Introduction
Welcome, Carnival Planners!
Your school has $500 to organize a fun carnival. Can you plan an exciting event without spending more than your budget?
Guiding Questions:
- How can mathematics help us make financial decisions?
- How do we calculate expenses and remaining money?
- How can we compare prices to make responsible choices?
Learning Objective: Students will solve real-world money problems, calculate expenses, and justify spending decisions.
Florida Standard: MA.5.M.2.1 – Solve multi-step real-world problems involving money.
Bloom's Taxonomy: Apply mathematical skills, analyze costs, evaluate choices, and create a budget.
Task
Your Mission
Work in groups of four to plan a school carnival with a maximum budget of $500.
Create a five-slide Google Slides or Canva presentation containing:
- Three carnival activities
- An itemized budget
- Total expenses and remaining money
- A comparison of two purchasing options
- An explanation of your spending decisions
Your goal is to create an enjoyable event without exceeding the budget.
Process
Step 1: Assign Group Roles
- Budget Manager: Calculates expenses and balances.
- Activity Planner: Selects carnival games and activities.
- Price Researcher: Compares estimated supply costs.
- Presentation Designer: Organizes the slides.
Step 2: Research and Calculate
Use these resources:
- Math Practice: https://www.khanacademy.org/math
- Budget Spreadsheet: https://sheets.google.com
- Presentation Creator: https://www.canva.com
Step 3: Collaborate
Use a shared Google Doc to record each student's contributions. Communicate through document comments, even when working at different times.
Step 4: Create and Submit
Calculate the total cost, verify that spending stays within $500, and create the five-slide presentation. Include a source or explanation for your estimated prices.
Evaluation
Evaluation Rubric – 100 Points
| Criteria | Points |
|---|---|
| Accurate mathematical calculations | 30 |
| Complete and realistic budget | 25 |
| Explanation of financial decisions | 20 |
| Team participation and collaboration | 15 |
| Presentation organization and creativity | 10 |
| Total | 100 |
Excellent work includes accurate calculations, clear explanations, realistic costs, and participation from every group member.
Conclusion
Congratulations, Carnival Planners!
You have practiced budgeting, comparing prices, solving mathematical problems, and making responsible financial decisions.
Reflection: What was your most difficult spending decision, and why?
Enrichment Activity: Imagine your budget decreases to $350. Revise your plan and explain what changes you would make.
Additional practice: https://www.khanacademy.org/math
Credits
Educational Resources
Florida Department of Education – Mathematics Standards
https://www.cpalms.org/Public/
Khan Academy – Mathematics
https://www.khanacademy.org/math
Google Sheets
https://sheets.google.com
Teacher Page
Grade: 5
Subject: Mathematics
Duration: Two 45-minute lessons
Florida Standard: MA.5.M.2.1
Materials: Computers, Internet access, calculators, and Google Slides or Canva.
Teaching Strategy: Collaborative, project-based learning with real-world budgeting.
Differentiation: Provide sample price lists and calculation templates for students requiring support. Challenge advanced learners to compare additional purchasing options.
Assessment: Use the 100-point rubric to evaluate calculations, reasoning, teamwork, and presentation quality.