This 2-week math project involves students in 4th and 5th grade conducting a survey to find the best deals when purchasing various items. Students will determine favorite items across 5 categories and get price quotes from 5 vendors. They will then tabulate the survey results, use ratios and proportions to analyze the data, and graph their findings. Students will conclude which vendors offer the best prices. They will present their results orally and visually to their class and school community. The goal is for students to learn how to make more informed purchasing decisions considering economic factors.

1. PROJECT OVERVIEW
Name of Project: Maximize your Buying Power by using Survey Results (Best Duration: 2 weeks
Prices/Item/Vendor)
Subject/Course: Math Teacher(s): Maridel Tan Grade Level: Elementary (4th and 5th)
Other subject areas to
be included, if any:
Project Idea Making Better Purchasing Choices based on Survey Data Results
Summary of the issue,
challenge, investigation,
scenario, or problem:
Driving Question How can I find the best deal to purchase my chosen items considering the current economic crisis and using minimal funds?
Content and Skills Ratio and proportion, decimals, graphing points on a line, survey, frequency, tabulation of data, data
Standards to be analysis
addressed:
T+A E T+A E
21st Century Skills Collaboration x Other:
to be explicitly taught and
assessed (T+A) or that
will be encouraged (E) by
Presentation (oral & visual) x
project work, but not
taught or assessed: Critical Thinking: x
Presentation Audience:
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2. Group: presentation x
Culminating Class:
Products and
x
Performances
School: cafeteria
x
Community:
Frequency charts and tabulated data Experts:
Individual:
Web:
Other:
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Entry event to launch
inquiry, engage Video about a grocery shopper and choices made
students:
Assessments Quizzes/Tests Practice Presentations x
Formative
Assessments Journal/Learning Log x Notes
(During Project)
Preliminary Plans/Outlines/Prototypes x Checklists x
Rough Drafts x Concept Maps x
Online Tests/Exams Other:
Written Product(s), with rubric: x Other Product(s) or Performance(s), with
Summative _________________________________________________ rubric:
Assessments _ __________________________________________________
(End of Project)
Oral Presentation, with rubric x Peer Evaluation x
Multiple Choice/Short Answer Test Self-Evaluation x
Essay Test Other:
.
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3. Resources On-site people, Computer lab, internet, printer, librarian(?)
Needed facilities:
Equipment:
Materials: Construction paper / poster board, colored pencils, markers, paste, scissors
Community
resources:
Reflection Journal/Learning Log x Focus Group
Methods (Individual,
Group, and/or Whole-Class Discussion x Fishbowl Discussion
Whole Class)
Survey x Other:
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4. PROJECT TEACHING AND LEARNING GUIDE
Project: Maximize your Buying Power by using Survey Results (Best Course/Semester: 2nd Semester
Prices/Item/Vendor)
Knowledge and Skills Needed By Students Scaffolding / Materials/ Lessons To Be Provided
to successfully complete culminating products and by the project teacher, other teachers, experts,
performances, and do well on summative assessments mentors, or community members
Basic 4 Operations Mastery with Decimals And Jeopardy Game, Other Interactive Math Games
Estimation

Factoring and Fractions Divisibility Rules, Fraction Manipulatives, Videos

Computer Skills, Word Processing, Keyboarding Skills Mavis Beacon



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5. PROJECT CALENDAR
Project: Take a Survey Start Date: 2nd Semester
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY
Project Week One
Select favorite item Get the prices and Conduct survey Conduct survey Tabulate results on
Decide on 5 different ads from the internet the data collection
categories of the item printed out sheet
and 5 vendors
(checklist)
Project Week Two
Ratio and Proportion Conclusion based on Reflection Oral Presentation Final Presentation and
data collected Practice Grading
Graph results Recommendation Visual Lay-out (self and peer)
Project Week Three
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6. Project Week Four
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7. © 2008 Buck Institute for Education 7