Links to Ontario Mathematics Curriculum:

• Develop, select, apply, and compare a variety of problem-solving strategies as they pose and solve problems and conduct investigations, to help deepen their mathematical understanding.
• Demonstrate that they are reflecting on and monitoring their thinking to help clarify their understanding as they complete an investigation or solve a problem (e.g., by assessing the effectiveness of strategies and processes used, by proposing alternative approaches, by judging the reasonableness of results, by verifying solutions).
• Select and use a variety of concrete, visual, and electronic learning tools and appropriate computational strategies to investigate mathematical ideas and to solve problems.
• Make connections among mathematical concepts and procedures, and relate mathematical ideas to situations or phenomena drawn from other contexts (e.g., other curriculum areas, daily life, current events, art and culture, sports).

Brief Overview of the Lesson:

The students will play a game on the Internet called “Math at the Mall.” This real life simulation game will give the students practice solving a variety of problems. They will visit a bank, a café, a toy store, and a gym. Using numeric operations, they must find percentages, use fractions, calculate tax, compare prices and make the correct change.

Estimated Time Required for Implementation:

One class period

Materials Needed:

Computers

Suggested Implementation Strategy:

• Ask your students to raise their hands if they like going a mall.
• Tell your students to find a partner and open the following web link.
• They are to choose a character and spend the class period visiting a virtual mall. http://www.mathplayground.com/mathatthemall1.html

Options for Consideration:

• Students may do this activity alone.
• The teacher may use a Smart Board and make this a class activity.

Possible Links to the Home Program:

• Age 11–13 — What Kind of Spender Are You?
• Age 14–16 — Tracking Expenses and Managing Money

Extended Learning Opportunities:

• Put the students in groups and ask them to brainstorm what costs would need to be considered if they opened a café or a gym.
• Let the students experience running a coffee shop on their own at: http://www.coolmath-games.com/0-coffee-shop/index.html