Emergency & Risk Event Cards
Used in: Week 11 (Risk and Emergency Funds)
These cards present unexpected events for learners to sort, discuss, and respond to. Use them for the emergency fund simulation and risk ranking activities.
Emergency Sorting Cards
Instructions: Read each card. Decide: Is this a true emergency or not an emergency? Sort the cards into two piles.
Card 1: Broken Glasses
Your glasses break and you need them to see in class. A new pair costs $45.
Emergency or Not? __________ Why? __________________________________
Card 2: New Video Game
A video game you have been waiting for just came out. It costs $30.
Emergency or Not? __________ Why? __________________________________
Card 3: School Supplies
Your teacher says you need a new binder tomorrow. It costs $6.
Emergency or Not? __________ Why? __________________________________
Card 4: Bike Repair
Your bike tire is flat. You ride your bike to school every day. Repair costs $12.
Emergency or Not? __________ Why? __________________________________
Card 5: Concert Tickets
Your favorite musician is performing next month. Tickets are $25 and going fast.
Emergency or Not? __________ Why? __________________________________
Card 6: Winter Coat
Your winter coat zipper broke during a cold week. A new coat costs $35.
Emergency or Not? __________ Why? __________________________________
Card 7: Birthday Present
Your best friend's birthday is next week. You want to buy them a $15 gift.
Emergency or Not? __________ Why? __________________________________
Card 8: Lost Lunch Box
You lost your lunch box. Without it, you cannot bring lunch from home. A replacement costs $10.
Emergency or Not? __________ Why? __________________________________
Card 9: Shoe Sale
Your favorite shoes are on sale for 50% off — today only! They cost $20 on sale.
Emergency or Not? __________ Why? __________________________________
Card 10: Medicine
You are sick and need medicine that costs $8. Your family needs this money right away.
Emergency or Not? __________ Why? __________________________________
Emergency Fund Simulation
Use this activity after sorting the cards above.
Setup
Each learner starts with:
- Savings: $50
- Emergency Fund: $30
Round-by-Round Play
Draw one event card per round. Decide: Do you pay from savings, your emergency fund, or skip the expense?
| Round | Event | Cost | Pay From | Money Left (Savings) | Money Left (Emergency) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | — | — | — | $50 | $30 |
| 1 | $ | $ | $ | ||
| 2 | $ | $ | $ | ||
| 3 | $ | $ | $ | ||
| 4 | $ | $ | $ | ||
| 5 | $ | $ | $ |
Debrief Questions
- Did you run out of money in either account?
- How did you decide whether to use savings or the emergency fund?
- What would have happened if you had no emergency fund?
- Did any "not an emergency" still feel urgent? Why?
Risk-Level Sorting Cards
Instructions: Rank these events from most likely to least likely to happen. Then rank them from biggest cost to smallest cost.
| Event | Likelihood (1 = most likely) | Cost Impact (1 = biggest) |
|---|---|---|
| Losing a school supply | ||
| Getting sick and needing medicine | ||
| A pet needing to go to the vet | ||
| Breaking your glasses | ||
| Your bike getting stolen | ||
| A big storm damaging your home | ||
| Needing new shoes because yours wore out | ||
| A family member's car breaking down |
Discussion
- Are the most likely events also the most expensive? Usually no!
- Which events can you plan for in advance?
- Which events are true surprises?
- How does knowing the likelihood help you decide how much to save?
Emergency Fund Builder Challenge
Goal: Build up an emergency fund over 6 weeks.
| Week | Amount Saved This Week | Total Emergency Fund |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $ | $ |
| 2 | $ | $ |
| 3 | $ | $ |
| 4 | $ | $ |
| 5 | $ | $ |
| 6 | $ | $ |
My goal: $__________ by week 6.
After 6 weeks, answer:
- Did you reach your goal?
- What made saving easy? What made it hard?
- How does it feel to have an emergency fund ready?
Facilitator Notes
- True emergencies are things that: must be addressed right away, protect health or safety, or prevent you from doing something essential (like going to school).
- There is sometimes no single right answer — some cards can spark genuine debate. Encourage discussion rather than insisting on one answer.
- The simulation works well in pairs or small groups.
- For younger learners (ages 8–9), reduce the number of cards and use the simulation with the whole group.