"So
Ashley, You Are Leaving Home"
A Middle School WebQuest
Overview|Introduction|Main Tasks|Process 1 2 2a 3|Resources|Evaluation|Conclusion|
You have passed the Year 12 exams.
Waaahoo!
In fact, you did well enough to win a spot in the University course of
your dreams. Therefore, you need to move to the University in the
closest capital city to your home in the country. You have never lived
away from home before and need to organize everything necessary to live in
the "big smoke". Congratulations! What an adventure!
Overview|Introduction|Main Tasks|Process 1 2 2a 3|Resources|Evaluation|Conclusion|
Overview|Introduction|Main Tasks|Process 1 2 2a 3|Resources|Evaluation|Conclusion|
The Main Task The Budget
* THIS ACTIVITY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE FULLY COMPLETED UNTIL ALL THE OTHER ACTIVITIES BELOW HAVE BEEN DONE.
Let's look at what you are going to need to budget for. Below are sites to look at. They have extensive budget lists. You might not need to budget for everything on these lists although you might have to budget for some things not on the lists.
Look at the lists and then
use EXCEL to make up your own list to suit your budget. You will also need to
make a graph in EXCEL to show where your money is going. Remember...you might
need to add or change things in your budget - this is the planning stage - be
flexible!
An
excellent planner - online from
Queensland University of Technology.
Here is a
budget planner with a lot of detail use it if it helps. It's a PDF.
Tips for budgeting are at
this site
A
budget planner at
dollarsandsense.com.au Very easy. Perhaps too easy.
Approximate cost of living tables for students
here
Includes tables for boarding and in rental market.
An
other budget guide sheet
here . A PDF
A
budget
planner with a list of what you need to consider
To get an idea of budgeting, complete these two Sims.
1/
http://www.omsi.edu/visit/featured/moneyville/activities.cfm#getreal
2/ This sim gives you an idea of how much money you will need
http://www.jumpstart.org/madmoney/pgv_money_rc_main.html
To make your budget, you need to pay for the following costs:-
Weekly
food
- groceries
rent
transport costs
Monthly
new laptop computer
broadband internet
entertainment
cell phone
Quarterly
electricity
and/or gas, water.
telephone - landline. You must have this for the internet.
Yearly
Student fees
Books,
stationary, photocopying
You need to be honest here. What would
you really do. You may want to eat at the
best restaurants or cook the most expensive foods you can buy. But that is
not how students live.
Part of this assignment is to find inventive ways to live and cut costs.
Overview|Introduction|Main
Tasks|Process 1
2 2a
3|Resources|Evaluation|Conclusion|
Your Parents [the darlings] have scraped together $50 for you each week and purchased a cheap car, to help with costs.
The money you get from the government and your parents, gives you $250.00 per week. Each student can at least guarantee this weekly amount of money.
Activity 1 - Expenses
1/ Using Inspiration, or another concept mapping program, create a concept map. The MAIN IDEA for the map will be titled "EXPENSES".' Brainstorm all the expenses you can think of that you believe you will need to budget for. You may want to add things that you especially need or want.
This map will become part of your presentation. Save it!
2/ You MUST buy a laptop and iPod [or similar]
In the Monthly Expenses, a Laptop Computer has been included. You knew this when you enrolled. It's just as well you have it budgeted for, because the University also requires you have an iPod for Podcasting. You need to add this as an unexpected expense.
You do not have the cash, so you need to find ways of paying for these ..... legally.
To check out some costs of your dream, go to Dream Generator and look for Movein / Moveout.
Overview|Introduction|Main
Tasks|Process 1
2 2a
3|Resources|Evaluation|Conclusion|
Groceries
"Food. Glorious Food". Go out and eat like a king? Err, no! .... STUDENT = POVERTY ..... remember? That means having to cook for yourself and a tight food budget.
Task.
1/ Show a menu for a week. You need lots of brain food, so 3 meals a day are required. And a liquid "brunch" does not count as 2 meals! ;-)
2/ Because you are eating meals off plates and drinking from cups, you need all the extras like dishwashing liquid, floor cleaner etc. They and toiletries you also need to buy. They need to be included in your list.
