Cyber Shopping

Component: The student learns how to convert money.

Objectives: The student will be able to calculate the rate of exchange between the American dollar and the Irish pound or country of their choice and use the Internet to collect and organize data.

Materials: Computers with Internet access, Shannon Airport, Ask Jeeves, currency rate of exchange card at The Currency Converter

Procedures: 
1) Introduction. Explain that students will be "shopping" at
the duty free store at Shannon International Airport.

2) Each student is "given" five hundred United States dollars and can then spend it at the store.
               
3) Using the rate of exchange card, the student will figure how much each item costs. The purchases are not to exceed five hundred dollars.

Evaluation: Place price tags on various items in the classroom and convert the dollars to that of the chosen country. Assignment will be evaluated on correct currency conversion.

Homework: Using a newspaper advertising section compare the prices of goods in the chosen country with those of local stores, if you visit the Real Cities web site, and click on Real Cities sites, you can view the newspapers of many US cities.

Extension Activity: Write a press release or ad about your selected country

• Explain to students what a press release is: it tells people about you and your group; it can also give information about an upcoming event
• Break students into small groups of three- four and have them brainstorm a title for their press release
  Top of paper: PRESS RELEASE
  Under: title of press release
• Students then create a headline. The headline should summarize the issue or announce the event
• Students then enter text. They should include the following: name of event, date, location and purpose. They can also add background information. Include a fictional name and address for further information
• For the ad, students can write about a particular product of their selected country and include its name, price, picture of product and text that will "sell" the product
• For the above activities, students should use a desktop publishing program to type text; change font, style, color and size; use indentation and centering; and add graphics
• Students can use these student search engines: Yahooligans  and Kids Click! to collect information to use in assignment
• Proofread, spell check and publish

Field Trip: Visit a local newspaper to see how a newspaper is created.

Speaker: Invite a local newspaper reporter or photographer to class to talk about newspapers are published.