 3–4, the programme serves as an engaging introduction to financial literacy, nurturing curiosity and self-confidence by making abstract ideas tangible through playful, age-appropriate activities. Its mission is to help young learners grasp the value of money, the importance of saving, and the fundamental distinction between needs and wants.

Key Activities and Student Experience

Students in this age group participate in a variety of interactive and experiential activities that are carefully tailored to their developmental stage. These include:

• Storytelling and Educational Games: Lessons use stories and characters to illustrate how money is earned, saved, and spent, making the concepts relatable and memorable.
• Hands-On Activities: Students engage in mock shopping experiences, simple budgeting exercises, and class discussions about everyday spending decisions, helping them connect classroom learning to real life.
• Role-Playing Scenarios: Children take on roles such as customers, shopkeepers, or family members, which helps them understand basic economic interactions and the flow of money.
• Creative Group Projects: Drawing, group brainstorming, and small business imagination tasks encourage teamwork and creative thinking, allowing students to envision their own entrepreneurial ideas.
• Reflection and Sharing: Each lesson concludes with opportunities for students to share their experiences and reflect on what they have learned, reinforcing key messages.

Program Features and Pedagogical Principles

MoneyWeek for years 3–4 is grounded in the principles of experiential and playful learning. Lessons are structured to be interactive and playful, often incorporating movement, drawing, and teamwork to maintain engagement. Lessons are delivered by both educators and volunteer professionals, who bring real-world context and diverse perspectives into the classroom. A key pedagogical principle is inclusivity: materials are accessible to all schools, and volunteers ensure that students encounter diverse perspectives. Feedback from both students and teachers is actively sought and used to refine and update the curriculum annually, ensuring ongoing relevance and effectiveness.

Methodology and Structure

The methodology of MoneyWeek for this age group is modular and adaptable, allowing teachers to select the most appropriate activities for their students. Each lesson is built around an annually changing central theme, such as “Saving for a Toy” or “Needs vs. Wants”, and is structured to include an introduction, interactive activity, and a reflective closing. Digital resources (lesson plans, teacher guides, online games, apps, competitions, quizzes, etc.), as well as e-learning modules are available on the programme’s website to supplement classroom instruction, providing additional opportunities for practice and reinforcement. The structure is flexible, supporting both classroom integration and extracurricular engagement. Teacher preparation is supported also by sample videos, e-learning materials and webinars.