3. Now, brainstorm all the things you will need. Probably the best way is to use Inspiration to list the headings.
When you have this sorted, it's time to buy those items. [PDF here]
To budget, collect a lot of brochures from supermarkets and use their prices to work out how much it's all going to cost.
You may need to work out how to save money here, because food is one of your biggest expenses.
Overview|Introduction|Main
Tasks|Process 1
2 2a
3|Resources|Evaluation|Conclusion|
Rent
To rent a 5 bedroom house [with a pool?] and have lots of
room? To rent an apartment/flat and less room? To board with only your own
room? What's it going to be? That is the question?
Where are you going to live? How much is it going to cost? How big should the place be? Is it close to public transport? How many bedrooms do you need? So many questions!
Task
1/ Write down a [list PDF]of all that you think would make the
'perfect house.' Record the details of your house to become part of your
presentation. Justify why you chose this particular house. The details
must include:
- Number of rooms. Bedrooms is best.
- Address. Just the Suburb is ok
- Special features the house/flat/boarding home might have. A pool? Double driveway?
- Cost per week.
You may want to consider - sharing
- Proximity to Amenities - remember -
you
may need to be close to
Uni
shops, markets
beach
public utilities like library, sport centres etc.
public transport
any other 'places' that are important to you
if your transport is limited, or for plain convenience and to save money.
- any other important information that
might need to be mentioned.
- how you're going to afford to pay rent each week. Your parents can't help here!
Task
2/ Make each of the following
Design your
house-plan blueprints online with smallblueprinter,
then take a 3D walk through your design. http://www.smallblueprinter.com/index.html
Then design
your bedroom with Kiki's "Dream Room" Maker http://www.postopia.com/games/gamepage.aspx?sitegameId=41
or
http://www.designaroom.net/
Then,
Task
Design your
dream garden online - drag - drop - print .... your new garden design. http://www.smallblueprinter.com/garden/planner.html
Include these drawings in your presentation. You may need to copy/paste in
your presentation software or print.
Have a look at this site [Redfern Legal Centre] for
more help with housing-
http://www.rlc.org.au/sharehousing/movingin.html
Overview|Introduction|Main
Tasks|Process 1
2 2a
3|Resources|Evaluation|Conclusion|
3/ Transport
You have your car money [$3000], a present from "The Folks". But
the "running costs" are all yours. Furthermore, you have to
decide what you are going to buy.
Task
Find out the approximate cost of running a car.
Finance if car costs more than $3000.00
http://autos.yahoo.com/finance/loan-calc
Then,
Find the cost of each item.
Print the list PDF
Automobile Association
Registration
for your car type.
Car Insurance
•Voluntary Insurance
•Compulsory Insurance for car type
Insurance costs
http://carpoint.ninemsn.com.au/portal/alias__carpointau/tabID__86201/DesktopDefault.aspx
Cost of parking
Maintenance
•Cleaning Products
•Engine Tune and Service. Two each
year.
•Oil. 10 litres each year.
•Tyres. 1 set each year. Correct size for make of car.
Allow $20 each week for fuel.
Now
you have the costs of your car, can you afford to run it? You may need to
change your "DREAM CAR" into something you
can afford.
Have a look in the paper or online to find a car you can
afford.
Task
Write about the car of your choice using the headings on the "Mind Map", saying why
you chose that particular car. Include the information about your costs
for the car with regard for each of the points. here
again.
Market Value of cars
http://www.drive.com.au/buy/market_value/
University
of Adelaide Site says "If you are going to be studying in
Adelaide for a number of years and can afford it, buying a car is an
attractive option". More
here.
Also,
UniSA
Online car buying sites.
Cars
Guide |
Auto Web | The
Advertiser online | Trading
Post online
What about
Public Transport No, I'm not joking. Do the Maths!
Look here for more help.
How can I buy a car with no savings?
