In this lesson, students will learn about understanding their credit card statements, using a comprehensive guide covering various aspects, including billing cycles and interest charges. They will learn to efficiently manage their finances, ensuring punctual payments, and maintaining a favorable credit score.

CONCEPTS

Use this video lesson on the topic of credit card statements. Learn related concepts of:

• Money Management
• Credit and Debt
• Risk Management
• Financial Decision Making
• Consumer Rights and Responsibilities

GRADE LEVEL

8-12th grades. Middle School. High School. College. Adult Education.

TIME REQUIRED

45-60 minutes. It may be necessary to adjust the lesson plan and allocate more or less time to certain topics, depending on the needs and interests of the students.

PROCEDURE

Hand out the worksheet below (see the GET LESSON button near the bottom of the page).

Show students the video and have and have them complete the worksheet.  Review the questions on the worksheet.  A more comprehensive and detailed lesson plan can be accessed below for further instruction and study.

How to Read a Credit Card Statement

After watching the video, have students tell what the most important things they learned from the video.

 

Lesson Plan: Understanding Your Credit Card Statement

Objectives:

• Students will understand the main components of a credit card statement.
• Students will learn how to identify unauthorized charges.
• Students will gain an understanding of the importance of paying off credit card balances.
• Students will understand how credit card rewards work.

Materials:

Video “How to Read a Credit Card Statement,” projector or smartboard, handouts with examples of credit card statements, pens, and paper for notes and quiz.

Introduction (15 minutes)

Ask students about their understanding of credit cards and credit card statements. Have them share their thoughts and experiences. Introduce the video and the objectives of the lesson.

Video Viewing (10 minutes)

Show the video “How to Read a Credit Card Statement.”

Discussion (15 minutes)

Ask students to discuss what they learned from the video. Prompts might include:

• What is a credit card statement?
• What are the main parts of a credit card statement?
• What is the significance of the billing cycle and payment due date?
• How does interest work on a credit card, and how can you avoid paying it?
• What are credit card rewards and how do they work?

Encourage students to share any surprises or new understandings from the video.

Activity (20 minutes)

Distribute the handouts with the example credit card statements. Have students work in pairs or small groups to analyze the statements. They should identify the key parts of the statement and discuss any errors or unusual transactions. Ask students to discuss how they might use this information to manage their finances and credit cards effectively.

Quiz (20 minutes)

Ask students to complete the quiz individually to reinforce their learning.

Conclusion (10 minutes)

Review the key concepts covered in the lesson, focusing on the importance of understanding credit card statements for maintaining healthy financial habits. Invite students to share one thing they learned and will use in managing their own finances.

Homework

Ask students to bring in their own (or a parent’s) anonymized credit card statement for the next class, where they will use their newfound knowledge to analyze and understand it.

Evaluation

Student understanding will be assessed through discussion participation, group activity, and quiz performance.

Lesson Resources

• How to Read a Credit Card Statement