6270 Barker Cypress Rd, Houston, Harris County, TX 77084
COMMUNICATION
Dear Parents/Guardians and Students;
HSD is a STEM School, due to this recognition students are
required to complete a PBL assignment over the summer. This
assignment is to give you the opportunity to be creative and have
fun while learning. Your PBL Assignments are listed on the WEB
as announced at the assembly on May 26, 2016. These PBL’s
include Math, Reading, Social Studies, and Science. Please
remember that these assignments are a major grade and are due on
the first week of school for 2015-2016 school year.
*** Exemptions: If you are taking 2 or more AP classes with
summer assignment, you will be exempt from the summer PBL
Sincerely,
Jennifer Clayton
STEM Coordinator
[email protected]
So you Want to be a Millionaire Project
What Luck...... Your very wealthy, crazy uncle,
Richie Rich, just left you one million dollars.
But wait, that is not the best part, he also
left one million dollars to you.
As luck would have it, there are stipulations to
spending this money. If it is spent correctly,
your very rich uncle will give you an additional
TEN Million dollars! Only a select few will actually
be clever enough to spend the entire amount
EXACTLY as directed.
Continue reading to find out the guidelines on how to spend
your Millions… if you dare!
Spending Guidelines
The following guidelines must be followed.
1.
You must place at least $25,000 in a savings account and you must determine how much
interest you will have earned by the time you are 18 years old. You must first find the bank that
will give you the best interest rate. (Make sure you record the name of the bank, the type of
account and the interest rate. You might want to take a screen shot of the web page for your
records.) Once you know the interest rate, you can use a simple interest calculator to determine
how much interest you will earn by the time you are 18.
2.
You must save enough money for four years of college. You will need to do some
research to determine how much you will need to save. First, determine what college you
might be interested in attending. Then, look at that college’s website to determine how much it
will cost. Most websites will list the estimated annual cost for attending for a year. The cost
usually includes tuition, room, board, books and other expenses. Don’t forget, you need to save
enough for four years. Screen shot the web page or record the website for your reference
page.
3.
You must purchase a house, but you may not spend more than $300,000. You may only
purchase one house and you may not purchase a lot or income property. Make sure you record
the address of the house as well as information about the house (number of bedrooms and
bathrooms, address, etc.) Be sure to include a picture of the home in your scrapbook.
4.
You must give money to a recognized charity. You may donate up to $10,000. You must
provide information on the mission of the charity.
5.
You must take your whole family on a vacation and you must calculate the cost of the
vacation. Remember to include transportation, hotels, meals, and spending money. You should
be able to find all this information online. For purposes of this project, you should assume that
you will be taking the vacation this summer which can last up to one week and cost no more
than $20,000. Make sure that your record all the costs in your checkbook ledger.
6.
You may only purchase up to three (3) of any one item unless you are purchasing one per
family member. You must state your reasoning for purchasing more than the allotment in your
scrapbook!
7. You may purchase one (1) car, but you may not spend more than $100,000.
8. You may invest a portion of your money, but you may not invest more than $25,000. If
you invest money, you must specify how you invested your money.
9. You must make at least ten purchases.
10. You must add sales tax to all items. Calculate sales tax at 8.25% and add it to the cost of
each item.
11. You can only buy 1 item per check
12. After all purchase are made, you must have less than a $ 1.00 balance in your
checkbook ledger.
Research
All of the expenses involved in carrying out the details of your plan must be included. You must
have actual costs and you must document your costs. You can use newspapers, advertisements
or go online to find the costs of various items. Make sure you keep a list of your sources and
include them in your scrapbook.
Accounting
Record, in an organized way, exactly how the $1,000,000 will be spent. You must record all your
information in a checkbook ledger, which must be included in your scrapbook.
Include the following categories in your checkbook ledger:
 Savings
 Car
 College
 Investments
 House
 Taxes
 Charity
 Other
 Vacation
In each category, make sure you include specific details about how you will spend the money.
Be precise when recording the amount of money that you spend. You must determine what
fraction of the total will be spent in each category, and you must create a circle graph (pie chart)
that shows this information. Remember, your goal is to spend as close as possible to
$1,000,000 without going over.
Here are some items that you might want to purchase:
•
•
•
•
•
bedroom furniture
living room furniture
electronics
computer
games
• luxury items like a RV, quads and
other such items
• sporting events
• jewelry
Scrapbook Guidelines



You must create a scrapbook of how you spend your million dollars.
The scrapbook must be bound with numbered pages and a table of contents.
Your scrapbook should have an attractive and creative cover which includes your name,
a title for your project and a picture.
 Your scrapbook must be neatly and accurately completed. It should have a professional
appearance and organization.
 Each page MUST be numbered in the order matching your checkbook ledger and should
include the following:
• a picture of the item from the internet, sales ad or flyer
• the amount the item cost before taxes and after taxes
 Must include estimated living expenses and budget.
 The last page in your “Million Dollar Scrapbook” is to be a reference page that details
each resource and website where you found your items to purchase.
Estimated Living Expenses Budget





Once you have spent your million dollars, determine how much money you will need for
one year to maintain the lifestyle you have created.
Your budget must include either daily or monthly expenses.
You should choose categories and break down your budget into a circle graph.
You must choose a profession and yearly salary that will allow you to keep the budget
that you create.
If you need assistance, please attend a Budget Workshop. (see attachments)
Essay Guidelines: Write about your Million Dollar Life


