As I sit here getting ready for my kiddos to do testing I know that this year I need to step up my game. This year I have a 6/7 and I’ve just been told my 7’s are expected to stay in the room while I’m doing testing. I know this means that I need an independent project for them, and I need it to be one they will engage with. That’s when I think of an old game I used to play as a kid. Lemonade Stand!
Lemonade stand allows kids to run a ‘virtual’ lemonade stand via a game. Every day they need to purchase more lemons, or ice, cups, or sugar. The game offers them the choices of different unit rates for each item and often the unit rates change throughout the game. I looked it up online and sure enough, it’s still available (link above). I will start with a disclaimer that often it is slower to load, however, it works and my kids loved it!
Here is how I ran it for them. I showed them the game and then told them that I was going to have them play an online game today for math (you should have heard the cheers). Then I told them they would be responsible to do the unit rate on each of the items. As I was explaining this I was showing them where they could find the unit rate. I had an example of unit rate ready to go so that I could review it with them. I had taken pictures of eggs and prices from the grocery store. However, truly you could use anything including one of my unit rate questions from my spiral math in my store.
I told them they needed to play at least 3 7-day games. They were to record at least 3 unit rate calculations for every item. So for example, I should see calculations for sugar three different times for three different days (comparing all 3 unit rates the game offers). On day one students are presented with 3 options for purchasing sugar and they had to calculate every single one. Below is an example of one student’s work. I also had them reflect on their success in the game and how they felt that they did. I asked them to think about what factors influenced their success and write a full and detailed paragraph. This was an easy success while my other students were writing the test and was one that I would definitely do again!
