HONOLULU — Two third-grade teachers from ‘Ele‘ele Elementary School were recognized for developing a board game to help students understand how to save money. Ashley Newton and Lori Carl developed a game titled, “Akamai Money,” where students compete in teams
HONOLULU — Two third-grade teachers from ‘Ele‘ele Elementary School were recognized for developing a board game to help students understand how to save money.
Ashley Newton and Lori Carl developed a game titled, “Akamai Money,” where students compete in teams to learn economic and financial literacy concepts relating to the Hawai‘i Department of Education’s core standards.
Both teachers were recognized Nov. 30 at the University of Hawai‘i Federal Credit Union in Honolulu for their commitment to the Hawai‘i Kids Savings Project, which teaches young children the importance of saving money to invest in the future while helping them overcome obstacles.
The game also helps students with planning for goals and looks at ways for families to have fun without spending money.
When Newton and Carl were asked to start the project on Kaua‘i, there was no funding available for it. But the two women initiated the project anyway and were later funded for two years. When that funding ran out, they successfully applied for their own grants to keep the project going.
Initiated in 2008, the Hawai‘i Kids Savings Project works with 1,827 students from 28 HIDOE elementary schools.
Students involved with the project have saved a total of $259,563, with an average savings of $115 per child annually.
