- Money Basics workshop (G1–G3)
- Finance Lab (G4–G12)
Weekends, every other week.
Membership
This program is for Life Lab members. Every step is logged in the Human Skills record kept with our partner, the PNF Foundation, and in high school points toward a formal Congressional Award application (age 13.5+).
Want to talk to a course advisor now?
Contact a course advisorFrequently Asked Questions
Is early elementary too young to talk about money?
No. Money Basics is built for G1 to G3 and stays at that level: basic money concepts, selling, and communication. Chinese families rarely talk money with children, yet financial literacy is a survival skill, and an early start pays off over a lifetime.
How do we choose between Money Basics and Finance Lab?
By grade. G1 to G3 attend the Money Basics workshop and G4 to G12 attend Finance Lab. Both meet on weekends, every other week.
How is this different from an Irvine public school class?
School courses teach the subject knowledge; this program works on applying money concepts to real situations. The early stage connects children to the real world through basic concepts, selling, and communication, and Finance Lab carries that forward from G4 onward. Sessions run in small in-person groups in Irvine, with an online option.
What comes next for an Irvine high school student?
On the entrepreneurship track, students continue with the Real Sales Challenge and the Startup Incubator, applying what they learned to a real product, its price, and its customers. Both are for G9 to G12, and students at Irvine public high schools are advised to join in a term when the course load is settled.
Can we enroll in this program on its own?
No. It is open to Life Lab members only. Every step a member takes is logged in the Human Skills record kept with our partner, the PNF Foundation, and members receive a growth report.
