Learning Sequence
Financial Fundamentals: Buying a House – Which Home Loan Is Best?
Introduction with Gavin
This activity introduces students to real estate investment through the scenario of Mrs. Aisha Patel, a successful entrepreneur. It focuses on applying math skills in money management, forecasting, and calculating percentages.
Teachers will guide students in analysing Aisha's financial situation, exploring investment options, and evaluating their potential using mathematical forecasting. The goal is to develop students' financial literacy and critical thinking skills by making informed, ethical investment decisions based on real-world financial data.
Join us in guiding Mrs. Aisha Patel, an entrepreneur with dreams of becoming a real estate mogul, through the world of property investment. Aisha, 40, owns a successful chain of boutique coffee shops and earns $150,000 a year. She's ready to invest her $200,000 savings in real estate but is unsure where to start.
Your task: Analyse different properties and investment strategies, considering market trends and potential for long-term growth. This exercise isn't just about numbers; it's about making ethical investment choices that align with Aisha's values and community impact.
In your groups, you'll explore various aspects of real estate investing. At the week's end, we'll discuss your findings and strategies, providing Aisha with a well-rounded investment plan.
Let's help Mrs. Patel navigate her real estate journey, learning valuable skills along the way!
Quote of the week - Leonhard Euler
This weekly segment introduces students to influential mathematicians, encouraging contemplation of their contributions and the profound impact of mathematics on society. The activity of reflecting on and displaying their quotes aims to deepen students' comprehension and appreciation of mathematical thought and its real-world relevance.
Ask the children to discuss the meaning in pairs or in groups and then discuss what all of the opinions of the class are.
Each week, we will inspire you with a quote from a famous mathematician. Mathematicians are not just individuals who work with numbers and perform calculations; they are pioneers who have helped shape our modern world and the society we live in.
Every week, we'll explore a different mathematician and learn about their contributions to the world as we know it. Read the words carefully and reflect on what the mathematician meant when they shared these famous words. You may even want to print this quote and place it on the wall in your classroom. There are 10 to collect.
‘Mathematics is literally everywhere you look!’
Weekly Keywords
Introduce the spelling word list and choose from this list of tasks that can be repeated and expanded upon if necessary.
Copy the words into a spelling list/Vocabulary book for later reference.
Put each of the new words into a sentence and underline the new vocabulary in red pencil
Place the words in alphabetical order in a list.
Use a dictionary to define each of the words and place them into a vocabulary book.
Try to represent each of the words using a picture or a symbol and play the guessing game. (which image is matched to which word)
Write a paragraph containing all of the new vocabulary.
Make a vocabulary wall containing all of the new words.
Use a thesaurus to find synonyms for the words and create a synonym list.
These words will help you during this week’s lesson. You may already know some of these words however practice makes perfect!
First, read the words and then try to define them as simply as possible. Work with a partner or in a group to decide what each of these terms means.
An example has been completed for you. You can write these into your books, and draw a picture to match or simply complete the task card.
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The Situation - Investing in Tomorrow
In this lesson, students immerse themselves in the context of Naomi Clarke's investment journey. They will meticulously examine and identify key details about her financial status and investment goals. The focus is on sharpening their ability to extract essential data, interpret it, and engage in group discussions about various investment strategies.
This is more than just a math task; it's a real-world exercise in decision-making where students need to weigh numerous aspects, such as market trends, ethical considerations, and long-term growth potential. Following their analysis, they will benefit from insights into diverse investment approaches, offering them a comprehensive view of Naomi's situation. This activity is designed to enhance critical thinking, financial acumen, proficiency in digital tools, and teamwork.
Step into the world of Ms.Naomi Clarke, a tech enthusiast looking to invest for the future. Delve into the story and collaborate with your peers to guide Naomi through the intricate maze of investments. Remember, investing isn't just about immediate gains; it's about long-term vision and understanding market dynamics. Once discussions are complete, we'll regroup to exchange insights.
Read all of the information on the task card opposite and make some notes. Then after doing some analysis and discussing, we'll take a look at one example to see what the future holds if she invests in GOGO bank.
Finding The Facts
This lesson teaches students to identify key information in word problems, focusing on a scenario where they evaluate mortgage options for a character. It enhances their ability to extract essential data from a narrative and apply mathematical calculations, crucial for practical problem-solving and understanding real-life financial decisions.
Before you start making a decision about which choice to make in this week's scenario, it's crucial to have all the facts at hand.
Sometimes, the key numbers and information can be hidden within the story's text.
Work together to complete the accompanying sheet by carefully reading the questions and calculating the amounts for each. These numbers will certainly assist you in making a decision in the next part of the learning sequence.
Your Weekly Example – Buying the Suburban House
Each week, your class will focus on a new subject and a fresh financial scenario. But before they tackle the challenge, we’ll walk through an example together to help you understand how to calculate which option may be best.
Read the information provided, make sure the children understand how the calculations were made, and then encourage them to use the same strategies to work out the problem for themselves.
