Home›Lesson Plans›Social Studies›Financial Literacy · Grade 7

Spotting a Scam

Seventh graders learn to protect themselves from scams — tricks that try to steal money or information. They follow a clear set of steps: notice red flags, slow down, check the source, guard passwords, and ask a trusted adult.

Grade 7Scams & Safety50 minutes1 class periodEconomics · C3Explicit teaching4 StandardsC3 / NSPFE
Start the Lesson
Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Spot a scam.
  • ✓Know the red flags.
  • ✓Order the safety steps.
  • ✓Protect yourself.
Essential Question

Scammers try to trick people out of money and information. How can you spot a scam and stay safe?

0
Lesson Phases
0
Vocabulary Terms
0
Standards Aligned
0
Interactive Task
Put in Order · Interactive

Order the Stay-Safe Steps

Project this and have students put the steps for handling a possible scam in order.

🛡️ Put the stay-safe steps in order!Try it
Tap the first step!
The Lesson · Inquiry Flow (Hook · Explore · Practice · Apply · Reflect)

50 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — Tricks to Watch For

5 min

Scammers try to trick people — how can you spot a scam and stay safe?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a “you won a prize!” message.
  • Ask if it seems real.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Look.
  • Wonder.
  • Get ready.
2

Explore — Spotting a Scam

12 min

Students explore.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Present the safety steps.
  • Note red flags & pressure.
  • Note asking an adult.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Listen.
  • Note it.
  • Note it.
3

Practice — Order It

13 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Order the Stay-Safe Steps.
  • Put it in order.
  • Explain.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Order.
  • Say.
  • Explain.
4

Apply — Apply

11 min

Students apply.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Judge a sample message.
  • Spot the red flags.
  • Decide what to do.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Judge.
  • Spot it.
  • Decide.
5

Reflect — Reflect

5 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a red flag.
  • Say a safe habit.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name it.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the C3 Framework (Economics) & the National Standards for Personal Financial Education.

NSPFE
Financial Decision Making

Recognize & avoid scams.

C3
D4.7.6-8

Take informed action (stay safe).

C3
D2.Eco.1.6-8

Explain risks to money.

C3
D4.6.6-8

Draw conclusions about safety.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Red-flag cards.
  • Sentence frame: “A red flag is ___.”
  • Use sample messages.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with “too good to be true.”
  • Order two at a time.
  • Use examples.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Analyze three messages.
  • Make a safety poster.
  • Teach a family member.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🚩Sample messages
  • 💻Order the Stay-Safe Steps
  • 🔒A safety checklist
  • ✏️Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

scama trick to steal money or infored flaga warning signpressurerushing you to actphishinga fake message asking for infopasswordkeep it privatetrusted adultsomeone safe to askverifycheck that it’s realsafeprotected from harm
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is a scam?
A trick that tries to steal your money or information.
QUESTION 2
Name one red flag of a scam.
“Too good to be true,” urgent pressure, or asking for passwords/money.
QUESTION 3
What should you do if you’re unsure about a message?
Stop, don’t share anything, and tell a trusted adult.

Reflect: spotting a scam.

Have students name two red flags of a scam and what to do if they see one. A printable scams-and-safety sheet is in the Social Studies library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Spotting a ScamFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
0

Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Spotting a ScamQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
0%

Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Spotting a ScamPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: password, phishing, pressure, red flag, safe, scam, trusted adult, verify
  1. keep it private
  2. a trick to steal money or info
  3. someone safe to ask
  4. a warning sign
  5. protected from harm
  6. check that it’s real
  7. rushing you to act
  8. a fake message asking for info

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is a scam?
  2. Name one red flag of a scam.
  3. What should you do if you’re unsure about a message?
Answer key — Part A: 1) password · 2) scam · 3) trusted adult · 4) red flag · 5) safe · 6) verify · 7) pressure · 8) phishing
Part B: 1) A trick that tries to steal your money or information. 2) “Too good to be true,” urgent pressure, or asking for passwords/money. 3) Stop, don’t share anything, and tell a trusted adult.