Student-led · Grades 1–5 · Irvine, CA
Empowering kids with money skills 🚀
Once a month we turn a classroom into a marketplace: games, play money, and real Jolly Ranchers.
We start
with a simple idea:
strong money habits begin
way before high school.
Portola High students teaching taxes, saving, and investing to grades 1 through 5. For free, in Irvine.
More about us
Workshop day, every hand up.
Curriculum Hub
Six months.
Six money skills.
01
🛒Needs vs. Wants
The difference between survival needs and wants.
Sorting Game
02
💵Income, Taxes & Budgeting
You don't keep your whole paycheck, and budgets decide outcomes.
Forest Survival Simulation
03
🐷Saving & Delayed Gratification
Patience and smart spending beat instant gratification.
Prize Stations
04
💳Credit & Debit
Debit is your money; credit is borrowed money.
Card Simulation
05
🦈Entrepreneurship
A business solves a problem people will pay for.
Mini Shark Tank
06
📈Investing Basics
Putting money to work, and understanding risk vs. reward.
Invest or Don't Invest Game
Moments from our workshops 📸
Keep scrolling to spin the ring
Every hand up
Workshop Q&A
Small groups, big ideas
Station rotations
Worksheets in action
Budgeting practice
Tabling day
Community outreach
Wrapping up
End of a workshop
Community events
Out and about
The team
Portola High students
Setting up stations
Before the bell
Workshop moments
Irvine, CA
Learning by playing
Hands-on lessonsWhat educators tell us
Cypress Village Elementary
“Lil’ Investors has brought real-world ideas to concepts for our students. They are learning important life skills in an engaging and fun manner. Students always look forward to the Lil’ Investors team being on campus.”
Lindsey Knittle · School Support TOSA
Donate
Fuel the next
workshop.
Lil Investors is free for every school we visit. Donations go straight to supplies, and yes, the candy.
Play money & game kits
Every station runs on printed cash, price lists, and worksheets.
Jolly Ranchers
Our official currency of participation, every kid earns one.
Prizes & the VIP box
Bigger rewards teach saving and delayed gratification.
