Eighth graders learn that not all debt is the same. Good debt invests in your future and can grow in value (a degree, a home, a business). Bad debt pays for things that lose value or that you can’t afford — often at high interest.
Students will be able to…
Borrowing isn’t always bad — sometimes it’s smart! What makes debt “good” or “bad”?
Project this and sort each into Good Debt (invests in the future) or Bad Debt (loses value / can’t afford).
Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.
Borrowing isn’t always bad — what makes debt “good” or “bad”?
Students explore.
Students practice.
Students apply.
Students close.
Aligned to the C3 Framework (Economics) & the National Standards for Personal Financial Education.
Distinguish good & bad debt.
Explain borrowing choices.
Draw conclusions about debt.
Borrow responsibly.
Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.
Have students name one example of good debt and one of bad debt. A printable debt sheet is in the Social Studies library.
Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.
A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.
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.