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Interactive Internet Game Activity
Reno has a plan to borrow money to buy a game player that he really wants. An animated dialogue between Reno, Toki, Jesse, and Ima will introduce students to the game. Students will work through activities that will help them to understand the relationship between good debt and bad debt.

Learning Objectives
· Understand proportions as it relates to principle and interest
· Use proportions to understand relationships
· Analyze relationships by identifying patterns

Assessments
Students will: (1) identify proportions by recognizing patterns, (2) determine relationships that exist between professions and tools, (3) describe principle and interest as it relates to debt.

Classroom Activities
1. Reno's Dilemma - Read to the class the lively scripted dialogue of Jesse, Toki, Reno and Ima. This script will present ideas relating to debt.
2. Shape 'em Up & Count 'em Out - This activity will help students understand patterns and proportions. Make copies of this activity for each student. Describe patterns and proportions for students. Describe how a proportion is similar to a pattern in that it has a certain relationship to something else. Explain how a proportion is one way to describe a relationship between two things. Go over the completed example sharing that if you look at the first block with the 3 purple squares, you will see how each block is represented by two coins in the next set of blocks. You can conclude that the pattern (proportion) is one block equals two coins. Students should then complete the remainder of the activity.
3. Toolish or Foolish - This activity allows for individual participation and activity for all students. Read the instructions to the students. This activity will also give you an opportunity to explain that while some tools may "fit" with a certain profession it may not be a good fit and therefore, not the "best" answer. This will help students as they begin to take standardized tests.

Class Discussion Questions
Can you help Reno? What should he do?
Should Reno:

A. Borrow $200, buy the Super Gizmo, and pay back with his allowance.
B. Save his allowance and then buy the Super Gizmo.
C. Borrow $200, buy the mower and earn enough money to pay back the loan, buy the Super Gizmo, and give to the Charity Fund Drive.

(Charts and activity sheets continue in the downloadable PDF file above.)