Investment Strategies

Teaching Students the Value of Wise, Educated Investments

Investment Strategies Program (ISP) is a series of lessons that prepare students for an online stock simulation. Videos and teacher-led programming help students research stocks, build a portfolio, learn about investment terms, ethics and more.

Students participate in a competition against their peers across Canada.

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All Regions
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Calgary & Area: Grades 8-12
Other Regions: Grades 8-11
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4, 1-hour lessons
+ online competition
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Learning How to Make Savvy Investment Choices

VERSIONS: ISP Virtual (Teacher Led) / ISP Connect (Volunteer Led)

By participating in ISP, students will learn how to make smart investment choices. They will:

  • Understand the pros and cons of different investments, such as RRSPs, exchange-traded funds and GICs
  • Follow a Canadian stock for the duration of the program
  • Create a mutual fund
  • Learn how to buy low and sell high
  • Act as a financial advisor to apply what they learn
  • Build a portfolio for the online stock market simulation
  • Learn about socially and ethically responsible investment
  • Learn how to identify investment scams
  • Test their knowledge by competing against other teams from across Canada

At the end of the ISP, students will know how to research and select investments and manage an online stock portfolio. This prepares them to make savvy investment choices throughout their lives.

ISP builds upon previous JA financial literacy programs. Watch the Investment Strategies introduction video.

ABOUT INVEST JA

Invest JA, the nationwide stock market competition, allows students to apply the investing principles learned in the Investment Strategies Program. Students build and manage a stock portfolio in a safe, simulated environment.

The simulation is linked to live data from North American stock markets and students trade during regular market hours (9:30 am – 4:00 pm Eastern). It is not required that teachers allow class time for students to trade.

ISP VIRTUAL (Teacher Led)

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COMMITMENT

  • ISP: Virtual is entirely teacher led and facilitated via a series of instructional videos (totaling 60 minutes)
  • Videos feature JA volunteers and act as the main resource for this program to prepare students for Invest JA
  • A teacher facilitation guide offers additional instruction, and a 60 minute Teacher Orientation Webinar is offered each semester

CURRICULUM LINKS

  • CALM
  • CTS; CTF
  • Mathematics
  • English Language Arts

BENEFITS

  • Flexible delivery model; Invest JA, is offered twice a year – in the fall and in the spring
  • Opportunity for students to learn from volunteers with personal and professional investment experience
  • Students are introduced to tools to make educated investment decisions
  • Volunteers share real-life stories and experiences, making learning engaging and memorable

ISP: CONNECT (Volunteer Led)

How is ISP: Connect different than Virtual? ISP:Connect brings a knowledgeable volunteer into the classroom in place of the instructional videos. The teacher and volunteer arrange 4 1-hour visits. Volunteers work with students to help them develop a portfolio and complete an online stock market simulation.

Teacher Info

COMMITMENT

  • ISP: Connect is delivered in-school, in 2-4 one hour lessons, over the course of a few weeks
  • Registration is limited! You must register for this program 6 weeks before Invest JA
  • JA e-introduces teachers to their volunteer, and together, you schedule the volunteer’s visits to the classroom

CURRICULUM LINKS

  • CALM
  • CTS; CTF
  • Mathematics
  • English Language Artss

BENEFITS

  • Flexible delivery model; Invest JA, is offered twice a year – in the fall and in the spring
  • Opportunity for students to learn from volunteers with personal and professional investment experience
  • Students are introduced to tools to make educated investment decisions
  • Volunteers share real-life stories and experiences, making learning engaging and memorable

Volunteer Info

COMMITMENT

  • ISP: Connect is delivered in-school, in 2-4 one hour lessons, over the course of a few weeks
  • JA e-introduces teachers to their volunteer, and together, you schedule the volunteer’s visits to the classroom

CLASSROOM

  • A teacher will be present to help with classroom management
  • Volunteer solo, with a friend, or with another JA volunteer

TRAINING

  • Participate in 90 minute online training session at your convenience
  • You should have knowledge of how the stock market works to volunteer for this program

BENEFITS

  • Work on your instructional, public speaking, and leadership skills
  • Engage youth and inspire them to take charge of their financial future
  • Schedule your lessons at a convenient time for you an the teacher
  • Hour volunteering with JA can often be used toward your designation