Junior Achievement of Northeastern PA Programs
ELEMENTARY PROGRAMS
Engaging, Age Appropriate, and Fun!
Educators universally agree that childhood intervention is essential for the future success of youngsters. The earlier the intervention, the more likely it is to build self-esteem and independent thinking necessary in the world of work.
Junior Achievement’s Elementary School Program uses a sequential approach that is designed to show students the relevance of education to the workplace, as well as to prepare them for secondary school and lifelong learning.
Students also learn that people assume roles as an individual, consumer, and worker in an expanding environment that extends from the self to global relations. Each theme includes a variety of activities that help young students develop appropriate decision-making and workforce-readiness skills.
Imagine learning about mass and unit production by actually putting together ballpoint pens as a class activity. Students work together to find the most efficient way to produce a product in Junior Achievement’s “Our Nation” program. Junior Achievement’s Elementary School Program was one of the first initiatives recognized by the Points of Light Foundation. The Elementary School Program offers a sequential, yet stand alone, curriculum from Kindergarten to 6th grade.
OURSELVES – Kindergarten program utilizing stories and hands-on activities to demonstrate helping, working, earning, and saving.
OUR FAMILES – First grade program teaches about families and their economic responsibilities.
OUR COMMUNITY – Second grade students learn about the responsibilities of and the opportunities available for members of the community.
OUR CITY – Third grade program explores city planning, economic development and urban business.
OUR REGION – Fourth grade program discusses state economies, business interdependence; and human, natural an capital resources.
OUR NATION – Fifth grade program discovers the American Free Enterprise System.
JA MORE THAN MONEY-Third through Fifth grade program focuses on saving, spending, and sharing money.
JA BIZTOWN- Fourth through Fifth grade program that combines in-class learning with a day-long visit to the JA Mericle Center for Enterprise Education- a fully interactive simulated town facility. During their visit, students must work in a business with the goal of paying of their bank loan. Please click the JA BizTown link on the left to learn more.
MIDDLE GRADES
Motivating kids to learn and succeed.
By building a resume, identifying one’s interests and balancing a budget, students learn lifelong skills. The JA Middle Grade Programs stress the importance of education and staying in school, while introducing students to economic concepts and the world of work.
The programs build on the elementary school message, helping students recognize education as the key to success.
JA ECONOMICS FOR SUCCESS – Explores personal finance, students education, career options, and the economic benefits of staying in school.
JA AMERICA WORKS– Provides examples of how bussiness and entrepreneurship affected the economic development of the United States in the 19th century.
JA GLOBAL MARKETPLACE – Provides practical information about the global economy and it’s effect on students lives.
JA IT’S MY BUSINESS-Demonstrates the key characteristics of becoming a successful entrepreneur: believe in yourself, fill a need, know your customer and product, and be creative and innovative.
JA FINANCE PARK- Combines in-class learning with a day-long visit to the JA Mericle Center for Enterprise education- a fully interactive simulated town facility. During their visit, students walk in an adult’s shoes for a day making personal financial decisions in a realistic community setting. Please click the JA Finance Park link on the left to learn more.
HIGH SCHOOL
Connecting education to the world of work!
Concepts of supply and demand can be fun when children actually see the economy at work. Junior Achievement can provide the textbooks, study guides, computer simulations and a company program for the teacher, consultant and students. Students can form mini-companies or compete with one another in a computerized economy. Students learn how price, marketing and capital investment can alter market share. The High School Program strives to develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for success.
JA PERSONAL FINANCE – helps students make informed decisions about the effective use of income to reach personal financial goals.
JA BANKS IN ACTION- Demystifies finance by explaining how a bank works and having students operate a computer-simulated bank with their classmates.
JA BUSINESS ETHICS- Fosters ethical decision-making as students prepare to enter the workforce or global marketplace.
JA CAREERS WITH A PURPOSE- Introduces students to the importance of seeking careers that help them realize their life potential and noble purpose.
JA COMPANY PROGRAM- Analyzes and explores personal opportunities and responsibilities within a student-let enterprise.
JA ECONOMICS – Examines the fundamental concepts of micro, macro, and international economics by having students explore the basic characteristics of the U.S. economic system, and how economic principles influence business decisions.
JA EXPLORING ECONOMICS- Fosters lifelong skills and knowledge about how the economy works, including micro-, macro-, personal, and international economics. Students learn about the importance of international trade and the effect of inflation.
JA JOB SHADOW- Give’s students a “day-at-the-office” experience by pairing high school students with members from their local business community.
JA SUCCESS SKILLS – Develops students’ interpersonal effectiveness and problem-solving skills necessary for the workplace.
JA TITAN – Introduces critical economics and management decisions through an interactive Web-based simulation.
For more information on JA programs please click here.
