Students in Mrs. Munsterman’s class recently finished their economics unit. Throughout the unit, students created an economics booklet and discussed terms such as producers and consumers, goods and services, etc. Students then had an opportunity to create their own business. Students partnered up to create a business. They had to come up with a business name, idea, and a logo or slogan. Each business also had to come up with a list of 10 goods and services to sell, along with a price list. Students created their storefronts on a Google Slide to show off their business on selling day. One day, half of the businesses (producers) worked to sell their goods and services, while the other half received $100 to spend as consumers. At the end of the selling day, businesses had to add their money they received that day, subtract their starting money, and subtract their expenses to see if they made a profit or had a loss. Consumers had to add all of their purchased items and any leftover cash to see if that totaled their starting amount of $100. Students were very creative in their store names and storefronts. Businesses included jewelry stores, sporting goods, coffee shops, pet shops, burger joints, etc.
Also in Mrs. Munsterman’s classroom, students have been studying addition and subtraction of fractions and addition and subtraction of mixed numbers. After completing the Topic 9 Review, students participated in a Fractions Breakout. The theme was “Mad Mathematician: Fraction Breakout.” Students were given this message to start the Breakout…
“My name is Marvelous Matt, the Mad Mathematician. I have trapped your entire class in this classroom. In order to escape, you must use your skills with fractions to convince me to let you go. Solve the problems and ciphers to open the locks on the box. Once all the locks are off the box, open the box to retrieve the exit code. You must hurry and escape before you remain trapped in math class forever!”
Marvelous Matt created puzzles around his favorite TV shows: Survivor, Homestead Rescue, Beast Games, and Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking. Each group was given puzzles based on the individual shows, and each group had an elected team leader.
Students had to apply their knowledge of addition and subtraction of fractions and mixed numbers. They also had to solve Morse Code, a Pig Pen Cipher, riddles, an A1Z26 Cipher, and an Atbash Cipher. Students had to work collaboratively and think critically to solve the puzzles and get the locks off the box. Students were successful, breaking out with 1:51 seconds left!