Bank Ledger & Interest Tracking Templates
Used in: Weeks 12–14 (Banks, Interest, Inflation)
These templates support the classroom bank simulation. Start with the basic ledger in Week 12, add interest tracking in Week 13, and use the inflation tracker in Week 14.
Template 1: Basic Bank Ledger (Week 12)
Account holder: ________________________________
Starting balance: $__________
| Date | Description | Deposit (+) | Withdrawal (−) | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| //___ | Opening deposit | $ | — | $ |
| //___ | $ | $ | $ | |
| //___ | $ | $ | $ | |
| //___ | $ | $ | $ | |
| //___ | $ | $ | $ | |
| //___ | $ | $ | $ | |
| //___ | $ | $ | $ | |
| //___ | $ | $ | $ | |
| //___ | $ | $ | $ | |
| //___ | $ | $ | $ |
Rules to remember:
- You cannot withdraw more than your balance.
- Write every transaction — no skipping!
- Check your math after every entry.
Template 2: Interest Tracker (Week 13)
Account holder: ________________________________
Starting balance: $__________
Interest rate: ________% per period
How to calculate interest
Interest earned = Balance × Interest rate
Example: $100 × 5% = $100 × 0.05 = $5.00
Interest Log
| Period | Starting Balance | Interest Rate | Interest Earned | New Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $ | % | $ | $ |
| 2 | $ | % | $ | $ |
| 3 | $ | % | $ | $ |
| 4 | $ | % | $ | $ |
| 5 | $ | % | $ | $ |
| 6 | $ | % | $ | $ |
Comparison Challenge
Fill in this chart to compare what happens at different interest rates:
| Starting Balance | Rate | After 3 Periods | After 6 Periods |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | 2% | $ | $ |
| $100 | 5% | $ | $ |
| $100 | 10% | $ | $ |
Question: What do you notice about higher interest rates over time?
Template 3: Borrowing & Lending Log (Week 13)
Use this log when practicing a borrowing scenario.
Borrower: ________________________________
Amount borrowed: $__________
Interest rate: ________% per period
| Period | Amount Owed (Start) | Interest Added | Payment Made | Amount Still Owed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $ | $ | $ | $ |
| 2 | $ | $ | $ | $ |
| 3 | $ | $ | $ | $ |
| 4 | $ | $ | $ | $ |
| 5 | $ | $ | $ | $ |
| 6 | $ | $ | $ | $ |
Total interest paid over all periods: $__________
Total amount repaid (borrowed + interest): $__________
Reflection: How much extra did borrowing cost compared to saving up first?
Template 4: Inflation Price Tracker (Week 14)
Instructions: Track how prices change over several "years" in our simulation.
Price Log
| Item | Year 1 Price | Year 2 Price | Year 3 Price | Year 4 Price | Year 5 Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🍎 Apple | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ |
| 📖 Book | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ |
| 🎨 Art supplies | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ |
| 🧸 Toy | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ |
| 🎵 Music download | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ |
Buying Power Calculator
Your salary stays the same: $__________ per year.
| Year | Salary | Price of a Book | How Many Books Can You Buy? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $ | $ | |
| 2 | $ | $ | |
| 3 | $ | $ | |
| 4 | $ | $ | |
| 5 | $ | $ |
What happened to your buying power over time?
Template 5: Combined Bank Statement (Weeks 12–14)
This template combines deposits, withdrawals, interest, and inflation into one statement.
Account holder: ________________________________
Statement period: Week _____ to Week _____
| Date | Transaction | Amount | Interest | Inflation Note | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening Balance | $ | ||||
| $ | $ | $ | |||
| $ | $ | $ | |||
| $ | $ | $ | |||
| $ | $ | $ | |||
| $ | $ | $ | |||
| $ | $ | $ |
End-of-period summary:
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Total deposits | $ |
| Total withdrawals | $ |
| Total interest earned | $ |
| Ending balance | $ |
| Buying power compared to start | ☐ More ☐ Same ☐ Less |
Facilitator Notes
- Week 12: Use only Template 1 (Basic Ledger). Focus on recording transactions accurately.
- Week 13: Introduce Templates 2 and 3. Start with saving interest, then optionally introduce borrowing interest.
- Week 14: Use Template 4 to show how inflation reduces buying power. Template 5 can be used as a cumulative capstone for the banking unit.
- For younger learners (ages 8–9), stick to round numbers and low interest rates (5%, 10%) for easier mental math.
- Pair struggling learners with a "bank partner" who double-checks calculations.