Birthday Party Shopping Spree

What is your dream birthday party? What is your favorite store to shop for decorations at? How does shopping relate to math? Let's use math to plan and create the best birthday party!

This activity will enhance your knowledge of fraction and percentages and how they relate to shopping with sales and coupons. This assignment will be completed this week and is due this upcoming Monday.

This WebQuest will meet the 6th grade standard 6.1.3.4. to solve real-world and mathematical problems requiring arithmetic with decimals, fractions, and mixed numbers. 

You are inviting 9 friends over and will need enough decorations, items, and food for 10 people. You will need to purchase balloons, a cake, gift bag goodies, and a pizza. You will visit different stores online to compare prices.

You do not have a budget you need to work with. It is up to you to spend more money for decorations and food or have leftover money to use on yourself. Your goal is to either choose the best and most expensive items to have the coolest birthday party of the year, or save money so you are able to buy yourself a present or toy. Make sure to download the form (included in process tab), print it off, fill it out, and bring it to class next week on Monday.

You are going to download the Discount Tracker worksheet, print it off, and fill it out.

Additional resources you may need while completing the Discount Tracker:

• Converting percents to fractions and decimals; Khan Academy
• Converting between percents, fractions, and decimals; Khan Academy
• How to calculate a discount; WikiHow
• Convert fractions to percents; Math is Fun
• Convert percents to fractions; Math is Fun

1. Balloon Sales

• At Party City you get 15% off a ten pack of balloons.
• At Amazon you get a 1/6 discount off a pack of balloons.
• At Target you get 5% off a ten pack of balloons.
• At Crafts Direct you get ½ off a ten pack of balloons.

2. Sheet Cake Sales

• At Coborn’s you get 7% off a 10 an 8x12 sheet cake.
• At Target you get a 1/5 off a 10 an 8x12 sheet cake.
• At Sam's Club you get 12% off an 8x12 sheet cake.
• At Cold Spring Bakery you get a ½ off an 8x12 sheet cake.

3. Goodie Bag Combo Sales (bags, toys, and candy)

• At the Dollar Tree you get 5% off your total purchase cost. Link 1 (gift bags). Link 2 (toy pack). Link 3 (candy).
• At Walmart you get 1/4 off your total purchase cost. Link 1 (gift bags). Link 2 (toy pack). Link 3 (candy).
• At Party City you get 30% off your total purchase cost. Link 1 (gift bags). Link 2 (toy pack). Link 3 (candy).
• At Target you get 1/3 off your total purchase cost. Link 1 (gift bags). Link 2 (toy pack). Link 3 (candy).

4. Pizza Sales

• At Domino's you get 5% off 2 large pizzas.
• At Pizza Hut you get 1/8 off 2 large pizzas.
• At Gary’s you get 10% off 2 large pizzas.
• At Papa John’s you get 1/4 off 2 large pizzas.

To reflect on this activity, you will answer the following questions (2 sentences minimum):

1. How does shopping relate to math?

2. What did you learn about fractions and percentages from this activity?

3. Why is it important to learn about sales while shopping?

In class on Monday, you will turn in the following materials:

- Fill out your completed Discount Tracker

- Reflection question answers (on separate sheet)

Congratulations! You have successfully shopped for your birthday party. Your friends will love it--have fun! :)