Financial Planning Investigation - Teacher Notes

Name Date

Teacher Notes
Rationale
Mathematics investigations open students’ minds to the possibility of multiple
approaches, multiple outcomes and multiple solutions. When linked to the world in which
they live, open-ended investigations can help students see the relevance of mathematics
within their lives. They also provide wonderful opportunities for differentiation, enabling
students to feel confident and successful as they engage with tasks at their own individual
level.

Overview
This mathematics investigation requires students to apply their knowledge and
understanding of financial planning to a real-world situation.

Objective
To create a comprehensive spending plan and a simple timetable for a day at an
amusement park.

Duration
Approximately four 60 minute lessons

Prior Learning
Before commencing the investigation, students should be familiar with the following
concepts:
• using mental and written strategies to perform calculations
• reading time in am and pm notation.

Differentiation: Supporting Students

Less confident students could be supported in their learning by allowing them use digital
technologies when performing calculations. Alternatively, the task could be simplified by
reducing the number of rides and/or events, reducing the amount of money to be spent
or reducing the amount of time for the outing.

Differentiation: Extending Students

More capable students could be challenged to complete calculations for a range of
additional scenarios; as outlined on the Expect the Unexpected – Challenge Questions
Worksheet.

Monitoring Student Understanding

Due to the open-ended nature of this investigation, students’ responses will vary
significantly. For this reason, no answer sheet has been provided. Teachers must
therefore check that each student has completed the investigation according to the task
requirements.

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 n a nc i a l
Fi n g
Pl a n n i
e i s u r e L a n d !
A Day at L

For your birthday, your grandparents have

surprised you with a visit to Leisure Land, a local Create a comprehensive
amusement park. To make the day even more spending plan and simple
wonderful, your grandparents are giving you $100 timetable for your day at
to spend throughout the day on rides, Leisure Land.
entertainment, food, drink and souvenirs.
Follow the conditions that
Before the big day arrives, you must do some your grandparents have
important planning. You do not want to run out of set, which are outlined
money or time during your day at Leisure Land! below.
Your grandparents would like you to decide in
advance which rides and entertainment you would
like to experience, as well as which food, drink and
souvenirs you would like to purchase.
You have been asked to show your grandparents a
spending plan and a simple timetable for your day
at Leisure Land. The spending plan will ensure you
do not run out of money. The timetable will ensure
that you fit in everything that you would like to do!

Your grandparents have set the following list of conditions for

your day at Leisure Land.
• You will be spending five hours at Leisure Land –
from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm.
• You must have a break during the day for both morning
tea and lunch.
• You must attend at least one event under the Big Top.
• You must buy a souvenir to take home to your younger
brother, as he is very upset that he is not coming to
Leisure Land with you!
 1. Check your understanding of the task
Carefully read through the task and the list of conditions. If there are any
instructions that you do not understand, ask your teacher to explain them to you.
2. Read through the price lists
Browse through the price list of rides, entertainment, food, drink and souvenirs on
offer at Leisure Land. Think about which of these you might like to experience or
purchase.
3. Brainstorm some ideas for the day
Record some ideas about the day on the template provided. Keep in mind how much
things cost, as well as how long they will take, when completing your brainstorm.
4. Create your spending plan
Choose which rides and entertainment you would like to experience, as well as which
food, drink and souvenirs you would like to purchase. List everything you have
chosen on the worksheets provided and use the price list to help you calculate the
total cost for the day.
5. Make adjustments if necessary
If your spending for the day exceeds $100, you will need to make adjustments to your
choices. Keep rechecking your totals until your costs are under $100.
6. Create your timetable for the day
Create a simple timetable for the day on the worksheet provided. Make sure you check
the times for the events under the Big Top, as well as the duration for each of the rides.
7. Submit your spending plan and timetable
Once your spending plan and timetable is
completed, submit it to your grandparents

The Materials (your teacher)!

