Four Bands Community Fund created Making Waves Teacher Tool Kits with lessons teachers can use in their classrooms to promote financial literacy and entrepreneurship. The Tool Kit is a “work in progress” and will continue to expand and change throughout 2009. Once the Tool Kits are completed, there will be a set of lessons targeted at financial literacy and entrepreneurship that support content standards in each of the four core content areas (Math, Science, Reading/Language Arts, Social Studies)in each of four grade areas: Kindergarten - 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade - 6th Grade, 7th Grade - 8th Grade, and 9th Grade - 12th Grade. There will also be lessons appropriate to grade areas for other content areas including Agriculture Education, Business, Computer, and Marketing, Educational Technology, Family and Consumer Science, Fine Arts, Personal Finance, and Trade and Industrial Education.

Program Goal in the Schools
The ultimate goal is to plant the seeds of financial literacy and entrepreneurship early so that future generations have the knowledge and skills needed to make money matter and create their own jobs. We want youth to avoid the pitfalls that result in damaged credit histories, paycheck to paycheck spending, and few or no assets. We want youth to have the knowledge and skills they need to impact a set of key behaviors that will equip them in financial literacy and entrepreneurship.

Throughout 2009, Four Bands staff will be working with teachers in schools throughout the Reservation to support teachers in using the lessons in their classrooms. Staff will also seek feedback from teachers about the lessons and invite ideas on how to expand and improve the lessons and information in the Tool Kit.

Who are the partner schools?
Kindergarten through twelfth grade classes in the Eagle Butte, Dupree, Takini and Tiospaye Topa schools are partnering with Four Bands to prepare the Seventh Generation of “wavemakers”.

In February, 2009, teachers from the partner schools convened to learn more about the Making Waves program and to receive teacher toolkits. The toolkits feature lessons that support content standards in each of the four core areas; math, science, reading/language arts, and social studies; and are developed for students from kindergarten to twelfth grade. Each of the lessons relate to the Making Waves financial literacy ABCs; assess spending, build credit and create assets; and the Entrepreneurship ABCs; assess options, build experience and create markets. Read the full story about the teacher session.