Reality Check: A Senior Lifestyle Simulation
Inquiry Framework
Question Framework
Driving Question
The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we design a fulfilling and financially sustainable lifestyle that reflects our values and career aspirations, while critically evaluating the information available to us?Essential Questions
Supporting questions that break down major concepts.- How does your career choice impact your financial decisions?
- What are the costs and benefits of different lifestyle choices?
- How can you create a budget that reflects your values and priorities?
- How do you evaluate sources of information to inform decision making?
Standards & Learning Goals
Learning Goals
By the end of this project, students will be able to:- Understand the relationship between career choices and financial decisions.
- Evaluate the costs and benefits of different lifestyle choices.
- Create a budget that reflects personal values and priorities.
- Evaluate sources of information to inform decision-making.
Entry Events
Events that will be used to introduce the project to studentsThe "Reality Check" Budget Challenge
Students receive a fictional persona with a randomly assigned job and salary. They must then create a realistic monthly budget, making tough choices about housing, transportation, food, and entertainment, sparking immediate interest in the financial realities of adulthood.Portfolio Activities
Portfolio Activities
These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.Career Exploration & Reality Check
Students research potential careers, aligning them with their interests and skills, and then receive a 'reality check' with a randomly assigned job and salary.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA career interest report and a fictional persona assignment.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Understand the relationship between career choices and financial decisions.Housing Hunt: Location, Location, Affordability!
Students explore housing options (apartments, houses) considering location, amenities, and costs relative to their assigned salary.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA presentation comparing housing options, including cost analysis and personal reflections.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Evaluate the costs and benefits of different lifestyle choices.Wheels & Deals: Transportation Analysis
Students investigate transportation options (car, public transit, bike) and their associated costs, including purchase price/lease, insurance, maintenance, and fuel.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA detailed transportation cost analysis report, comparing various options and justifying their choice.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Evaluate the costs and benefits of different lifestyle choices.Budget Blueprint: Balancing Needs & Wants
Students develop a detailed monthly budget, allocating funds for housing, transportation, food, utilities, entertainment, and savings, reflecting their values and priorities.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA comprehensive monthly budget, outlining income, expenses, and savings goals.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Create a budget that reflects personal values and priorities.Lifestyle Presentation: A Day in the Life
Students synthesize their research and decisions into a presentation, showcasing their chosen lifestyle and explaining how it aligns with their values, career, and financial constraints.Steps
Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.Final Product
What students will submit as the final product of the activityA compelling presentation of their chosen lifestyle, justifying their decisions and reflecting on the financial realities.Alignment
How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses all learning goals, providing a comprehensive assessment of their understanding and application of the concepts.Rubric & Reflection
Portfolio Rubric
Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolioLifestyle Project Portfolio Rubric
Career Exploration & Reality Check
Demonstrates the understanding of career options and their financial implications.Career Research
Quality and depth of research into chosen career paths.
Exemplary
4 PointsDemonstrates thorough and insightful research into multiple career paths, clearly identifying the required education, skills, and responsibilities. Information is accurate, detailed, and relevant.
Proficient
3 PointsDemonstrates adequate research into chosen career paths, identifying the required education, skills, and responsibilities. Information is generally accurate and relevant.
Developing
2 PointsDemonstrates limited research into chosen career paths, with some gaps in identifying the required education, skills, or responsibilities. Information may be incomplete or lack detail.
Beginning
1 PointsDemonstrates minimal research into chosen career paths, with significant gaps in identifying the required education, skills, and responsibilities. Information may be inaccurate or irrelevant.
Financial Awareness
Understanding of the financial implications of career choices.
Exemplary
4 PointsDemonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the relationship between career choice and salary, accurately assessing the impact on lifestyle and financial planning.
Proficient
3 PointsDemonstrates a good understanding of the relationship between career choice and salary, adequately assessing the impact on lifestyle and financial planning.
Developing
2 PointsDemonstrates a basic understanding of the relationship between career choice and salary, with some limitations in assessing the impact on lifestyle and financial planning.
Beginning
1 PointsDemonstrates a limited understanding of the relationship between career choice and salary, with significant difficulties in assessing the impact on lifestyle and financial planning.
Housing Hunt
Demonstrates the ability to evaluate housing options based on affordability and lifestyle.Housing Research
Thoroughness of housing option research (renting vs. buying, location, amenities).
Exemplary
4 PointsConducts comprehensive research on diverse housing options, considering location, amenities, renting vs. buying, and accurately assesses associated costs (mortgage, insurance, taxes).
Proficient
3 PointsConducts thorough research on multiple housing options, considering location, amenities, renting vs. buying, and assesses associated costs.
