Growing Savings

Supplement for Hands on Banking Instructor Guides

Elementary School: Unit 3, Section 1 – Savings Accounts (p. 37)
Middle School: Unit 3, Section 1 – Savings Accounts (p. 43)
High School/College: Topic 1, Lesson 4 – Your Money Toolkit (p. 22)

Lesson Narrative

Traditionally, Native forms of “Savings Accounts” were used to store food and supplies collected in the fall in a cache for winter. Many Plains tribes would hunt buffalo, deer, elk and gather fruits, nuts, grain, and berries. The Iroquois Nations would gather fish in addition to what they could find growing on the land. Similarly, for the Northwest tribes where salmon was plentiful. To preserve these foods, Native people would smoke and/or dry them for easy storage and to prevent spoilage. In the areas where corn and other grains were grown, Natives would first dry and then grind up the grains using a stone and pestle.

various pics of indigenous life

Preliminary Work:

Do a quick survey of the class asking:

  1. Who in the class currently has a bank account? It could either be for themselves or their family.
  2. Does anyone have a “job” or chores they do to earn money? If not, how do they get their money?
  3. How easy is it to save money?

Discussion:

Discuss with the students their understanding of traditional ways of saving:

  1. How did the ancestors in their particular tribe save for the future?
  2. What did saving for the future entail?
  3. Was it done individually, family, or community? How and why?
  4. Have them compare how saving was done in the past with saving now.

Research:

  1. Have your students research how Native people – individuals, communities, tribes, nations - use the current systems for saving and using money.
  2. What do these groups use money for and why?
  3. Interview peers about how they save and use money.
  4. How many of their peers have savings and checking accounts?

Presentations:

Have students report out to the class their findings from their research.

Wrap-up Journaling

This journal entry will give the students a chance to reflect on what they have learned in this lesson.

  1. How do they see the information they have just learned fitting into their lives?
  2. Will they use the tool kits offered in the lesson personally? Will they share it with others?
  3. Ask students what more information they would like on the subject.
  4. Let students know the next topic is “Your Future choices” and ask them to come prepared to discuss their experiences in using bank accounts.

Sample Narrative Activities: