Introduction
What are your favorite stores to purchase clothes at? How does shopping involve math? Keeping these questions in mind, get ready to go on a shopping spree!
This activity requires you to apply your knowldge of decimals, fractions and percents. Over the next week you will have the opportunity to shop online while working with these mathematic concepts.
Task
You have a $100 budget to work with. Using this budget you will spend as much money up to that amount without going over. To help with the process, you will fill out an order form that includes purchased items, discounts, subtotals and totals. Closely follow directions before turning in the four final product requirements.
Process
1) How much money do you have to spend? You have $100 to purchase two complete outfits. A complete outfit includes a shirt, bottoms and shoes. No need to worry about undergarmets or other additions!
2) Where should you shop? You can shop at as few or as many stores as you would like. You are not limited to the store suggestions below but please choose websites that are school appropriate.
3) What should you buy? As long as the clothing items are school appropriate, you can select any to purchase. You can use the same pair of shoes for both outfits. However, make sure to buy at least 5 different items (2 shirts, 2 bottoms and a pair of shoes)
4) How much money will you save? Many stores offer discounts and have spring sales to attact shoppers. Apply the following discounts to purchases on your order form.
- 1st item: 10 % off
- 2nd item: 25 % off
- 3rd item: 25 % off
- 4th item: 50 % off
- 5th item: full price
5) How will you complete the order form? Use the given store suggestions and discounts to guide your purchases. Remember to update the order form as you shop; don't wait until the end!
6) How will you double-check the math? After completing the order form and required calculations you will transfer specific information into an electronic spreadsheet. Record the $100 budget at the bottom of the spreadsheet. Then enter the items, description, original price, and percent discount for each item purchased. You will enter the percent discount as a decimal. (For example: $25 % off = .25) Print a copy of your spreadsheet when it's complete.
Evaluation
1) To reflect on this activity, answer the following questions (minimum of 2 sentences per question).
- Describe your purchases and how you remained under the $100 budget.
- In your opinion, is it better to have a large or small budget? Why?
- How did the electronic spreadsheet compare to your hand-written order form?
- What did you like and/or learn from this activity?
2) Turn in the following items:
- Hand written order form including written math work
- Typed spreadsheet
- Reflection questions
Conclusion
CONGRATULATIONS! You have "Shopped until you dropped!" by completing this activity involving real-world shopping and budgeting and converting decimals and percents.