For Teachers

Let’s teach kids to think before they buy.

Thinking before buying is an easy-to-learn but powerful and sticky life skill. In as little as one classroom session, you can introduce your students to the habit of asking and answering simple questions about typical childhood (tween or teen) purchases before they spend their money or anyone else's. There are two ways you can do this:

Book a workshop with us

Run your own workshop

Our three-part workshops only take one class!

Test-Drive TBB

First, students test-drive thinking before buying by calculating the DIMS-DOES IT MAKE SENSE?® SCORE for a purchase they’re interested in making.

Reflective Discussion

Then, they have a reflective conversation about how and why thinking before buying does more than just save money; it also helps us avoid disappointment, improve family harmony, and protect the planet.

Compelling Comparison

We close by comparing team sports and money smarts, which drives home WHY we should ask questions before making personal financial decisions, including what to buy!

Award-winning framework

Watch our founder discuss workshops.

DOES IT MAKE SENSE?
The DIMS SCORE® Calculator

The DIMS SCORE® Calculator is FREE and SAFE to use.
There’s no fee, no registration, and it collects no personal information. The calculator is purpose-built to help school-aged children get into the habit of taking a quick pause before making a purchase. It lets students work on a problem that matters to them in real-time: "Should I buy this item or experience?”

DIMS SCORE® Calculator

How it works

Book a workshop with us

Let’s teach kids to think before they buy

Online | 60 min

Think Before You Buy:
Hands-On Workshop

Gifting Sense workshops move thinking before buying from something kids do to “get what they want” to something that helps them want items and experiences that make sense.

Children learn how to make informed spending decisions that align with their family's needs and values in an engaging way. Let's normalize that being a thoughtful consumer does not mean you never get to do or buy anything fun.

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Learn More

Free Resources/ Lesson Plans

Teachers are welcome to lead their own Gifting Sense workshop. Find everything you need below, including Lesson Plans and a way to order a free class set of Gifting Sense pencils. Do you use Nearpod in the classroom? We’ll even send you a Nearpod Lesson Code. Add this request to your free pencil order.

Teacher smiling and looking at her students raising their hands to answer a question.

Free Handout

Download a customizable handout you can distribute to your students and their parents/caregivers announcing the special activity you have planned.

Download

A teacher looking at his student raising their hands to a question.

Free Glossary

You know what sales tax is, but do your students? What is a warranty? Download and distribute the Gifting Sense Glossary. Consider incorporating basic personal finance terms or ideas into an upcoming vocabulary or math test to back up what's just been learned.

Download

Looking for an interactive holiday activity?

Students think about their “Gifting Game Plan” in this 30-minute class.

NGPF Holiday Gifting Activity

Enjoy the holiday interactive? Here’s a Spring Break planning activity.

Students evaluate possible Spring Break day trips in this 40-minute class.

Spring Break Planning Activity

Get a class set of free pencils

Finish your workshop the same way we do: with a smiling reminder for students to practice slow spending until it becomes a habit.

Then, give them a "What's the DIMS SCORE®?" pencil to remind them what they've just learned. Calculating the DIMS SCORE® is the modern-day equivalent to "sharpening your pencil" and being a wise-spender!

Pencils are FREE to schools who request them.

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Discover what others are saying

See what teachers, parents, and experts are saying about Gifting Sense. Learn how we're making an impact in homes and classrooms.

My students need this! These questions are great. I was looking for something I could use in the classroom next week, and this is it!

Teachers attending the 2024 Jump$tart National Educator Conference

We're so fortunate to have workshops on financial literacy from Ms. Karen Holland from Gifting Sense! Her presentations are highly interactive, lively and packed with teen-friendly wisdom on managing your money. Ms. Holland's take on young people and their finances is relatable to them, equitable and specific, enabling students to take action in the moments after her presentation. She's an engaging and dynamic speaker who can captivate an audience big or small. The Brearley School highly recommends Gifting Sense!

Tim Brownell

Head of Middle School Student Life, The Brearley School Middle School

Gifting Sense has a most interesting approach to helping young people learn how to avoid FOMO (fear of missing out), reduce waste (of time and money), and protect the planet, all through more thoughtful consumer decision making.

Dr. Moira Somers, PH.D., C.Psych. Author, Advice that Sticks

Psychologist & Founder of Money, Mind and Meaning