Why Use Build-a-Budget in Math?
Build-a-Budget turns abstract math concepts into hands-on financial decision-making. Students apply ratio reasoning, percent calculations, and proportional thinking as they allocate income to expenses and savings.
Standards Alignment
- 7.RP.A.2: Recognize and represent proportional relationships
- 6.RP.A.3: Use ratio reasoning to solve real-world problems
- HSA.CED.A.1: Create equations and inequalities to solve problems
Lesson Outline
- Introduce Ratios & Proportions (10 min) — Review ratio tables and percent calculations.
- Game Setup & Demo (10 min) — Project Build-a-Budget and walk through Period 1 choices.
- Guided Gameplay (20 min) — Students play in pairs, logging expense/income ratios.
- Data Analysis (15 min) — Compute percent of income spent vs. saved; graph relationships.
- Reflection & Discussion (10 min) — Discuss trade-offs and proportional adjustments.
Embed the Game
Below is an embedded iframe for teachers who want to launch the game directly within their LMS or class page: