Planning a Party by Shopping Online

Lesson Summary:

This lesson will allow students to plan all aspects of a celebration to be held on Valentine’s Day in February: from the proposal stage through the actual hosting of a party for our special education student-buddies in our school’s Level V classroom. Students will be allotted a budget with which to plan their event. They will use Microsoft Word to brainstorm and record their ideas, and later on, Microsoft Word will be used by students to compile all of their information (spreadsheet, schedule, shopping list, planned activity, etc.) in the form of a proposal to be presented to the class. Students will use Netscape Navigator’s search engines to locate local stores that are online in order to do their comparison shopping for items needed for the celebration. Students will use Microsoft Excel to create a spreadsheet that compares the prices of needed items at the various stores in our area. This spreadsheet will be interpreted to find the "best-buy" for items to include on a shopping list for the special education students to use on their bi-weekly shopping expedition. In addition, Microsoft Excel will be used to create a schedule for the celebration. Netscape Navigator will be used to search for appropriate activities (craft, party game, experiment, etc.) to be part of the celebration. Students will use Print Shop Deluxe to create their invitations for the event. Students will work cooperatively and independently during different stages of this project.

Grade Level:

Intermediate Elementary/Middle School/High School

(Could be adapted to be used as a project for planning school-based activities by committees and groups where a PowerPoint presentation could be the proposal versus a Microsoft Word document)

• Students will brainstorm and record ideas for a celebration using Microsoft Word.
• Students will use Netscape Navigator’s search engines to locate local stores that are online.
• Students will work in pairs (2 pair per group) to use Netscape Navigator to identify possible celebration activities.
• Students will work cooperatively to:

1. Create a spreadsheet that compares the price of items needed for the party by store.
2. Create a spreadsheet that displays the "best-buys" by store.
3. Interpret data recorded in worksheets.
4. Use the data in their spreadsheet to create a shopping list organized by store.
5. Create a schedule for the event (using elapsed time).
6. Design an invitation card or flyer.
7. Import products from different programs into their Microsoft Word document to create their final proposal.
8. Create/Design a proposal visual aid (poster).
9. Present the group’s proposal orally to the class.

Group Size:

Four students is the ideal number, with more than that leaving someone feeling left out of the process, or less than that leaving the group members feeling overwhelmed.

• You can pre-group students according to personalities and ability levels.
• You can use the fair-jar/name in hat technique.
• Or, you can allow students to choose their groups.

Length of Lesson:

Allow 7-10 days for students to work.

• Microsoft Word

• Microsoft Excel

• Netscape Navigator
• Print Shop Deluxe
• Pocket folders (one per group) to save works in progress
• Data disks (just to be safe)
• Calculators
• Posterboard
• A variety of art supplies (glue, scissors, etc.)

1. Explain to students that for the next few days they will be working independently and cooperatively to plan a Valentine’s Day celebration for the Level V class.
2. Seat students with their group
3. As a class, brainstorm students’ favorite parties—Why was it your favorite? What did you do for fun? What did you eat? What sort of decorations or party favors did you have?

1. Have students use Think-Pair-Share to choose those items off the class list that they feel would make the best celebration.

• Think-done independently
• Pair-done with a partner within the group. Share your ideas.
• Share-partners share with rest of group and create a group list.

1. Have student groups record their ideas in a Microsoft Word document. They can put them in any order and then go back and cut and paste them in order of preference.
2. Students should create a list of items that would possibly be needed for the celebration.
3. Have students save all work on the hard drive and on their disk before they print their document.

Activity #2 Where to Shop

1. Use Netscape Navigator’s search engines to locate local stores that are online. (Students can do this independently, with a partner, or as a group depending on the number of computers you have available.)
2. Students should copy web addresses for online stores into their Microsoft Word document as they find them.
3. Have students save all work on the hard drive and on their disk before they print their document.

1. Use Netscape Navigator’s search engines to locate sites that list crafts, party games, experiments, or any other suitable party activity.(Students can do this independently, with a partner, or as a group depending on the number of computers you have available.)
2. Students should copy the web addresses along with a brief summary of what the site offers into their Microsoft Word document as they find them.
3. As a group, students should decide on which activity or activities they want at their party. (Have them keep in mind that their guests will be Level V special education students with varying ability levels.)
4. Once an activity or activities are chosen, students should begin a list in their Microsoft Word document that is titled, "Items We Need For Our Celebration." Students should break down the activity to locate all necessary items and add them to their list.
5. Have students save all work on the hard drive and on their disk before they print their document.

1. Students should decide what they would like to eat—remind them that it should just be a snack, not a meal.
2. Snack items should be added to the "Items We Need" list created in Activity #3.
3. Any paper goods (cups, plates, forks, etc.) should be added to the list as well.
4. Have students save all work on the hard drive and on their disk before they print their document.

