Purpose
Students will collaboratively create a memorable prom plan that stays within a limited budget by calculating costs, analyzing options, and prioritizing needs over wants. Teams will practice leadership, communication, strategic tool use, and evidence-based decision-making while planning food, music, decorations, activities, and healthful dance practices. After each session, students will reflect, exchange gallery-walk feedback, and revise their budget boards and performance goals. They will present their strongest recommendations to eighth-grade students, the activities director, and the principal at a Prom Plan Preview Night.
Learning goals
Students will create and justify a prom budget by accurately estimating, adding, subtracting, analyzing prices, tracking expenses, and using appropriate tools to stay within a spending limit. They will prioritize needs and wants, evaluate trade-offs, and use peer feedback to revise plans that balance value, safety, nutrition, injury prevention, and a memorable experience. Students will collaborate responsibly with peers and school leaders, communicate decisions with evidence, resolve disagreements, and demonstrate dependable leadership and appropriate performance etiquette. They will set dance-performance goals, document practice and improvement, apply feedback, and reflect after each planning session on budgeting, teamwork, and smart spending choices.
Products
Teams will create an itemized prom budget tracker that records estimated and actual costs, needs versus wants, spending limits, and trade-offs. Each student will maintain a brief leadership and dance-preparation log documenting teamwork, performance goals, healthful practices, peer feedback, and revisions. Teams will produce a class prom budget board featuring their final choices for food, music, decorations, activities, and injury-prevention needs. They will present a revised, budget-friendly prom plan at Prom Plan Preview Night for 8th-grade students, the activities director, and the principal.
Launch
Kick off with a Prom Playlist and Planning Jam where teams preview sample music, food, decoration, and activity options while comparing realistic prices. The activities director or principal reveals the spending limit and challenges teams to create the most memorable prom without going over budget. Students estimate costs, sort needs from wants, assign leadership roles, and defend one early trade-off using evidence. Close by asking, “How can we make smart spending choices to create a memorable prom on a limited budget?”
Exhibition
Host a Prom Plan Preview Night for 8th-grade students, the activities director, and the principal. Teams present their budget boards, explain spending trade-offs, and showcase choices for food, music, decorations, activities, and healthful dance practices. Guests complete a gallery walk and give feedback on how well each plan balances value, needs, safety, and limited funds. Teams respond to questions, reflect on their collaboration and leadership, and highlight revisions made from peer feedback.