What about buying stuff using credit?
Overview|Introduction|Main
Tasks|Process 1
2 2a
3|Resources|Evaluation|Conclusion|
4/ In the Monthly Expenses, a Laptop Computer has been included. You knew
this when you enrolled. It's just as well you have it because the
University also requires you have an iPod
or similar for Podcasting. You need to add
this as an unexpected expense.
You do not have the cash, so you need to find ways of paying for these
..... legally.
Task
Research the cost of a new laptop and IPod or similar and
show at least 3 prices, where they are from, and
"why" you chose your final choice.
Then use the Graphic helper below to write about your research.
| I chose to buy a
______________ Laptop. [Brand] I chose to buy a ______________ MP3 player. [Brand] I chose to buy a ______________ Mobile Phone [cell phone] Why these choices? |
|||
| Name |
Laptop. |
MP3 player | Mobile phones and "plans" |
| Outright Cost | |||
| Cost each month | |||
| Cost each week | |||
|
Research:- 1/ A three or four year "Interest Free" plan and what happens if you default on a payment. 2/ The payment plans you have researched - how do they work? What have you learned? 3/ Cell phone Help What about buying stuff using credit? |
|||
Overview|Introduction|Main
Tasks|Process 1
2 2a
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You will be presenting your information to the group. Here are some ideas,
Multimedia Presentation
[PowerPoint, KidPix Slideshow, IMovie or similar]
Web Pages
Concept Maps
included separately
Written Project
as well as presentation
Excel
graphs
Resources you may use to complete
your task(s) include:
PowerPoint software to
develop an informative slideshow
"Word"
"Inspiration" or similar
Any URL links provided in
this section
Classroom
Encyclopaedias
Colour Printer
Periodicals from a Media Centre
Cut
out pictures
Overview|Introduction|Main
Tasks|Process 1
2 2a
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This assignment will be graded using the following.
Please click here to review the criteria on which your individual grade will be based."
and
"You will also receive a collaborative grade. Please click here to review the criteria which will determine you collaborative grade."
Overview|Introduction|Main
Tasks|Process 1
2 2a
3|Resources|Evaluation|Conclusion|
Go back to the Inspiration Concept Map you did in activity one and also go back to Your Budget you made in Excel. Ask yourself these questions:
Do I
need to add or change any of my expenses in my Concept Map? If you do....then
do it!
Have I
filled in my Budget completely? Do I need to add anything else in? If you
do.....then do it!
Check with some other people in the class and compare budgets - have
they got anything you have not got? How do your costs compare? If they have
really different costs for things, get them to justify why - is it a valid
reason?
Adjust your budget if you feel you need to.
Overview|Introduction|Main
Tasks|Process 1
2 2a
3|Resources|Evaluation|Conclusion|
Additional Sites
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Money Stuff can help with your financial
decisions. Try the Challenge in the left menu.
http://www.moneystuff.net.au
Howstuffworks is a great
site. This link is about money, credit etc. Note, it is a USA site so some
of the detail is not strictly correct but the advice may well be! The "Share
House Survival Game" makes interesting reading.
From our Government. Money, housing, all the stuff.
http://www.thesource.gov.au/find/money/the_big_decisions.asp| Money Stuff (Vic). Money Stuff is a website produced by Consumer Affairs Victoria providing information and resources for young people about credit The MAZE - Saving & Budgeting - Has a "Word" or "Excel" document to help plan budgets. |
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| A quest - Find the house of your dreams. |
| This unit is about smart buying. There are tips for
getting the best shopping deals and ideas about how you can use your
power as a shopper. http://webct.education.tas.gov.au/public/DollarsAndSenseB/index.html |
Report Rubric http://edweb.sdsu.edu/triton/tidepoolunit/Rubrics/reportrubric.html
Collaboration Rubric http://edweb.sdsu.edu/triton/tidepoolunit/Rubrics/collrubric.html
Overview|Introduction|Main
Tasks|Process 1
2 2a
3|Resources|Evaluation|Conclusion|
Oct.2005