Introductory Activity :

Duration: 45 minutes

Description: This lesson was designed as an extension of the "Million Dollar Mission." Students are given the opportunity to spend $1,000,000, excluding $300,000.00 for taxes, on anything that they want. Students need to check their calculations to make sure that they do not exceed one million dollars.

Goals:

1. Students will be able to better understand and perform the processes of multiplication, division, and subtraction.
2. Students will better understand real world applications of mathematics (budgeting money, exchanging money, etc.).

Body :

[In a previous lesson called the "Million Dollar Mission," students were asked to choose between the following: receive $1,000,000 after 30 days, or receive 1 cent on the first day, 2 cents on the second day, 4 cents on the third day, and so on for 30 days. Students determined that it was better to take the second choice.]

Ask, "How many of you remember the Million Dollar Mission? What were your results to that assignment? Which method of payment was better? Today you are going to have a chance to spend one million dollars."

Guidelines: Students cannot spend over one million dollars, but they need to spend as close to one million dollars as possible. The student who gets closest to spending one million dollars wins the game. Challenge students to take the assignment a step further and see if they can spend exactly one million dollars. Students are allowed to use their calculators on everything except for the subtraction. A list of various items to buy will be displayed on the overhead and discussed with the class before the assignment begins. If an item is not on the list, the teacher can add the item to the list and include the approximate price. After all students complete the worksheet, the winner will be revealed.

Conclusion Activity :

Special Comments: This lesson is a great way to show students the importance of math in real life situations. It gives students an opportunity to see that they are learning math for a reason, and that math can be fun!

Evaluation Activity :

Observe students' participation in class discussions. Collect students' Shopaholic worksheets to check for accuracy.

Internet Resources Referenced in this Lesson :

Shopaholic worksheet
Shopaholic price list