Cash Cadets: a 12-week financial literacy curriculum for K–5
An animated episode and a scripted 30-minute lesson for every week, with hands-on activities tiered for K–1, grades 2–3, and grades 4–5. No finance background required to teach it.
- 30 minutes
- per weekly lesson
- 12 episodes
- animated, 3–5 min each
- 3 grade bands
- K–1, 2–3, 4–5
All 12 weeks in two minutes
A look at every episode students see — Captain Cash and Dollar Duchess guiding cadets from their first coin to their own money plan.
Scope & sequence
Three units, twelve weeks. Each week: hook, episode, teach, tiered activity, and a 30-second cadet check.
- Week 1
Welcome to the World of Money
Money is a tool people trade for goods and services.
- Week 2
Needs vs. Wants
Needs come before wants when money is limited.
- Week 3
How People Earn Money
Income comes from creating value for someone else.
- Week 4
Saving Money
Saving is money told to wait for a purpose.
- Week 5
The Power of One Penny
Small amounts compound into large ones over time.
- Week 6
Banks and Keeping Money Safe
Banks keep money safe and help it grow.
- Week 7
Spending Smart
Comparing price and value beats impulse buying.
- Week 8
Setting Goals
Every dollar should have a mission.
- Week 9
Planning Before Spending
A budget is a plan made before the money moves.
- Week 10
Learning From Mistakes
Mistakes are tuition — pay the lesson once.
- Week 11
Giving and Helping Others
Planned giving builds community and character.
- Week 12
The Cash Cadet Challenge
Apply all 12 lessons in one culminating challenge.
Built to fit a NYC schedule
Cash Cadets slots into an advisory, morning meeting, enrichment period, or after-school block — no schedule surgery, no new technology beyond a screen.
- NYS K–8 Social Studies Framework — Economic Systems
- NYS Next Generation Mathematics — money, decimals, and patterns
- NYS Next Generation ELA — speaking, listening, opinion writing
- NYS SEL Benchmarks — goal setting and responsible decision-making
- CDOS career awareness and Jump$tart K–5 national standards
Inside the educator guide
- 12 scripted 30-minute lesson plans with timing blocks
- 36 tiered activities — one per grade band, per week
- Weekly vocabulary, discussion questions, and family take-home tasks
- Assessment checkpoints and a Cash Cadet mastery rubric
- Materials checklist and NYC funding pathways
Sample page shown — the full 17-page guide is shared with schools and programs on request.
Request the full guideThree ways to run it
Every option includes the 12 episodes, the educator guide, and printable student materials.
Teacher-led pilot
One grade band or a single classroom
- 12 animated episodes
- Educator guide + printable student pack
- Email support all 12 weeks
Schoolwide license
Whole school, K–5
- Every classroom, all grade bands
- 60-minute staff PD session
- Family night materials
Residency + assembly
Schools that want the full experience
- Everything in the schoolwide license
- Author visits + Captain Cash mascot assembly
- Books for students
Commonly funded through Title I, Title IV Part A, PTA enrichment budgets, DYCD/COMPASS after-school funding, or a corporate sponsor.
Start a pilot at your school
Send your school name, grade bands, and number of classrooms. Pilots can start within two weeks.