Lesson Plan | Active Methodology | Percentage: Discounts or Percentage Increases

Premises: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class duration, prior student study both with the Book and the beginning of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be carried out during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a large part of the available time.

Objective

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The Objectives stage lays a clear foundation for the lesson, detailing what students should achieve by the end of the session. By defining specific objectives, the lesson plan ensures students can apply percentage formulas, while also grasping the practical relevance of these calculations in their everyday lives. This clarity aids in steering subsequent activities and discussions effectively, enhancing overall learning.

Objective Utama:

1. Enable students to tackle real-life scenarios involving discounts or percentage increases, such as during shopping at local markets or malls.

2. Equip students with the skills to construct and apply percentage formulas in various situations involving discounts or percentage increases, nurturing independence in their calculations.

Objective Tambahan:

1. Promote logical reasoning and the capability to apply mathematical concepts in real-world and contextual situations.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The Introduction phase is designed to capture students' interest through problem situations that recapitulate and leverage their prior knowledge on discounts and percentage increases. It also aims to highlight the importance of the topic in their daily experiences, fostering a deeper connection with the content. The problem scenarios are crafted to stir critical thinking and curiosity, setting the stage for the following practical activities and discussions.

Problem-Based Situation

1. Picture yourself with ₹100 to spend during a year-end sale. All items are at a 20% discount. How much would you pay for an item that originally costs ₹800?

2. A local supermarket announces a 15% discount on all cleaning products for next weekend. If a bottle of disinfectant costs ₹500, what will be the new price after the discount?

Contextualization

Understanding percentages is vital in everyday life, particularly when it comes to purchases and sales. Being able to calculate discounts and percentage increases not only helps in saving money but also prevents financial errors. Additionally, grasping how these calculations apply in real situations, like sale seasons or festive discounts, can be quite engaging and beneficial for students.

Development

Duration: (70 - 75 minutes)

The Development stage provides a platform for students to apply their prior knowledge of percentages, particularly discounts and percentage increases, in a practical context. Through engaging and collaborative activities, students will not only strengthen their mathematical abilities but also cultivate teamwork, logical thinking, and communication skills. This segment is crucial for solidifying understanding, ensuring that concepts are thoroughly comprehended and enjoyed.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended that only one of the suggested activities be carried out

Activity 1 - The Magical Discounts Challenge

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Use knowledge of percentages to work out discounts and enhance teamwork and presentation skills.

- Description: In this activity, students will form groups of up to 5 and receive a 'magic card' granting various discounts at made-up stores. Each shop will display products with original prices, and students will need to compute the final cost after applying the discount from the magic card.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Hand out 'magic cards' with discounts of 10%, 20%, and 30% applicable at different stores.

• Provide a list of products in each store with baseline prices.

• Students are to calculate the final price for each product after applying the discount from the magic card.

• Each group will present their calculations and reasoning for their results to the class.

Activity 2 - The Super Promotion of the Math Supermarket

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Practice calculating discounts in a realistic shopping scenario, enhancing practical knowledge of percentages.

- Description: In groups, students will simulate making a purchase in a fictional supermarket during a mega sale. They will list the items they wish to buy, verify the discounts, and compute the total purchase amount.

- Instructions:

• Organise students into groups of up to 5.

• Explain that each group will have a designated 'budget' for their supermarket shopping.

• Present a list of products with prices and discount percentages.

• Groups must select the items they wish to buy, calculate the discounts, and the total amount of their purchases.

• Each group will prepare a final list of chosen products along with the total cost, and present it to the class.

Activity 3 - Building the Dream Store

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Explore the application of discounts from both seller and buyer perspectives, while also practicing percentage calculations dynamically.

- Description: In this fun activity, students, organised into groups, will act as store owners in a maths shopping mall. They will set product prices with special discounts and compete to attract other student groups as customers.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students, with each group representing a store in the mall.

• Each store receives an imaginary budget to purchase products with discounts to sell.

• Groups must calculate the selling prices to ensure profitability post-discount.

• Each store presents its products and discounts to the 'customers' (the other groups).

• The 'customers' then decide where to shop based on the best deals.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

This stage's aim is to reinforce learning, providing an opportunity for students to articulate the knowledge they've gained through practical application. The discussion also helps unearth areas of difficulty, reinforce key concepts, and enhance communication and debate skills. This group feedback serves as a measure of students' comprehension of the subject matter and the successfulness of the activities in meeting the learning objectives.

Group Discussion

Initiate the group discussion with a brief recap of the activities performed, prompting each group to share their approaches to the challenges proposed and the strategies they found most effective. Encouraging students to reflect on their experiences and insights will be valuable, particularly in discussing how discount applications may differ in various scenarios. Suggest that each group shares a practical example they found particularly challenging, as well as how they tackled that challenge.

Key Questions

1. What were the major hurdles in applying discounts and percentage increases throughout the activities?

2. How can an understanding of percentages enhance daily life, especially in buying and selling transactions?

3. Was there a particular strategy employed by a group to calculate discounts that varied significantly from others? What was the reason?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The purpose of the Conclusion phase is to guarantee that students leave with a solid understanding of the covered content, revisiting and ensuring the learning has been grasped. Additionally, it aims to highlight the relevance of mathematical concepts in daily life, accentuating why studying percentages holds great value for students' practical experiences. This final reflection aids in cementing knowledge and valuing mathematics as an essential skill.

Summary

In the conclusion, the teacher should summarise the main ideas discussed, such as calculating discounts and percentage increases as they apply to buying and selling. It's crucial to reiterate the formulas introduced and the practical methods explored, solidifying students' learning.

Theory Connection

Throughout the lesson, percentage theory was tied together through practical activities simulating real-world buying and selling scenarios, enabling students to directly apply their acquired knowledge in relatable contexts. This approach fosters a clear connection between mathematical theory and its practical application, aiding understanding and retention of content.

Closing

Finally, it is important to underline the significance of percentage calculations in everyday life, especially in financial decisions. Knowing how to effectively use discounts and percentage increases can lead to substantial savings and more informed choices in numerous aspects of life, whether it be personal shopping, managing expenses, or professional dealings involving commercial discounts.