Middle School Programs - Overview
JA’s middle school programs for students in grades 6-8 include economics and business curricula and a capstone experience. The dynamic interaction between the volunteer and students promotes active learning and brings theory to life.
JA America Works®
Provides students with examples of how business and entrepreneurship affected the economic development of the United States during the 19th century. Six required, volunteer-led sessions.
Concepts–Benefit, Boomtown, Capital resources, Communication, Competition, Cost, Cost-benefit analysis, Demand, Emigration, Entrepreneurship, Human resources, Immigration, Industrialization, Innovation, Invention, Modes of transportation, Natural resources, Opportunity cost, Productive resources, Productivity, Pull factor, Push factor, Risk, Scarcity, Supply, Technology, Telegraphy
Skills–Analyzing information, Critical thinking, Decision making, Decoding messages, Encoding messages, Gathering, interpreting, and organizing information, Math calculations, Oral and written communication, Planning, Reading and interpreting data, Working in groups
JA Economics for Success®
Explores personal finance and students’ education and career options based on their skills, interests, and values while demonstrating the economic benefits of staying in school. Six required, volunteer-led sessions.
Concepts–Credit, Debt, Gross income, Insurance, Interest, Needs and wants, Net income, Opportunity cost, Risk, Self-knowledge, World of work
Skills–Critical thinking, Decision making, Following directions, Interpreting data, Math calculations, Oral and written communication, Role-playing, Self-assessment, Working in groups
JA Global Marketplace®
Provides practical information about the global economy and its effect on students’ lives. Six required, volunteer-led sessions.
Concepts–Business practices, Culture, Currency, Domestic trade, Embargo, Emigrate, Entrepreneurship, Exchange rates, Exports, Franchise, Global trade, Human resources, Immigrate, International trade, Market, Productivity, Quota, Standard, Subsidy, Tariff, Technology, Trade, Trade barrier
Skills–Analyzing points of view, Brainstorming, Critical reading, Critical thinking, Gathering and organizing information, Interpreting maps, charts and globes, Math calculations, Oral and written communication, Persuasion, compromise, and bargaining, Working in groups
JA AfterSchool®
JA It’s My Business! ®
Encourages students to use critical thinking to learn entrepreneurial skills that support positive attitudes as they explore and enhance their career aspirations. Six required, volunteer-led sessions.
Concepts–Advertising, Apprentice, Auction, Auctioneer, Be creative and innovative, Believe in yourself, Bid, Business, Business plan, Civic responsibility, Customer, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneur profile, Fill a need, Know your customer and product, Market, Marketing, Profit, Self-taught, Social entrepreneur
Skills–Active listening, Analyzing information, Brainstorming, Creative thinking, Critical thinking, Decision making, Deductive reasoning, Estimating, Following directions, Group work, Interpreting information, Measuring, Money management,
Oral and written communication, Problem solving, Self-assessment
JA Capstone
JA Finance Park®
Helps students build a foundation for making intelligent, lifelong, personal financial decisions through hands-on, realistic simulation experiences. The program includes in-school activities culminating in the JA Finance Park simulation followed by a post-simulation assessment.
Concepts–Banking, Budgets, Buying, Careers, Choices, Consumers, Credit, Debt, Exchange, Expenses, Income, Interest rates, Investments, Money, Opportunity costs, Saving, Scarcity, Social security, Taxes
Skills–Analysis, Applying information, Budgeting, Cause and effect, Critical thinking, Computation, Data collection, Decision making, Filling out forms, Following directions, Graphing, Interpersonal communication, Interpreting data, Listening, Negotiation, Observation, Planning, Problem solving, Reading, Research, Role-playing, Spending, Taking responsibility, Teamwork
All JA programs are designed to support the skills and competencies identified by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. These programs also augment school-based, work-based, and connecting activities for communities with school-to-work initiatives.
