Summary
The stock market isn't a casino—it's a giant auction where millions of buyers and sellers set prices in real time. This lesson unpacks how exchanges, brokers, orders, and regulators work together so students can read the market before they ever buy a share.
Bellringer: Who Sets the Price?
- Pose: who decides Apple stock is worth $X today?
- Surface student theories before revealing supply/demand answer.
Instruction
- Walk slides on exchanges, brokers, bid/ask, and SEC/FINRA oversight.
Discussion: Bid, Ask, Spread
- Use a mock order book on the board.
- Have students role-play buyers and sellers to find a clearing price.
Activity: Stock Market Showdown
- Continue gameplay applying market mechanics learned today.
- Circulate to ask students about their bid/ask decisions.
Wrap-Up & Assessment
- What's the difference between a stock exchange and a broker?
- How do bid and ask prices create a market price?
| Est. Time | Activity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 5 min | Bellringer: Who Sets the Price? |
|
| 10 min | Instruction |
|
| 8 min | Discussion: Bid, Ask, Spread |
|
| 18 min | Activity: Stock Market Showdown |
|
| 4 min | Wrap-Up & Assessment |
|
Lesson Prep
Stock Market Showdown
Students compete in a stock market simulation managing portfolio risk.
Class Presentation
Includes a 17-slide deck with teacher notes. Present from Banzai, download a PDF, or copy it to Google Slides.
Presentations, Ready to Go
- Built-in PresentationPresent full screen, straight from Banzai
- Copy to Google SlidesMake an editable copy for your class
- Download or PrintSave as a PDF or print
- Teacher NotesSlide-by-slide guidance, printable as one handout
Unit 7: Investing
The Case for Investing
Buying a company's product doesn't make you an owner — owning a slice of it does. This lesson introduces stocks, shares, and how supply and demand drive prices on Wall Street.
Market Mechanics
The stock market isn't a casino—it's a giant auction where millions of buyers and sellers set prices in real time. This lesson unpacks how exchanges, brokers, orders, and regulators work together so students can read the market before they ever buy a share.
Investment Types
Owning a company and lending to one aren't the same financial bet—and that distinction shapes every dollar on Wall Street. This lesson unpacks stocks, bonds, index funds, ETFs, and the active-vs-passive debate that decides who actually keeps the gains.
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