Big Ideas:
Rational numbers can be used to describe real-world contexts and can be added and subtracted.
This lesson builds on students' previous work with positive and negative integers and understanding integers in context in sixth grade. The task asks students to add and subtract money decimals. Students are provided with the context of a student's use of a prepaid debit card over three months and asked to determine if they will have enough money to make a particular purchase. Students must read carefully and attend to precision. It is recommended they track each deposit and expense to find the balance after each transaction.
Vocabulary: prepaid, debit card, fee
Special Materials:
* OPTIONAL - record sheet with columns for deposits, expenditures, and balance.
Lesson plan