Take a look at our example where we’ve calculated what it might look like for Aisha if she were to buy the suburban house.
Once you’ve understood our calculations, it’s time for you to use the same formula to work out the other two options and decide which one might be the best choice for Aisha to invest in.
Remember, even though some of the options may promise a higher return, they might not be as popular all year round.
Make Up Your Mind - Rubric and Discussion
During this lesson, children will learn decision-making through a rubric, scoring factors on a scale of 1-5. They'll evaluate different aspects, including ethics, to understand the balance between numerical analysis and moral considerations.
This exercise aims to develop their ability to make informed choices, considering both tangible data and ethical implications, thus enhancing their critical thinking and ethical reasoning skills in a practical, engaging way.
In order to make a decision, you will need to look at all the factors and decide. Although numbers can tell us some of the things that help us make big decisions like this, there are always many other things to consider.
Take a look at the rubric opposite and answer the questions for each of the banks, ranking them from good to bad using scores of 1-5.
Total the scores at the bottom of the rubric, but before you make up your mind, consider the ethical and community implications of the decision you make
Real World Learning - Sell a House to Your Class
In this activity, students pair up to create a real estate magazine page, promoting a house for sale. They must include price, photos, and enticing details, focusing on creativity in graphic design and persuasive writing.
This task encourages the use of persuasive devices to attract potential buyers. It's a dynamic way to integrate art, marketing, and language skills, fostering students' creativity and understanding of effective communication and design principles in a real-world context.
This week, we're diving into a fun and creative activity where you'll work in pairs to craft a page for a real estate magazine. Your task is to design a page that persuasively advertises a house for sale. Here are the features your design must include:
Price of the House: Clearly list the selling price.
Photos: Include attractive photos of the house – think about what rooms or features to showcase.
House Details: Write a brief description of the house. This should include the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, size, and any special features like a garden or a pool.
Location Benefits: Highlight the benefits of the house's location, like nearby schools, parks, or shopping areas.Contact Information: Add a section for potential buyers to contact the seller.
Unique Selling Point: Think about what makes this house special. Is it the design, the history, the neighborhood?
Make sure to emphasise this in your ad.
After completing your pages, we'll display them in the classroom. Everyone will vote on which house they would like to buy and explain their reasons.
At the end of the lesson, we'll discuss what made certain houses more appealing. Was it the way they were presented, the price, or the features? This is a great opportunity to understand the art of persuasion and the factors that influence people's decisions in real estate. Plus, it's a chance to work on your teamwork, creativity, and presentation skills!
Guided Writing - Writing A Persuasive Text
In this activity, students will write a persuasive letter to their parents, convincing them to take them to one of their favourite places — such as the zoo, a forest, or a waterfall. Using the structure and techniques from a previous example, they’ll practise presenting strong arguments, emotional appeal, and clear reasoning. This task builds persuasive writing skills in a real-world context and encourages students to express their passions in a creative and meaningful way.
Now that you’ve had a go at the power of persuasion, it’s time to put your skills into action in a fun and meaningful way! This time, you’ll be writing a persuasive letter to your parents.
Your goal? Convince them to take you to one of your favourite places in the world! It might be the zoo, a peaceful forest, a hike in the mountains, a splash in a waterfall, or any place you absolutely love.
Think carefully about why they should take you there. What makes this place so special? How will it make you feel? What will you learn or experience? Use all the persuasive tools we’ve talked about — strong reasons, emotional language, and a clear structure — to make your case!
Once your letter is finished, you’ll have the chance to read it aloud and see if your words are powerful enough to make your parents say “yes!”
Let’s get writing and see just how persuasive you can be!
Weekly Inspiration - How Tall Can a Piece of Paper Be?
This week's culmination is a fascinating story that illustrates exponential growth, building on the students' understanding of percentages. Students will watch a video about the magical folding paper, revealing how something as small as a single sheet can grow to unimaginable heights through repeated doubling.
It’s a practical and engaging way to help students grasp the power of exponential growth and explore how this concept appears in real-life situations — from maths and science to savings and technology.
After exploring percentage growth this week, we’re going to finish our learning sequence with an amazing story that will truly bend your brain!
Listen to the video opposite and discover how something as simple as folding a piece of paper can grow into something bigger than the moon! This is the power of exponential growth — where numbers double and double again, getting HUGE in just a few steps.
As you listen to the Story of the Magical Folding Paper, think about how you could use this idea in your own life — in savings, in learning, or in changing the world one step at a time!
Your Quiz and Certificate
This quiz is a culminating activity that assesses students' understanding of property investment and mortgage selection. It reinforces key mathematical concepts and ethical decision-making. Scoring 80% or more unlocks a downloadable Upschool certificate, giving students a sense of achievement while providing evidence of curriculum-linked financial literacy learning.
Now that you have mastered the art of choosing a property and selecting the right mortgage, it’s time to take the quiz and earn your certificate from Upschool.
Click the button opposite, and once you score 80% or more, you’ll receive your Upschool certificate to celebrate your mathematical journey.