Grade: Middle
Subject: Mathematics

#4007. Clipping Coupons

Mathematics, level: Middle
Posted Sun Jun 3 22:45:34 PDT 2007 by Daryl Everett (daryl.everett@unf.edu).
UNF, Jacksonville, Fl USA
Materials Required: Worksheets, "shopping list", coupons
Activity Time: at least 15 minutes
Concepts Taught: Addition and Subtraction of Decimals

Clipping Coupons
Math Content: Addition and subtraction of decimals.
Grade Level: Seventh
Objective: When given teacher produced shopping lists, coupons, and worksheets, the seventh grade student will construct, with a group, a total of four real-world addition and subtraction problems involving decimals and solve, individually, at least three out of four of these correctly.
Florida Sunshine State Standards: Mathematics: Strand One: Number Sense, Concepts, and Operations, Standard Three, Benchmark Three (MA.A.3.3.3): "The student understands the effects of operations on numbers and the relationships among these operations, selects appropriate operations, and computes for problem solving. . .adds, subtracts, multiplies, and divides whole numbers, decimals, and fractions, including mixed numbers, to solve real-world problems, using appropriate methods of computing, such as mental mathematics, paper and pencil, and calculator."
Materials: Worksheets (12), "shopping list" (teacher generated list of items to choose from with prices for each), coupons (only dollar amount discounts) for items in sales flyers, four calculators (for checking work and accommodation), extra pencils.
Instructional method
Introduction (2 minutes)
1. Students will enter the room and sit at a table in the "group corner".
2. Teacher asks "How many of you have gone to the grocery store, asked for your favorite snack and Mom or Dad said that it cost too much? Maybe if it was a little cheaper or if you had your own money you could buy it, right? Today we will learn to figure up how much things cost and maybe use coupons to make them a little less expensive."
3. Each student is now provided with a) "shopping list", b) a few coupons, c) two worksheets, d) a pencil, e) a calculator for checking work (K.C. is allowed to use the calculator for computation).
Activity (10 minutes)
4. Teacher explains that adding and subtracting money is just adding and subtracting decimals with a cute sign in front.
5. Teacher calls on a student to read one coupon. After the student reads the discount portion of the coupon, the teacher explains that when we use coupons they make the price of the item less; that means we subtract the coupon amount from the price of the items.
6. Student finds and announces the price listed on the list for the item that the coupon will be applied to. Teacher reminds the students of the number of items that must be purchased to use the coupon.
7. Price of the item is written on the board, students are directed to copy the information onto their worksheets. If multiple items must be purchased the prices are written twice and summed the process is repeated if three items are required.
8. Now the teacher reminds the students that we have a coupon and it will make the items cheaper. The amount of the discount is written on the board and subtracted from the sum of the items. This is the total cost of the items.
9. Students are now directed to select three more items from their coupons and complete the procedure. Group work during selection of items is acceptable.
10. Teacher will maintain close proximity to ensure the students are not having any problems.
Wrap-up (Three Minutes)
11. Teacher will ask each student to provide one example. Any questions will be discussed and clarification provided.
12. Teacher completes, on the board, a four-part computation using coupons and items as an example that the work is the same but one more price is added.
13. Teacher passes out two additional worksheets to be used for homework, explains that the homework will be the same as the activity just completed but they must use different items and instructs the students to place the shopping lists, coupons and homework in their take-home folders.
14. The students will receive verbal praise as well as an improved grade for correct answers. For completing homework the students will receive verbal praise as well as earning points toward a one-day homework pass.
Application to Real Life: Students will learn ways to assist in the grocery shopping tasks of the household. They will also develop skills which will enable them to compute the cost of snacks or other special items which they wish to purchase from the grocer. This will be achieved through hands-on experience with the use of coupons.
Adaptations:
• The lesson can be adapted for by allowing the use of calculators if the idea that the prices are added and subtracted is the only concept that is being emphasized.
• Prices and discounts could be pre-determined and filled-in on worksheets.

Multicultural considerations:
• In some cultures it may not be acceptable for children to request items while shopping. This is an issue that must be kept in the mind of the teacher while teaching in order to detour any conversation which might offend a student who is not permitted to make requests while in the store.
• Some students may come from homes where coupons have never been used. In this case it would be necessary to briefly expand upon the definition of a coupon.
Gradebook
Students will be assessed on the ability to correctly compute two- and three-step addition and subtraction equations using decimals. Mastery will be attained when the student can correctly complete three out of four equations.
• K. H. _____3/4____
• J. L.____4/4______
• D. P. _____4/4_____
Reflection
I taught this lesson and didn't quite have the entire fifteen minutes that was planned. . .as is normal in a classroom. The other bump that we ran into was that the coupons did not need two items to be purchased in order to be used. The worksheet is designed for two items to be purchased, so next time I need to ensure that most, if not all, of the coupons require multiple items. The concept of the plan worked really well, even though there were a few obstacles to overcome.


Worksheet and homework assignment

Clipping Coupons

Name:¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬_____________________________________
Please fill in these problems using prices and discounts from store flyers and coupons. Add or subtract to find each answer.


Item name: ____________
$ . (Item price)
+ $ . (Item price)
$ . (Price before coupon)

$ . (Price before coupon)
- $ . (Coupon amount)
$ . (Final price)


Item name: ____________
$ . (Item price)
+ $ . (Item price)
$ . (Price before coupon)

$ . (Price before coupon)
- $ . (Coupon amount)
$ . (Final price)




Resources

Albertsons.com. Accessed May 23, 2007 from http://www.albertsons.com/defaultSSL.asp?zip=0
CouponBug.com. Accessed May 23, 2007 from http://www.couponbug.com/gmsa/Offers.asp?lgn=71019440&Uid=54296572&SGN=1001&PID=11366&ZID=wp69&NID=15
Florida Times Union. Inserts. May 20, 2007.
Florida Department of Education. (1996) Sunshine State Standards. Retrieved May 22, 2007, from http://www.firn.edu/doe/curric/prek12/pdf/math6.pdf
Netgrocer.com. Accessed May 23, 2007 http:www.shop.netgrocer.com
Personal conversations with Karin Hunt. May 20-23, 2007
Robbins, Deyce. (July 25, 2002) Lesson Plans: Shopping for Sales (Middle, Mathematics). Retrieved May 22, 2007, from http://teachers.net/lessons/posts/2631.html