Developing
2 PointsConducts basic research on a limited number of housing options, with some consideration of location, amenities, renting vs. buying, and costs.
Beginning
1 PointsConducts minimal research on housing options, with limited consideration of location, amenities, renting vs. buying, or costs.
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Ability to compare housing options based on costs and benefits.
Exemplary
4 PointsProvides a detailed and insightful cost-benefit analysis of various housing options, clearly justifying choices based on affordability, lifestyle, and long-term financial goals.
Proficient
3 PointsProvides a clear cost-benefit analysis of various housing options, justifying choices based on affordability and lifestyle.
Developing
2 PointsProvides a basic cost-benefit analysis of housing options, with some justification of choices.
Beginning
1 PointsProvides a limited or unclear cost-benefit analysis of housing options, with minimal justification of choices.
Transportation Analysis
Demonstrates the ability to analyze transportation options and their financial impact.Transportation Research
Quality of research into transportation options (car, public transit, etc.).
Exemplary
4 PointsConducts comprehensive research on diverse transportation options (car, public transit, bike), accurately assessing costs (purchase/lease, insurance, gas, maintenance) and convenience.
Proficient
3 PointsConducts thorough research on multiple transportation options (car, public transit), assessing costs (purchase/lease, insurance, gas, maintenance) and convenience.
Developing
2 PointsConducts basic research on a limited number of transportation options, with some assessment of costs and convenience.
Beginning
1 PointsConducts minimal research on transportation options, with limited assessment of costs or convenience.
Justification of Choice
Rationale for chosen transportation method based on cost, convenience, and personal values.
Exemplary
4 PointsProvides a well-reasoned and insightful justification for their chosen transportation method, clearly linking it to cost, convenience, personal values, and environmental impact.
Proficient
3 PointsProvides a clear justification for their chosen transportation method, linking it to cost, convenience, and personal values.
Developing
2 PointsProvides a basic justification for their chosen transportation method, with some connection to cost, convenience, or personal values.
Beginning
1 PointsProvides a limited or unclear justification for their chosen transportation method, with minimal connection to cost, convenience, or personal values.
Budget Blueprint
Demonstrates the ability to create a budget that reflects personal values and priorities.Budget Allocation
Effective allocation of funds based on income and priorities.
Exemplary
4 PointsCreates a detailed and realistic budget, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of needs vs. wants and effectively allocating funds to reflect personal values and priorities while considering long-term financial goals.
Proficient
3 PointsCreates a detailed and realistic budget, effectively allocating funds to reflect personal values and priorities.
Developing
2 PointsCreates a budget with some allocation of funds based on income and priorities, but may lack detail or realism.
Beginning
1 PointsCreates a limited or unrealistic budget, with minimal allocation of funds based on income or priorities.
Financial Planning
Demonstrates the understanding of financial planning principles.
Exemplary
4 PointsDemonstrates a sophisticated understanding of financial planning principles, including savings, debt management, and investment, and incorporates these into their budget.
Proficient
3 PointsDemonstrates a good understanding of financial planning principles, including savings and debt management, and incorporates these into their budget.
Developing
2 PointsDemonstrates a basic understanding of financial planning principles, with some attempt to incorporate these into their budget.
Beginning
1 PointsDemonstrates a limited understanding of financial planning principles, with minimal attempt to incorporate these into their budget.
Lifestyle Presentation
Effectively communicates the chosen lifestyle and its alignment with values, career, and financial constraints.Clarity & Organization
Clarity and logical organization of the presentation.
Exemplary
4 PointsPresents information in a clear, concise, and engaging manner, with a logical flow and compelling visuals, demonstrating exceptional communication skills.
Proficient
3 PointsPresents information in a clear and organized manner, with a logical flow and appropriate visuals.
Developing
2 PointsPresents information with some clarity and organization, but may lack a consistent flow or appropriate visuals.
Beginning
1 PointsPresents information in a disorganized or unclear manner, with a lack of logical flow or visuals.
Reflection & Justification
Depth of reflection on choices and justification of decisions.
Exemplary
4 PointsProvides insightful and nuanced reflections on their lifestyle choices, demonstrating a deep understanding of the challenges and rewards, and thoroughly justifies their decisions with compelling evidence and reasoning.
Proficient
3 PointsProvides clear reflections on their lifestyle choices, demonstrating an understanding of the challenges and rewards, and justifies their decisions with evidence and reasoning.
Developing
2 PointsProvides some reflections on their lifestyle choices, with limited justification of their decisions.
Beginning
1 PointsProvides minimal or superficial reflections on their lifestyle choices, with little or no justification of their decisions.