Students learn how calculating capital gains and capital losses can help them evaluate stock investments.
Save and invest (Investing)
CTE (Career and technical education), Math, Science
High school (9-10), High school (11-12)
45-60 minutes
Big idea
To measure a stock’s past performance, you’ll need to calculate that investment’s gains and losses.
Essential questions
- How do you calculate a capital gain or capital loss?
- How can you use percentages to evaluate a stock’s past performance?
Objectives
- Calculate capital gains and capital losses for stock transactions in terms of dollars and percentages
- Understand how these calculations can help evaluate a stock’s past performance
What students will do
- Calculate capital gains and capital losses in terms of dollars and percentages for specific stock transactions.
- Determine which stock transaction had the greatest capital gain in terms of dollars.
- Determine which stock transaction had the greatest capital gain in terms of percentages.
Download activity
Teacher guide
cfpb_building_block_activities_comparing-stock-investments_guide.pdf
Student materials
cfpb_building_block_activities_comparing-stock-investments_worksheet.pdf
Note: Please remember to consider your students’ accommodations and special needs to ensure that all students are able to participate in a meaningful way.