Some hands-on learning how money moves

On Friday, Nov. 30, Medical Lake Middle School students were presented with fictional budgeting scenarios outlining imaginary occupations, incomes, family structures and expenses. What they learned, put succinctly by one eighth-grader: “Everything is expensive.”

The activity was part of Junior Achievement’s Finance Park, an event meant to give students real-world experience weighing adult financial choices. Junior Achievement is a non-profit youth organization with a goal of teaching young people financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills.

The Finance Park, which was hosted by the Shriners...