Teacher Name: Angela Lee
Subject Area: Math
Grade Level: 9-12
Project Title: Home Sweet Home: The Art of Buying a Home
Companion URL: http://teachersnetwork.org/teachnet-lab/mbhs/alee/home/index.html
Contact: aql9710@hotmail.com
Purpose:
The purpose of this project is to help students see the math involved in fulfilling one of the American Dreams: buying a home. Students will be exposed to math involved in buying and financing a home.
Standards Addressed:
- Basic math calculations.
- Applying math to real world situations.
Teacher Technology Skills:
Web research, web creation, learning Excel and formulas
Student Technology Skills
Web navigation, web research, Excel
Related Links:
- http://realtor.com/
(Search for homes)
- http://homes.com/ (Search for homes)
- http://geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/2012/quote.html (Search for quotes about
homes)
- http://easierhomeloans.com/level2/rmr.htm (Search for home loan rates)
- http://homeadvisor.msn.com/ie/ (Search for homes and loan
rates)
- http://www1.countrywide.com/rates/rates.asp (Search for loans)
Software Materials Used:
Internet Explorer, Excel
Outline Chronology:
Teacher:
- Look for relevant realtor sites on the Internet. Learn Excel and how the math and formulas work.
- Create guidelines and a rubric for the students. (See attached)
- Introduce several scenarios from which the students will pick and choose one or more to analyze.
- Discuss the difference
between wants and needs.
- Teach lessons on finances and the math involved in buying a house.
Student:
- Look up the web site containing the links to realties.
- Reflect and analyze what the basic housing needs are.
- Learn to prioritize those needs.
- Pick several homes that fit your needs. Then narrow down the choices first by other variables such as location.
- Eliminate the rest by cost. Explain the process.
- Use Excel to determine the cost and financing of your new home.
- Document every step of the process.
- Present your findings to the class.
Picture by Thomas Kincaid