1. Have the groups open a worksheet in Microsoft Excel.
2. In cell A1, have them type a title for their worksheet.
3. In row 3, beginning in cell A3, have the students type the names of the stores they found online.
4. In column A, beginning in cell A4, have students type all of the items they will need to purchase for their party.
5. Have students save and print their worksheet.
6. Have students copy their Microsoft Excel worksheet into their Microsoft Word document.
7. Have students save their work again before they go any further.
8. Have students use Netscape Navigator to visit the online stores to locate and price items. As they locate the items, they should pencil in the price on their printed worksheet (they will type in the prices after all items have been located.) Remind them that not all stores will sell all items and that they should leave that cell blank.
9. Have students input their data onto their Excel worksheet.
10. Have students save all work on the hard drive and on their disk before they print their document.

1. Students should use a hardcopy of their Microsoft Excel worksheet to highlight the best buy for each item.
2. Students should then create a new Microsoft Excel worksheet that displays the best buys.
3. In cell A1, have them type a title for their worksheet.
4. In cell A3, have the students type "Items."
5. In cell B3, have the students type "Store With Best Buy."
6. In cell C3, have the students type "Price of Item."
7. In column A, beginning in cell A4, have students type all of the items they will need to purchase for their party.
8. Have them type Total in the cell below the last item in column A.
9. Have students input the name of the store with the best buy next to the item on their worksheet, and then the price of the item at that store.
10. Have students go to the cell after the last price and use the AutoSum function to total their column.
11. Have students copy their new Microsoft Excel worksheet into their Microsoft Word document.
12. Underneath their worksheet, have students interpret their data, adding it to their MicroSoft document—using the following questions as guidelines:

• Which store has the most "best buys"?
• Which items are your priciest? Your cheapest?

13. Have students save all work on the hard drive and on their disk before they print their document.

1. Have students examine a hardcopy of their worksheet that shows the best buys for the items needed for their party.
2. Have students determine how many of each item they will need and pencil that in next to the price.
3. Have students open their Microsoft Excel best buy worksheet from Activity #6 and have them add two new columns.
4. In cell D3 have students type the title, "Quantity."
5. In cell E3, have students type the title, "Total Cost."
6. Have students input the quantity for each item.
7. Have students use a calculator to compute the total cost.
8. Have students input the total cost into the worksheet.
9. Have students go to the cell after the last price in the Total Cost column and use the AutoSum function to total their column.
10. Have students compare their total to their budget. Do they match? Did your group overspend or underspend?
11. If a group overspent, they will need to reevaluate their group’s event. Is there something they can cut or do without? If so, have them delete this row from their worksheet and see how this effects their total cost. Have the group play around with the numbers until they come in under budget.
12. If a group underspent, they will also need to reevaluate their event. Did they forget something or would they like to add some items? If so, have them add rows to their worksheet, comparison shop the item online, and add the best buy price and store to their worksheet. Have the group play around until their numbers come in closer to the budget. They don’t have to spend all of the money!
13. Have students copy their updated Microsoft Excel worksheet into their Microsoft Word document—replacing the original "Best Buy" worksheet.
14. Have students save all work on the hard drive and on their disk before they print their document.

1. Have students use their hardcopy of their "Best Buy" worksheet to create a shopping list in their Microsoft Word document that is organized by store.
2. Have students save their updated Microsoft document on the hard drive and on their disk before they print.

1. Have students open a new worksheet in Microsoft Excel.
2. In cell A1, have them type a title for their worksheet.
3. In cell A3, have the students type "Activity."
4. In cell B3, have the students type "Time."
5. In column 3, starting in cell A4, have the students list their activities in the order they want them to happen. They will use the list they created from Activity #1.
6. Times should be inputted for the activities. Students should double check to make sure that their times add up to the total time allotted for the event.
7. Have students save their worksheet on the hard drive and on their disk.
8. Have students copy their worksheet and import it into their Microsoft Word document.
9. Have students save their updated Microsoft document on the hard drive and on their disk before they print.

1. Have students open Print Shop Deluxe and decide which type of invitation they would like to use—a card or a flyer.
2. Have students design their invitation, making sure they include:

• The time
• The place
• Who’s invited
• What the party is for
• At least 2 graphics

1. Have students save and print their invitation. The hardcopy should be placed in their folder.

1. Students will use the hard copies of their Microsoft Word document to complete this part.
2. Students should lay out the parts of their proposal on their posterboard, rearranging them until they are in a meaningful order. Their proposal should include:

• A title
• Their schedule
• Their list of items to buy/collect
• Their best buy worksheet with the narrative paragraph that proves their event is within the given budget.
• Their invitation
• Any other items from their Microsoft document that they think are pertinent to their case.

1. Students will practice the presentation of their proposal. They can decide who presents each of the key ideas for the celebration.
2. Encourage students to find an unusual way to present their proposal, reminding them that the more creative they are, the more likely the other students will remember their proposal when it comes time to vote.
3. Have student groups present their proposal.
4. Have students vote independently on the event they think is the best.

 Culminating Activity:

As a class, follow through on the voted proposal, and host the party of a lifetime.

Local Online Stores:

http://www.target.com/

http://www.wal-mart.com/

http://www.kmart.com/

http://www.sears.com/

http://www.walgreens.com/

http://www.cvs.com/

http://www.riteaid.com/

http://www.hallmark.com/

http://www.toysrus.com/

http://www.pier1.com/cust/index.htm

Game/Craft/Activity Sites