• Leisure Land Map

• Leisure Land Price Lists
• Worksheets
 Ride and Entertainment Price List

Name of Ride Price Duration of Ride Opening Times

Paddle Boats $6.50 15 minutes 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Go Karts $8.00 15 minutes 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Ferris Wheel $5.50 10 minutes All day

Pirate Ship $5.00 5 minutes All day

Carousel $3.50 5 minutes All day

Roller Coaster $6.00 5 minutes All day

Name of Event Price Duration of Event Event Time

Art and Craft

$5.00 1 hour 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Workshop

Mystery Mike’s
$10.00 30 minutes 11:30 am - 12:00 pm
Magic Spectacular

DJ Dizzy’s
$7.00 30 minutes 12:30 pm - 1:00 pm
Lunchtime Disco

Archie’s Amazing
$8.50 30 minutes 1:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Animals Show
 Food, Drinks and Souvenirs Price List

Snacks Price Lunch Items Price

Toffee apples $4.00 Hot dogs $4.50

Ice cream cones $4.00 Hot chips $4.50

Fairy floss $3.50 Cheeseburger $7.00

Popcorn $3.50 Sandwich $5.50

Drinks Price

Milkshake $5.00

Soda $3.50

Juice $3.50

Water $3.50

Souvenirs Price

Balloons $1.50

Show bags $15.00

Leisure Land shirt $18.00

Toy pirate ship $8.50

Financial Planning Investigation - Worksheet

Name Date

Brainstorming Template

Rides I might like to go on Events I might like to attend

Food and drink I Souvenirs I might

might like to purchase like to purchase

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Financial Planning Investigation - Worksheet

Name Date

Spending Plan (Rides and Entertainment)

Name of Ride Price Number of Turns Working Out Total Amount

e.g. Ferris Wheel $4.50 2 $4.50 x 2 = $9.00

RIDES AND ENTERTAINMENT TOTAL:

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Financial Planning Investigation - Worksheet

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A Day at Leisure Land – Spending Plan (Food, Drink and Souvenirs)

Name of Item Price Quantity Working Out Total Amount

e.g. sandwich $5.00 1 $5.00 x 1 = $5.00

FOOD, DRINK AND SOUVENIRS TOTAL:

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Financial Planning Investigation - Worksheet

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Calculations and Checklist

Rides and Entertainment Total = _______________

Food, Drink and Souvenirs Total = _______________

GRAND TOTAL = _______________

Allowance Amount = $100.00

Grand Total = _______________

MONEY LEFTOVER = _______________

The total amount I will spend during my day at Leisure Land is:

_______________________________

Out of the $100 given to me by my grandparents, I will have__________ left over.

► I have planned what I am going to buy for morning tea.

► I have planned what I am going to buy for lunch, including a drink.

► I have planned which souvenir I am going to buy for my younger brother.

► I have planned which rides I am going to go on.

► I have planned which events I would like to attend under the Big Top.

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Financial Planning Investigation - Worksheet

Name Date

Timetable

In the table below, plan what you are going to do during each half hour
period (30 minutes) while you are at Leisure Land. Don’t forget to include the
following:
• rides (remember, you may have decided to go on certain rides more than once)
• events under the Big Top
• breaks for morning tea and lunch
• souvenir shopping.
You don’t have to account for every minute … you might need some time to sit
and rest, too!

Time period What I plan to do

e.g. 9:00 am – 9:30 am Arrive at Leisure Land

Ride on the Ferris Wheel (10 mins)
Ride on the Pirate Ship (5 mins)
Ride on the Carousel (5mins)

9:00 am – 9:30 am

9:30 am – 10:00 am

10:00 am – 10:30 am

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Financial Planning Investigation - Worksheet

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Timetable (continued)
10:30 am – 11:00 am

11:00 am – 11:30 am

11:30 am – 12:00 pm

12:00 pm – 12:30 pm

12:30 pm – 1:00 pm

1:00 pm – 1:30 pm

1:30 pm – 2:00 pm

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Financial Planning Investigation - Worksheet

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Expect the Unexpected – Challenge Questions

Things don’t always go to plan… even at Leisure Land!

Choose one of the scenarios from the list below. How might one of these
situations change your plans for the day?
In the box below, explain the changes that you would need to make to your
spending plan and timetable. Show your working.

Unexpected Scenarios

• The Ferris Wheel is closed for repairs.

• Mystery Mike has taken the day off because he is sick.
• Leisure Land is taking $1.00 off the price of every ride.
• The freezer is broken, so all the ice creams have melted.
• Show bags have been so popular that they are all sold out.

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Financial Planning Investigation - Worksheet

Name Date

Reflection
1. Did you enjoy working on this investigation? Give reasons to explain
your answer.
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2. Did you face any challenges during the investigation? If so, how did you
overcome them?
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3. How do you feel about your plan for the day? Is there anything you
would change?
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4. What new knowledge and skills did you learn by completing

this investigation?
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5. Circle the statement that best suits how you feel about creating a
spending plan.
a) I feel very confident creating a spending plan.
b) My understanding of spending plans is improving.
c) I still need some help when working with spending plans.

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