Student-led · Grades 1–5 · Irvine, CA
Empowering kids with money skills 🚀
A student-led financial literacy program for grades 1–5 in Irvine, CA. Started at Solis Park School, led by Portola High students.
About
We start
with a simple idea:
strong money habits begin
way before high school.
Once a month, Portola High students walk into elementary classrooms with games, play money, and a bag of Jolly Ranchers, and turn taxes, saving, and investing into things kids actually get.
More about us
Workshop day, every hand up.
Curriculum Hub
Six months.
Six money skills.
01
🛒Needs vs. Wants
The difference between survival needs and wants.
Sorting Game
02
💵Income, Taxes & Budgeting
You don't keep your whole paycheck, and budgets decide outcomes.
Forest Survival Simulation
03
🐷Saving & Delayed Gratification
Patience and smart spending beat instant gratification.
Prize Stations
04
💳Credit & Debit
Debit is your money; credit is borrowed money.
Card Simulation
05
🦈Entrepreneurship
A business solves a problem people will pay for.
Mini Shark Tank
06
📈Investing Basics
Putting money to work, and understanding risk vs. reward.
Invest or Don't Invest Game
Photo Archive
Moments from our workshops 📸
Keep scrolling to spin the ring
Every hand up
Workshop Q&A
Small groups, big ideas
Station rotations
Worksheets in action
Budgeting practice
Tabling day
Community outreach
Wrapping up
End of a workshop
Community events
Out and about
The team
Portola High students
Setting up stations
Before the bell
Workshop moments
Irvine, CA
Learning by playing
Hands-on lessonsReviews
What educators tell us
“Our students count down the days until the next Lil Investors visit. The energy these high schoolers bring is unmatched.”
“The forest survival budgeting game had my whole class talking about needs and wants for weeks afterward.”
“It's rare to see student-led programming this organized. Parents ask about it constantly.”
“They turn taxes into a game and my kids actually get it. I wish I'd learned money like this.”
The habit we teach
Donate
Fuel the next
workshop.
Lil Investors is free for every school we visit. Donations go straight to supplies, and yes, the candy.
Play money & game kits
Every station runs on printed cash, price lists, and worksheets.
Jolly Ranchers
Our official currency of participation, every kid earns one.
Prizes & the VIP box
Bigger rewards teach saving and delayed gratification.
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