Florida LifeSmarts

LifeSmarts is a flexible classroom or group activity that teaches teens to be smart and responsible consumers and citizens. LifeSmarts stays current — expanding its content, competitions and consumer knowledge. LifeSmarts complements the curriculum already in place in middle and high schools and can be used as an activity for classes, groups, clubs and community organizations. LifeSmarts also aligns with national education standards.

The content and competition questions focus on five key areas of consumer knowledge that teens need to know to function effectively in today's marketplace. These areas are:

• Personal Finance
• Health and Safety
• Environment
• Technology and Workforce Preparation
• Consumer Rights and Responsibilities

In addition to the important knowledge that participants gain, they also develop teamwork, self-esteem, verbal communication skills and leadership abilities and have fun competing. LifeSmarts changes behavior toward better decision-making and better use of money and resources. It provides teens with a good understanding of their consumer rights and responsibilities. Because many teens begin work during high school, LifeSmarts helps them understand workplace protections too. It teaches them to spot and avoid fraud and scams and to make smart choices. Brochures, booklets, videos, teaching guides, textbooks, websites and other educational resources provided by governmental agencies, businesses, consumer groups and trade associations are the source of this information and can easily be obtained by any consumer.

Varsity LifeSmarts is open to all teens in the ninth through 12th grade. Junior Varsity teams are open to students in grades 6 through 8, and in 2024 there will be a first-of-its-kind online national championship for Junior Varsity teams.  The participation of special needs students, exchange students, alternative schools, work-study groups, home school groups, clubs and community organizations is encouraged and welcomed. LifeSmarts is available throughout the United States, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories and American military bases abroad. The program is completely accessible to students with disabilities.

LifeSmarts is FREE to any group of teenagers and their coach who want to participate. There is no fee or registration cost to participate in LifeSmarts. However, the team that advances to the national competition will be responsible for all costs associated with travel to and from the competition.

Each player and team must have an adult coach 18 years old or older. For most teams, the steps to compete online are as follows: 

1.  Coaches register first,

2.  The coach creates the team(s),

3.  Students register and join a team,

4.  Coaches appoint a team captain, and

5.  Students may practice and compete.

Visit How to LifeSmarts [ Adobe PDF Document ] for more information about registering teams and competing online.

Any number of students may compete online. Each team must have a minimum of four players to compete in the state online competition. It is recommended that five students comprise an in-person team when competing at the national competition. The fifth player will serve as the alternate.

The state online qualifying competition will officially open on October 1, 2023, and run through January 19, 2024. Working individually, students first take a 20-question pre-quiz. This covers all topic areas and is not part of the student’s final score. Next, working individually, students take five 20-question topic quizzes, one on each LifeSmarts subject: the environment, personal finance, health and safety, consumer rights and responsibilities, and technology and workforce preparation. 

When students finish the five topic quizzes, the capstone quiz will become available. This 20-question quiz covers all topic areas and serves as the final quiz. Students must complete the capstone quiz to receive a final score. The capstone quiz score plus the scores from the five topic quizzes are combined to formulate a student’s final score. Once four or more students have completed all six qualifying quizzes, the team achieves a team score and becomes eligible to compete at the state online championship competition.

The state online championship competition will be held from January 29, 2024, through February 2, 2024. The state-winning team will be selected from the online competition and will be invited to represent Florida at the National LifeSmarts Championship. The national competition will be in San Diego, California, April 18-21, 2024. Any person traveling to compete at the National LifeSmarts Championship will be required to sign a permission and release form. For more information about LifeSmarts, visit About LifeSmarts.