High School Grade
Project
4 weeks
Retail Quest: Math Magic and Customer Connection
1-pager
Purpose
The purpose of this project is to immerse high school students in a simulated retail environment where they can apply mathematical skills, such as addition and subtraction, in real-world scenarios while enhancing their social-emotional skills and customer service abilities. Through interactive experiences like designing a store, managing inventory, and engaging with community partners, students will gain practical insights into the retail industry. This project aims to foster collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking as students explore various roles and responsibilities within a business setting.
Learning goals
Students will develop practical math skills by applying addition and subtraction to real-world retail scenarios, enhancing their ability to manage budgets and pricing. They will cultivate social-emotional competencies and client service skills through role-playing exercises, focusing on effective communication, active listening, and problem-solving. By designing and operating a mock store, students will gain insights into business operations, fostering creativity and teamwork.
Standards
- Common Core - CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSN.Q.A.1: Use units as a way to understand problems and to guide the solution of multi-step problems; choose and interpret units consistently in formulas; choose and interpret the scale and the origin in graphs and data displays.
- Common Core - CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSA.CED.A.1: Create equations and inequalities in one variable and use them to solve problems. Include equations arising from linear and quadratic functions, and simple rational and exponential functions.
- Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.1: Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
Products
Students will create a comprehensive business plan for their mock store, including a detailed budget and pricing strategy. They will also produce a customer service guide that outlines essential manners and behaviors for client interactions. Additionally, students will develop a store layout design and a marketing plan featuring a logo and promotional materials. Throughout the project, they will compile a portfolio showcasing their role-playing exercises, math calculations, and reflections on their experiences.
Launch
Kick off the project with a dynamic 'Shop Talk' panel featuring local business owners who share their experiences and the role of math and customer service in their daily operations. Follow this with a 'Business Brainstorm' workshop where students collaboratively design their own store concept, applying math skills to plan budgets and pricing. Conclude the launch with a 'Retail Reality Day' where students set up a mock store, rotating roles between shop workers and customers to practice math, social-emotional skills, and client service in a real-world context.
Exhibition
Host a "Retail Showcase" event where students set up their mock stores, inviting family, friends, and community partners to experience their business concepts. Each student group presents their store's unique features, pricing strategies, and customer service approach, demonstrating the math and social-emotional skills they've developed. Include interactive activities, such as role-playing scenarios, where visitors can participate as customers, providing students with real-time feedback on their client service skills.
Plan
| Week 1 | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activities |
Kickoff Session: Introduce the project and discuss the essential questions. Facilitate a 'Shop Talk' panel with guest speakers from local businesses, allowing students to engage in a Q&A session.
|
Business Brainstorm Workshop: Students work in teams to brainstorm and design their store concept, focusing on creating a logo, deciding layout, and selecting product offerings. Encourage students to use math to draft initial budget plans.
|
Role-Play Practice: Conduct role-playing exercises where students practice customer interactions, emphasizing social-emotional skills, active listening, and polite communication.
|
Math Application Session: Introduce basic inventory management concepts, including addition and subtraction exercises related to pricing and budgeting for their store.
|
| Deliverables |
1. A draft store concept presentation including logo, layout, and product offerings.
2. Initial budget plan showcasing the use of math in pricing and budgeting. |
|||
| Preparation |
1. Arrange for guest speakers from local businesses for the 'Shop Talk' panel.
2. Prepare materials for the Business Brainstorm Workshop, including design templates for logos and store layouts. 3. Create role-playing scenarios and guidelines for practicing customer interactions. 4. Develop math exercises related to inventory management and budgeting concepts. |
|||
| Week 2 | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activities |
Store Layout Design: Students finalize their store layouts, considering customer flow, product placement, and space utilization. Encourage students to calculate dimensions and area using math skills.
|
Pricing Strategy Workshop: Facilitate a session where students develop pricing strategies for their product offerings, using addition and subtraction to calculate costs, profit margins, and discounts.
|
Role-Play Customer Service: Continue role-playing exercises with more complex customer service scenarios, emphasizing problem-solving and effective communication in challenging interactions.
|
Inventory Management Simulation: Conduct a simulation where students manage their store inventory, record sales, track stock levels, and calculate reorder quantities using subtraction.
|
| Deliverables |
1. Completed store layout design with accurate measurements and planned product placement.
2. Pricing strategy document that includes cost analysis, pricing for each product, and projected profit margins. |
|||
| Preparation |
1. Prepare materials for the store layout design, including graph paper, rulers, and calculators.
2. Develop a pricing strategy template to guide students in calculating costs and profits. 3. Create advanced role-playing scenarios for customer service exercises, incorporating diverse customer interactions. 4. Organize materials and tools for the inventory management simulation, including inventory sheets and tracking software. |
|||
| Week 3 | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activities |
Customer Service Role-Play: Students participate in role-playing exercises that simulate real-world customer service scenarios. They focus on resolving customer complaints, providing product recommendations, and handling challenging situations using effective communication and problem-solving skills.
|
Marketing Materials Development: Students create marketing materials for their store, including promotional flyers and social media posts. They apply their understanding of target audience and persuasive language to design materials that attract customers.
|
Budget and Financial Plan Review: Students review and refine their budgets and pricing strategies based on the sales data from the inventory management simulation. They apply addition and subtraction to calculate revenue, expenses, and profit margins, ensuring their financial plans are viable.
|
Community Partner Collaboration: Engage with community partners to provide feedback on students' store concepts and marketing materials. Students present their work and receive constructive feedback, allowing them to make improvements and gain insights into real-world business practices.
|
| Deliverables |
1. Completed set of marketing materials, including promotional flyers and social media content.
2. Revised budget and financial plan, reflecting adjustments based on simulation outcomes and feedback. |
|||
| Preparation |
1. Prepare role-playing scripts and scenarios for customer service exercises, incorporating common retail challenges.
2. Gather examples of effective marketing materials to inspire students' designs, including templates and graphic design tools. 3. Provide budget review guidelines and tools for students to analyze their financial data and make necessary adjustments. 4. Coordinate with community partners to schedule feedback sessions and prepare students for presenting their work. |
|||
| Week 4 | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activities |
Final Role-Play and Feedback: Students perform final role-playing scenarios where they demonstrate their customer service skills in a variety of interactions. Peers and teachers provide constructive feedback, focusing on communication effectiveness and problem resolution strategies.
|
Business Plan Presentation: Students present their comprehensive business plans to the class and invited community partners. This includes showcasing their store concept, marketing strategies, and financial plans, highlighting the application of math and customer service skills.
|
Reflective Journaling: Each student completes a reflective journal entry, summarizing their learning experiences throughout the project. They focus on the skills they developed, challenges they overcame, and insights gained about the retail industry.
|
Student Retail Expo: Host a 'Student Retail Expo' where students set up their mock stores for classmates, teachers, and community members to visit. Students engage with visitors, answering questions about their store concept and demonstrating their customer service skills.
|
| Deliverables |
1. Finalized role-play performance demonstrating customer service proficiency.
2. Comprehensive business plan presentation, including store concept, marketing strategies, and financial analysis. 3. Reflective journal entry summarizing personal learning and growth throughout the project. |
|||
| Preparation |
1. Prepare feedback forms for peer and teacher assessments of role-playing performances.
2. Arrange logistics for the 'Student Retail Expo,' including space setup and invitations for community members. 3. Provide guidelines for the reflective journaling activity, encouraging students to connect their experiences to the project's learning goals. 4. Coordinate with community partners to attend the business plan presentations and provide feedback. |
|||