Debt Discussion Prompts and Pause Points 

Before the Movie  

What happens if you spend more money than you have? (Predict)

What do you think it means to be in debt? (Tap prior knowledge)

During the Movie (Pause Points):

Stop at the following times in the movie and ask questions or prompt a discussion to keep students focused and to assess their understanding before moving on:

Timecode 1:36: What is the relationship between credit and debt? (Make connections; Identify cause/effect)

Timecode 3:48: What are a few ways young people can avoid debt? (Identify details; Identify problem/solution)

Timecode 4:14: How is the national debt similar to personal debt? How is it different? (Recall; Compare/contrast)

After the Movie:

Look at the four related movies at the bottom of the page. Explain how each is connected to the Debt topic. (Make connections)

When can debt help you achieve your goals, and when can it block you from achieving them? (Apply new knowledge)

BrainPOP recommends reading the movie description that appears on the Debt Topic Page to your class or have students read independently. Then have them watch the movie once through without pausing. Then, watch it again as class, this time using the discussion prompts.

*BrainPOP’s Discussion Questions and Prompts align to CCSS Speaking and Listening Standards.