Spending My Paycheck

Developed by Puja Shah & Nicole Macy-Robertson
shahpu@d83.org, macyrobertsonn@d83.org
April, 2004
 

Overview | Introduction | Questions and Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion

Overview


This webquest focuses on independent living skills including basic budgeting, estimating and computation skills

Math, Language, Social Science, Life arts

Links to the following Illinois Learning Standards: 
Math Goal 6: Demonstrate and apply a knowledge and sense of numbers
Social Science Goal 15:  Understand economic systems
English Language Arts Goal 1:  Read with understanding and fluency

Provide following resources for activity: internet access, local store sale ad papers

Overview | Introduction | Questions and Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion

Introduction

It is that time again!  You have worked really hard this week at your job.  It is time to receive your paycheck.  Your pay check will be used for food, personal care items, and entertainment.  You have $50 to spend on your materials for the week.

Overview | Introduction | Questions and Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion

Questions and Task

Your task for this project will be to budget your $50 in the following ways:

The money will be used for the whole week.  You will work in small groups. The group will plan and budget for a different person each week.
 
Food items:
You have $30 to spend on ingredients and needed kitchen materials.  You will assume that you have the basic utensils in your kitchen needed to cook your meals. You will need to follow the following rules to complete your project: Some suggestions: Use sale ad papers

Personal Care items:
You have $10 to spend on personal care items such as:

For this project, choose 2-3 personal care items to buy for this week.
Remember: You cannot choose the same personal care items every week.

Entertainment:
You have $10 to spend on your weekly entertainment.  Some examples may include:


Overview | Introduction | Questions and Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion

Process

Group roles:
This project will be an ongoing activity for the whole year.  You will rotate through the following roles:

Person 1: Good work! You received the paycheck this week!  You are the team leader for this week. As the leader, you have the final say on how to spend the money.  Your team will give you some suggestions, but it is you that will make the final decisions on what to eat, grooming supplies and where to spend your entertainment money.  You will need to fill out the "wish list" and give to your team members.  Remember to stay in your $50 budget!!

Person 2: Your job is to determine the ingredients needed for each meal suggested by the team leader. Fill out and give "menu worksheet" to person 3.

Person 3: Look up prices for food items. With the use of the worksheet, report your finding to the "reporter".

Person 4: Look up prices for personal care items.  With the use of "Personal care worksheet", report your finding to the "reporter".

Person 5: Look up prices for  the use of the "Entertainment worksheet", report your finding to the "reporter".

Reporter: You will receive the final "wish list" and prices.  Your job is to determine whether the prices were within budget.  Talk to the team leader about the final list.  Remember: If the items on the list go over the $50, it is your job to work with the team leader to make changes.  


* Teacher can determine whether each task will be performed by a small group or by an individual student.
 
 

Overview | Introduction | Questions and Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion

Resources

You will use these resources to look up ideas and prices:
 

Store sale papers

Recipe Books

Classroom "Lunch Ideas" binder

Newspaper

Websites:

Groceries
http://www.peapod.com

Grooming Supplies
http://www.walmart.com
http://www.target.com
http://www.walgreens.com

Entertainment
http://www.moviefone.com
http://www.blockbuster.com


Fast Food  and Restaurant take-out Menus


Overview | Introduction | Questions and Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion

Evaluation

For your evaluation, you will fill out the "Self evaluation worksheet".

Overview | Introduction | Questions and Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion

Conclusion

Good Work!  I hope you were able to stay within your budget.  

Here are some questions to think about as you finish this project:









Overview | Introduction | Questions and Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion