Budgeting Around The World - STEM Driven Financial Literacy
My students need an iPad mini, two iPad cases, upper grade math stations, and real-world math kits to use in a project designed to promote financial literacy and develop research skills.
I teach math and science core, incorporating hands-on, project-based learning in my classroom. I also teach a speech elective, helping students develop 21st-century presentation skills. I believe project-based learning key in engaging students and promoting growth. In math, my classroom is flipped.
What is a flipped classroom?
By sixth grade, I often receive statements from parents regarding their inability to help their students with middle school math. Even though parents desperately want to help their own children, they lack the resources to help. Therefore, every year of my teaching I have volunteered my time tutoring my students after school, since so many struggle with the rigorous challenges of complex mathematical concepts. Last year, I additionally created online tutorials for both students and parents could access to help with practices. Then, I started researching flipped classrooms and observed their effectiveness. Instead of assigning homework containing traditional mathematical problems that many of my students receive limited to no support for at home, I created video tutorials supporting their learning, resulting in students taking notes before class and arriving to class with questions and clarifying concepts. The mathematical problem solving happens in class.
My Project
What would you have to do in order to survive one week in a foreign country? This is the essential question my students will answer. For this project, students will use the mini iPad to conduct research and investigate how to survive in a particular country. I am giving them a budget to survive and they will maximize their resources, using technology. They will need to research lodging, food, and recreational activities. They will even need to convert currency. What better way to promote financial literacy? Many students wish to travel the world, but do not know how to actually survive on a budget. This project requires meaningful research, planning, and organization. The real-world problem solving kits will connect to their research, while reinforcing math literacy skills. Finally, they will present their findings and share their presentations online with the world. The iPad will be used for research and presentation building, while games promote financial understanding.
This project is engaging, meaningful, common core related, and promotes 21st-century learning skills.
An iPad will help with research understanding, and enhance technology. The games will help reinforce learning and understanding and students will understand how to budget, use money, and convert currency. Additionally, they will acquire financial literacy possibly without even knowing it. Who knows? Some of them might even plan a trip they might actually take.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Taylor-Salvador and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
