Curated OER
International Currency Exchange
Students examine coins from around the world and write down their observations. As a class, they discuss the types of symbols used on the coins from different countries and locate the country on a map. To end the lesson, they calculate...
Illustrative Mathematics
Margie Buys Apples
One of the most common, everyday applications of math is dealing with money. This single problem calculating how much change Margie receives is more involved than it appears at first glance. An understanding of how fractions and decimals...
EngageNY
Using Expected Values to Compare Strategies
Discover how mathematics can be useful in comparing strategies. Scholars develop probability distributions for situations and calculate expected value. They use their results to identify the best strategy for the situation.
Curated OER
Currency and Exchange Rates
Fifth graders share the book, "The Story of Money" and discuss the uses of money, bartering, trade and the history of money. Students discuss various ways of spending: cash, check, debit/credit cards and review the check writing process....
Bowland
Explorers – Patrol Services
Far out — plan a trip to space! Aspiring mathematicians steer a space vehicle through an asteroid field, calculate currency exchanges to buy provisions, and determine placement of charges to blow up asteroids. Along the way, they learn...
Curated OER
Currency
Students investigate currency and exchange rates. In the middle school mathematics lesson, students use ratio and proportion to convert from one type of currency to another. Students solve problems involving currency exchange.
Curated OER
Classroom Supplies
Challenge young mathematicians to buy classroom supplies by staying within the means of a $1,000 budget. The mathematical activity provides learners with the opportunity to decide what items from the supply list would benefit a class of...
101 Questions
Coin Carpet
Here's a new meaning to the expression throwing away money...a carpet of coins! An intriguing lesson requires calculations to determine the coin that would be the cheapest option, but it's a little tricky. The cost of the coin...
NASA
MASS, MASS – Who Has the MASS? Analyzing Tiny Samples
What is it worth to you? A hands-on activity asks groups to collect weights of different combinations of coins and calculate weighted averages. They use the analysis to understand the concept of an isotope to finish the third activity in...
101 Questions
CoinStar
Would you rather have a bowl of dimes or a bowl of quarters? A video introduces the problem by presenting two bowls, one full of quarters and another full of dimes. Learners use information from a CoinStar receipt to calculate the number...
Balanced Assessment
Cost of Living
Math scholars investigate the cost of living in Hong Kong compared to Chicago but must first convert the different types of currency. They then choose a type of graph to compare different spending categories and finish the activity by...
EngageNY
Piecewise and Step Functions in Context
Looking for an application for step functions? This activity uses real data to examine piecewise step functions. Groups create a list of data from varying scenarios and create a model to use to make recommendations to increase...
Curated OER
Reality Store: How to Plan a Budget, Pay Bills, and Manage Your Money
Learners plan a budget and pay bills when they visit the "Reality Store," a series of classroom studying stations. The use of paying bills and running a class store is used to help students grasp the concept of business.
EngageNY
Why Do Banks Pay YOU to Provide Their Services?
How does a bank make money? That is the question at the based of a lesson that explores the methods banks use to calculate interest. Groups compare the linear simple interest pattern with the exponential compound interest pattern.
Curated OER
By the Pound
Agriculture surrounds us every day; incorporate measuring tools into a study of Oklahoma's agricultural industry! Small groups read an informational text (included) before visiting stations where they investigate prices of various...
Curated OER
Flipping Coins: Density as a Characteristic Property
Young scholars explore linear functions in a crime solving context. They collect and analyze data using linear equations, then interpret the slope and intercepts from a linear model.
Curated OER
Compounding with a 5% Interest Rate
The balance in an account continuously compounding interest is the context of this engaging task. Your young accountants will investigate the ending balance in an account as they compound the interest more and more. Learners write the...
Federal Reserve Bank
Retirement Planning
It's never too early to start saving for retirement. In fact, the earlier one starts, the better! Use this retirement planning activity to teach the importance of a retirement strategy and why to start at a young age.
PwC Financial Literacy
Saving and Investing: Investing for the Future
A fine lesson on saving and investing is here for you and your middle schoolers. In it, learners explore the values of time and money, and discover how small amounts of money invested over time can grow into a large "pot of gold." They...
Curated OER
How do You Stack Up? Revisited
Students estimate the thickness of coins. In this stack up lesson, students stack pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters. They calculate and record the thickness of each coin. Students stack coins and estimate the height of the stack.
Curated OER
A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned
Students explore the concept of exponential growth. In this exponential growth lesson plan, students manipulate power models with base 2. Students discuss what would happen if you doubled a penny over the course of 20...
EngageNY
Buying a Car
Future car owners use geometric sums to calculate payments for a car loan in the 31st installment of a 35-part module. These same concepts provide the basis for calculating annuity payments.
Bowland
Mystery Tours – Plan Your Tour
Everyone loves a vacation and a set of three activities has groups planning a tour of the U.K. using given distance, time, and price data. They solve a variety of problems related to the trip and produce a report on the success of...
Curated OER
Money and Banking
Students investigate percents and interest. In this algebra instructional activity, students invest money in a bank account and calculate the interest rate they receive over time. They convert percents to decimals and solve problems...