Dealing With Risk and Making Insurance Decisions

As youth get older and become more involved in financial activity they will face greater risks – such as frauds and scams, identity theft, etc. They should learn how to protect their personal information from access and misuse by others. Over time, they will also start to acquire things of value and will face decisions about how to protect those things of value from the risks of theft, damage, loss, etc. It is important for youth to learn about the different risks that they can face and what they can do to try and reduce, avoid, or eliminate risk. They should learn how insurance can be used to help deal with risk, where you get insurance, the cost of insurance and the factors that can affect cost for insurance. Exploring the example of auto insurance can be relevant for many youth. Youth can also learn how insurance needs can vary over the course of the life cycle.

Please Note: Teaching Units provided are for support and consideration by teachers and are not prescriptive.

Learning Map and Supports for Instruction

The “Learning Map” identifies teaching opportunities in Alberta’s curriculum for each topic and you will find them as part of the Support Teaching Materials provided here. Teachers can, of course, integrate the target areas of financial knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviours anywhere they can find a fit. The Supports for Instruction provide videos, animations, and links to other resources to support teachers in their efforts to improve the financial literacy of their students.

Protecting Your Money and Things of Value - Division IV: Gr. 10-12

Knowledge

  • What things of value are vulnerable to risk

  • Steps can often be taken to avoid risk, reduce risk, or eliminate risk

  • Actions and costs can vary if one wants to eliminate rather than reduce risk

  • Being careful and taking care of things – including one’s health – is a way of reducing risk of damage or loss to things that are valued

  • Various type of frauds and scams that exist and how to avoid them

  • What is identity theft, how identities can be stolen, and how to protect against identity theft

  • Importance of protecting personal information – e.g., credit card numbers, pins, social insurance number, driver’s licence

  • Types of insurance that exist – renters, auto insurance, home insurance, life and health insurance

  • Risks when using a debit card, credit card, using an ATM

  • The risks of losing the ability to earn an income – e.g., because of injury, disability, illness, death – and different kinds of life and health insurance

  • Costs for life insurance are less if started at younger ages

  • The basics of how an insurance company works to be able to provide insurance

Skills

  • Identify risks to the things in life they value

  • How to avoid, reduce, or eliminate different kinds of risk

  • How to use debit and credit cards safely

  • Protect personal information

  • Write a cheque properly and safely

  • How to acquire insurance if needed

  • Acquire insurance when it is required or is important – e.g., car insurance, home insurance, life insurance

Attitudes/Behaviours

  • Look for ways to avoid, eliminate, or minimize risk

  • Take on risk suited to fit goals, life stage, and comfort level

  • Avoids frauds and scams

  • Use services of financial institutions to avoid certain risks

  • Protect their identity and control what happens to personal information and material

  • Ensure they have adequate insurance for the things in life that are valued and that face risks

  • Review insurance needs over time and adjust according to need