Unison is committed to financial education
Unison Credit Union is committed to promoting positive financial habits in the lives
of students from an early age. Our classroom presentations are designed to be grade
specific. They cover topics such as saving, budgeting and ways to avoid making decisions
that could result in years of financial pain – such as incurring unmanageable debt;
as well as information on accounts, loans and other products and services that will
help students gain the knowledge they need to stay on the path to a bright financial
future.
To schedule a classroom presentation or for more information, please contact Abby
at 920-766-6000.
Classroom Credit Union
The Classroom Credit Union (CCU) program began in 1994 with visits to two schools
in the Kaukauna School District. In 2010 we reached 16 second grade classrooms totaling
nearly 400 students at four schools in both the Kaukauna and Wrightstown School
Districts.
Through the CCU program, second graders have the opportunity to learn about financial
concepts that relate to topics they have previously touched on in their social studies
and math lessons. Over a five-month period from January to May, we visit individual
classrooms to talk about the different concepts and do hands-on activities with
the students.
Students learn about the importance of saving, the concept of a checking account
and the loan process. Their final experience is a trip to the credit union for a
tour and graduation ceremony.
At the end of the CCU program, students are rewarded with the special opportunity
to open their own savings account – with Unison providing the first deposit!
Reality Store
The Realty Store is a simulation game in which students identify their career interests,
research a specific career, and receive a mock checkbook with the monthly income
entered for the specific career. Students then visit booths manned by community
members at which they pay their monthly bills. At each booth, students make decisions
concerning the standard of living they’ll assume. For example, at the housing booth
(manned by a Realtor), students decide if they want to pay for a one-bedroom efficiency
apartment or a five-bedroom home. Following the Reality Store, students discuss
the impact of the educational choices they make today on their ability to enter
various occupations and support various standards of living in their future.