Real Life Project! - A ONE MONTH VERY DETAILED & FUN SIMULATION!

This listing is for a big project that my students LOVE! In my Financial Management class, students learn all kinds of life skills, and for this simulation, I challenge them to test them out in the real world.

Topics covered in this simulation:

• Choosing a career & figuring gross and net pay
• Maintaining a checkbook and credit card
• Savings and debt
• Transportation and car insurance
• Choosing housing
• Completing taxes
• Paying for children
• Either divorce or unemployment
• Vacations & holiday expenses

Students will use a 12-month, hard-copy calendar to guide them through a simulated year in real life. The calendar has due dates for many bills on it, and also instructs the students when to do the big things in life like: choose housing, have a child, pay taxes, etc. The calendar corresponds directly to a packet where students record all their responses, and a website that directs them to links, wheels to spin, etc.

There is a wheel students spin on the first of each month that has something unexpected happen to teach them that "life is what happens when you have made other plans!" For example, they may have a funeral that requires expensive travel, their dog may need surgery, they receive a bonus at work, or they sell items at a garage sale.

I give my students twenty 45-minute periods in class to complete the simulation, which if they are staying on task, should be just about the perfect amount of time. Some students like it so much, they work on it at home and finish it early. If that is the case, you may want to have some additional fun, real life activities for them to do after the project is done (I have even had students play the Game of Life and compare it to the simulation they did!)

After students finish the project, I have them complete post questions, a few of which ask about the project. Here is what they are saying!

Do you think this was a good simulation to prepare you for the real world? Is there anything that you think needs to be changed?

• "Definitely! I especially liked that there were random things that happened like they would in real life. I really enjoyed this simulation and I would not change a thing."
• "This project allowed me to experience problems that adults face. I don't think there is anything you could do to make it better. It was really fun and opened my eyes to what it is like to be an adult."
• "It was like playing a big game of life. I was able to try out what I learned while doing something that was actually fun and way better than a huge test at the end of a class!"

It has taken me nearly seven years to create these resources. There has been much fine tuning made from feedback my students, and that other educators have provided me, and it is now ready to share! I stand by my work, and am happy to help you if you have any questions about the project!

Thank you for your purchase, and I hope your students enjoy it as much as mine do!