Students use percentages to solve realistic money problems so they can make informed choices about buying, selling, and budgeting in everyday life. Through the Savings Spotlight Start-Up, teams begin by calculating final prices from purchase cards, then build a market math display board or digital comparison poster that shows discounts, tax, tip, markups, percent increase and decrease, and percent error across several scenarios. The work prepares them to explain and defend their conclusions during the Price Change Parade, using feedback from peers, teachers, and families to revise calculations, labels, and money decision statements. Across the week, students strengthen proportional reasoning, strategic tool use, communication, collaboration, and reflection through short daily check-ins and final self-assessment.

Students will calculate percent increase and decrease, discounts, sales tax, tips, markups, and percent error in real purchase and selling scenarios, using ratios, unit rates, estimation, and multi-step reasoning to check whether answers make sense. They will compare several money situations and explain which option is the best value using clear mathematical evidence in a market math display board, poster, or digital slide set. Students will use tools strategically, look for patterns in how percentages change cost and profit, and revise their work after peer and teacher feedback. They will also strengthen collaboration and communication by sharing decisions, giving feedback during the gallery walk, and reflecting daily on the math and social skills they used.

Students create quick calculation cards and annotated receipts during the Savings Spotlight Start-Up, then revise their first price problem after a brief teacher check-in. Throughout the project, teams build a market math display board or digital slide set with price tags, sale signs, markup examples, tax and tip receipts, percent error comparisons, and short written conclusions about the best value. Before the Price Change Parade, they use sticky-note gallery walk feedback and a self-check checklist to revise calculations, labels, visual organization, and money decision statements. The final product is a comparison poster or digital presentation that shows several real purchase scenarios with percent increase and decrease, discounts, tax, tip, markup, percent error, and clear smart money conclusions for visitors.

Set up a Savings Spotlight Start-Up with everyday purchase cards showing original prices, sale discounts, tax, and tip situations from places students know, such as a restaurant, clothing store, or game shop. In teams, students calculate final prices, compare which deal is the best value, and explain their thinking with quick whiteboard work or sticky-note justifications. Pause for a fast teacher check-in on each team’s first calculation so they can revise any errors before moving on. Close with a short discussion around how percentages shape real money decisions when buying, selling, and budgeting, and introduce the challenge of creating a market math display board and comparison poster or slide for the Price Change Parade.

Turn the room into a Price Change Parade where teams display their market math boards or digital slides with price tags, sale signs, receipts, and step-by-step percent calculations for discounts, tax, tip, markup, percent increase/decrease, and percent error. Invite classmates, teachers, and families to rotate through the displays while students act as guides, explain their smartest money choice in each scenario, and answer visitor questions about best value and final cost. Build in a gallery walk first with sticky-note feedback so teams can revise labels, calculations, and conclusions before the final showcase, then use reflection cards during the exhibition for visitors to name one strong money decision and one collaboration skill they noticed. End with a short self-check against a success checklist so each team makes final edits before presenting.