The interactive activities

Two player game:

This could be played by either two individuals or two teams.

The aim of the game is to create a row of linked blocks from one side of the board to the parallel side, before your opponent.

Players are presented with a grid of 37 blocks. Sub games lie under the blocks at random. These involve quiz questions and challenges that develop the players' financial capability.

The coloured track pads at the bottom left and bottom right of the screen are provided for students unable to reach the top of the screen and also identify the player's colour. These flash to indicate which player begins. The indicated player (Player One) chooses a block from anywhere on the board and a sub game pops up. If the player completes the sub game correctly, he or she wins the block and it is highlighted in his or her colour. If not, the block remains neutral. It is then Player Two's turn to choose a block (from anywhere on the board).

The first to create a path of blocks from one side to its parallel side wins. Players need to think about creating their own path, as well as blocking their opponent.

One player game:

This could be played by individual students on PCs either in school or at home.

The player is presented with a row of seven coloured blocks. Sub games lie below these at random. There are also three coloured 'life' blocks. The player clicks on the left-hand block and a sub game pops up. If the player completes the sub game correctly, the block they have won will highlight in their colour (yellow/orange) and they can click on the next block. If not, the player loses a 'life' and they must play a variation of the same game again.

The aim of the game is to highlight all seven blocks and make it across the board before losing all three 'lives'.

Game Practice

This option allows users to play the sub-games independently from the main board game. Click on a sub-game to play it.

Quickfire Questions

Players are shown a question with multiple choice answers, one of which is correct. They must click on the correct answer.

Triple Trivia

The method is the same as for the single answer questions, but players must find three correct answers.

Pic Quiz (12 to 14s game only)

Players are shown a question related to an image with multiple choice answers, one of which is correct. They must click on what they believe is the correct answer.

Amazing Anagrams

Players are shown an anagram with multiple choice answers, one of which is correct. They must click on the correct answer. A clue is available by clicking on the 'Hint' button. Note: The spaces between the anagram letters don't necessarily correspond to the unscrambled word.

Finance Finder

Players are given a question relating to a financial document. Players can use the arrow tool to move around the document shown. Documents have clickable 'hot spots', which highlight when the cursor hovers over them. Players must click on the area of the document that shows the correct answer. The 12 to 14 year olds are given the correct document to search, in the 14 to 16s game, players have the added challenge of having to first select the document that they think will contain the correct answer.

The 12 to 14s game shows a bank statement, a budget sheet or a mobile phone bill, the 14 to 16s game uses the same three documents as well as a credit card statement and a payslip.

Note: This game uses slightly simplified financial documents, which have been designed to familiarise students with the layout of real-life financial documents.

Vox Spot

Players are shown a short video clip of a student posing a financial dilemma or money-related question. Players are given a choice of possible answers and must click on the correct one. They then see a short clip affirming whether or not they were right and providing a fact or tip.

Pay Packets

The aim of the game is to match a person with his or her annual salary. Players are shown a person with an icon representing the type of job they do. Players click on the icon to see more information that could affect the person's salary. They are shown a number of different salaries and must match the person with the most likely salary.

Note: The 'pay packets' used in the game are written as annual salaries, taken from http://careersadvice.gov.uk. Students should be made aware that some jobs are paid hourly and some involve additional payments in the form of bonuses, tips or commission. Pay is also affected by the region in which a person lives.

Currency Challenge (14 to 16s game only)

This game is designed to help students become familiar with currency and exchange. Players are shown a particular amount in British Pounds and the exchange rates (to the British Pound) of two different foreign currencies. Currency amounts are displayed in the blocks. Players have to click on the two blocks that equal the amount shown in pounds.

Note: Players should be made aware that exchange rates are always fluctuating. The amounts used in Currency Challenge were taken on 5th February 2010. The cost of changing money will also be affected by commission or fee, form of payment used and from where the currency is purchased.

Word Search

Players are asked a question and must find the answer hidden in the grid. Letters can be up, down, diagonal or sideways but must be adjacent to each other.

The 14-16 version is the same but letters are grouped with most grid squares containing two rather than one letter.

Notes:

• Players cannot change their mind - the answer on which they click is taken as their final answer.
• All games confirm the correct answer and give useful 'did you know' facts and tips relating
  to the question.

Play the 'Money Matrix' game (12-14). |
Play the 'Money Matrix' game (14-16). |