Business Planning Project, continued

Groups continued planning their businesses today in class. Please check in with your group and make sure that you are clear on the particular research, surveys, tables, graphs, writing, advertisement, or presentation you are contributing to the project.

Due Tuesday, November 3.

Business Planning Project, continued

Today small groups continued work on their Business Planning projects and went over a rubric that will be used for students to assess their own and their peers work, as well as for the teacher to assess their work. A copy is available to download here.

Those students not yet finished with their reflections in preparation for conferences completed that work.

A reminder: business planning projects (written business plans, advertisements, and presentations) must be finished and ready to go on Tuesday, November 3.

Business Planning Project, continued

On Wednesday small groups continued their business planning, and students who had not yet finished completing their conference reflection forms had time to work on them.

On Thursday, students chose two pieces of work, one reflecting a challenge in math, and one reflecting a strength in math, and they reflected on each piece of work. They also turned in their reflection forms and notebooks for a notebook check.

Homework due Monday, October 26 is to do research and create a table or graph for the business planning project.

Conference Reflection & Unit Test Corrections

Today we began preparation for Parent-Student-Teacher conferences next week. Students went through the work in their orange files and their math binders, and marked whether the work was complete, incomplete, or not there on the handout, downloadable here. They will have until next Wednesday, October 28 to finish up incomplete work. They also filled out a Reflection form to think about their strengths and challenges in math class so far this year, downloadable here.

Both reflection forms are due Thursday, October 22.

Students also received their marked Unit Tests. Please look at the problems marked with arrows on the Unit Test, and try again. You may use your notes, math book, and help from others. Please make your corrections in colored pencil! I will not accept corrections made in regular pencil, or erasing your work, because it is important to make your thinking before and after visible.

Corrections to the Unit Test are due tomorrow, Wednesday, October 21.

Business Planning Project

Here is your chance to walk step-by-step through the planning of a new business venture. Your final business plan must be typed and turned in on Tuesday, November 3. Your group must present the business plan to the class on that day.

Step 1: Naming the Business

Select a service that your business will provide.
Important questions to brainstorm with your group and record in your business plan:

1. What kind of service will your business provide? (It can be similar to the bicycle tour.)
2. What is the name of your business?
3. What are the important components necessary to start your business?
4. How valuable will your service seem to potential customers?

Step 2: Conducting the Research

Research the current trends in the industry.
Important questions to brainstorm with your group and record in your business plan:

1. Who is your competition?
2. How will your business be different from those that already exist?

Step 3: Predicting Costs/Expenses, Revenue and Profit

Research the costs involved to start your business. Record as many you can think of.

1. Pick one of the big costs involved and find 2 companies that you could purchase from. Make a table and graph comparing each company and write your conclusions about which one you would use and why (at least 1 paragraph). See Problem 2.1 on page 31 in your math textbook for help.

2. Make a prediction table and graph showing the total price per person and the number of customers that your business would attract. Then, multiply the total price by the number of customers to predict the total revenue. (See Problem 2.2 on page 32 for help). Record the best price to charge for the greatest revenue. Show this on the graph.

3. Make a table that shows the total revenue and expenses based on number of customers. You only need to pick two expenses to include in your table. Then, calculate profit based on these values. (See Problem 3.3 on page 54 for help).

Step 4: Putting it ALL Together

Your final business plan must be typed, double-spaced, in a standard, easy-to-read 12 point font. Your tables and graphs do not have to be typed, but they can be created in Microsoft Excel if you wish.

Include a title page with the names of each member in your group, the name of your business and the date. You must also include at least one advertisement that you would use to attract customers. This can be done on the computer or by hand. Neatness counts.

Each member of the group must take equal part in putting together this business plan. It is helpful to have roles for your meetings in class, such as facilitator, note-taker, time-keeper. It can also be helpful to assign roles for homework, such as researcher, calculator (making tables), or illustrator (making graphs and the ad).

You must prepare and give a 5 minute presentation (plus or minus 30 seconds) for the class on Tuesday, November 3. Each person must participate in the presentation. You should use Microsoft PowerPoint or hand drawn posters as visual aids. Again, neatness counts.

You may download a copy of the assignment here.

POW: Find the Number

Please complete the Problem of the Week, Find the Number, and show your thinking and write about how you solved the problem. You can download a copy of the handout here.

Due Monday, October 26.

No new homework

Today we took the Variables & Patterns Unit Test. Next week we will start work on a Business Plan project, but there is no new homework this weekend.

Do remember to complete the POW, Three Jugs, for Monday. Happy weekend!

Math Reflections 3 & Check Up Quiz 2 Corrections

Today we finished our investigation about writing equations, and discussed Mathematical Reflections 3, questions 1-3, on page 63. Please complete these if you did not finish in class.

In addition, please look at the problems marked with arrows on Check Up 2 Quiz, and try again. You may use your notes, math book, and help from others. Please make your corrections in colored pencil! I will not accept corrections made in regular pencil, or erasing your work, because it is important to make your thinking before and after visible.

Finally, please study for the Unit Test tomorrow. This will complete our work in Variables & Patterns!

All of this is due tomorrow, Thursday, October 15.

POW: Three Jugs

Please complete the Problem of the Week, Three Jugs, and show your thinking and write about how you solved the problem. You can download a copy of the handout here.

Due Monday, October 19.

ACE 3.3

Today we talked about the old Problems of the Week (Party Line and Balancing Act) and we worked on the final investigation in Variables & Patterns, Writing Equations.

For homework please choose one of the following options:

Option 1
13-20 on pages 57-58

Option 2
13, 16, 18-19, 38-42 on pages 57-60

Due tomorrow, Wednesday, October 14.

(Sorry that this was posted late; my internet was out at home.)

No homework!

Today we finished problem 3.2, two-step equations. No new homework.

Don't forget to finish the Party Line POW by Tuesday. Have a great long weekend!

ACE 3.2

Yesterday we worked with one-step equations, graphs, and tables, as well as how to write a rule for a relationship between variables. Today, we worked on two-step equations that used more than one operation.

For homework, please choose one of the options below to complete:

Option 1
Problems 5-9 and 12 on pages 56-57

Option 2
Problem 7-9, 12, 21, and 44-45 on pages 56-61

Due tomorrow, Thursday, October 7.

ACE 3.1

Today we discussed how to write equations and rules to describe the relationships between variables, using tables and graphs as well to look at those relationships.

Please choose one of the options to complete:

Option 1
Problems 1, 2, 3 on pages 55-56

Option 2
Problem 3, 4, 43 on pages 56 and 61

Due tomorrow, Wednesday, October 7.

POW: Party Line

Please complete the Problem of the Week, Party Line, and show your thinking and write about how you solved the problem. You can download a copy of the handout here.

Due Tuesday, October 13.

No other homework for today, since we took Check Up Quiz 2.

Math Reflections 2

Please complete Mathematical Reflections 2, questions 1-4, on page 48.

Prepare for the Check-Up quiz Monday.

Remember to finish your POW: Balancing Act, assigned last Monday.

Due Monday, October 5.