Introduction to Wall Street for Kids and Teens
This video explains the concept of Wall Street in a simple, concise way for kids and beginners. It could be used by kids & teens to learn about Wall Street, or used as a money & personal finance resource by parents and teachers as part of a Financial Literacy course or K-12 curriculum.
Suitable for students from grade levels:
- Kindergarten
- Elementary School
- Middle School
- High School
The topics covered are:
- What is Wall Street
- Does it stand for anything other than the financial markets
- What are the buildings located on Wall Street in New York City
- How did it get its name
- Are there similar streets in other countries
What is Wall Street?
Wall Street is a general term used to refer to the US financial markets as a whole, which includes the stock market, the bond market, large banks, and brokerages.
Wall Street also represents the people who work in finance, including bankers, brokers, portfolio managers, etc.
Wall Street is also a real street in the financial district of lower Manhattan in NYC.
Does Wall Street represent anything else?
Symbolically, Wall Street represents the heart of capitalism that gives the US its financial and economic power.
Sometimes, Wall Street is perceived negatively, and is said to be controlled by the wealthy, the greedy and the powerful.
What important buildings are located on the actual Wall Street in New York City?
One of the most iconic buildings on Wall Street is the New York Stock Exchange (or NYSE).
Wall Street is also the historic headquarters to many of the largest US investment banks and brokerages like Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup, and Morgan Stanley.
Another famous symbol of Wall Street is the statue of the charging bull.
How did Wall Street get its name?
In 1653, Dutch colonists that settled in lower Manhattan built a wall to protect themselves. Although the wall no longer exists, it is the reason the place got the name Wall Street.
Are there any other streets similar to Wall Street in other countries?
Yes. There are other streets, like Bay Street in Canada and Dalal Street in India that represent their country’s financial markets in the same way Wall Street does for the US.
Download Transcript: Ideal for Use by Teachers in their Lesson Plan to Teach Kids & Teens