You will compose a final paper describing the life you have created for yourself. You
must include the following:
o What you plan to do with your time (besides spend money)
o Where you plan to live (Country, city, state, etc.)
o Information about your life
o Your Career Choice: why and how much education is needed
o How you felt doing this project (BE HONEST!!!).
o If someone asked you how much a million dollars is, what would you tell them
and why.
The essay MUST be at least 5 paragraphs
Presentation
You will present your results to the class. Your presentation must use technology. You may
use PowerPoint, Google Slides, Keynote or another presentation tool. In your presentation,
you must discuss how much money you spent in each category (Savings, College, House,
Charity, Vacation, Other) and what you purchased with your money. Your circle graph (pie
chart) must be included in your presentation. You must also include a list of your sources.
Your presentation should be less than 5 minutes long. Please make sure that you practice your
presentation before you present to the class. Any remaining money may be spent any way you
wish! Please do not wait until the last minute to complete this project. 
Sample Checks: Please make as many as you need.
_____________________
___________
_____________________
_____________________
Date ___________________
Pay to the Order of_______________________________________________________________ $ _________________
__________________________________________________________________Dollars
XYZ Bank
899 Carver Lane
Plymouth, MA 02360
For ___________________________
_________________________________________
12345691
000000000012345678 4567
_____________________
__________
_____________________
_____________________
Date ___________________
Pay to the Order of______________________________________________________________ $ _________________
__________________________________________________________________Dollars
XYZ Bank
899 Carver Lane
Plymouth, MA 02360
For ___________________________
_________________________________________
12345691
000000000012345678 4567
_____________________
__________
_____________________
_____________________
Date ___________________
Pay to the Order of_____________________________________________________________ $ _________________
__________________________________________________________________Dollars
XYZ Bank
899 Carver Lane
Plymouth, MA 02360
For ___________________________
_________________________________________
12345691
000000000012345678 4567
Information Page for EACH Item
Include a picture and a brief description of each purchased item. You must include but are not limited to the
following details in your descriptions:
Description of the item
Picture of the item and web address where you found the image
Price of the item.
Taxes necessary to purchase the item.
Total price of the item. Show your math work – your computations.
Why you chose this item
_____ Page number
Scrapbook Example Page:
Object: 2013 Toyota Corolla
Category: Car
Pg2
Price: $18,000.00
$16,230.00 (add tax)
(18,000.00) 8.25%
=$19,485
Source:
http://www.google.com/imgres?start=28&num=10&hl=en&tbo=d&biw=930&bih=606&tbm=isch&tbnid=vUTIna3y_0MmaM:&imgrefurl=http://www.pakwheels.com/forums/news
-articles-driver-education-safety/192172-2013-toyota-corolla-
leaked-pictures&docid=slz0LIgvBFrLBM&imgurl=http://www.pakwheels.com/forums/attachments/news-articles-driver-education-safety/407343d1325688004-2013-toyota-corolla-leaked-pictures-toyotacamry_au_version_2012_1024x768_wallpaper_21.jpg&w=800&h=600&ei=mfCrUIHfA4igywH_xYGwCA&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=358&sig=117908369832
387908674&sqi=2&page=3&tbnh=144&tbnw=200&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:40,s:0,i:64&tx=32&ty=61
Description: This is a highly recommended and reliable vehicle. It gets excellent
gas mileage and is not too expensive.
Why do I want this car? I chose this car because it is reasonably priced, will last
a very long time, and does very well on gas. I think this is an attractive blue
color and it looks like it’s a lot of fun to take on road trips!
Name:__________________________________________
Criteria for Success Checklist
I spent $1,000,000 or less.
I placed at least $25,000 in a savings account.
I calculated the amount of interest I will earn by the time I turn 18.
I saved enough for four years of college, including tuition, room, board, books
and other expenses.
I purchased a house and I did not spend more than $500,000 on it.
I donated money to a charity, but I didn’t donate more than $100,000.
I calculated the cost to take my family on a vacation, including transportation,
lodging, entertainment and spending money.
If I invested money, I invested less than $25,000.
I included specific details about all my purchases.
I stated the cost of each of my purchases to the nearest dollar.
My presentation uses technology.
My presentation includes a list of how much I spent in each category (Savings,
College, House, Charity, Vacation, Other)
My presentation includes a circle graph (pie chart) showing how much I spent in
each category.
My presentation includes a list of sources.
My oral presentation is less than 5 minutes long.
I calculated sales tax on all purchases.
I estimated daily/monthly and yearly living expenses.
I completed a 5 paragraph essay.
Who wants to be Millionaire Project Rubric
Name:
Number of items – at least 10 items purchased
10 pts
Pictures – accurately represents all items purchased
10 pts
Calculations – complete and accurate, show all work/calculations,
20 pts
Purchase Price –for each items showing initial price, taxes and total
20 pts
Page format – item, price, picture, tax amount, neat without mistakes
10 pts
Conventions – accurate spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and
purposeful
10 pts
Checkbook Ledger Sheet – neat, accurate, totals $1,000,000
30 pts
Exact Amount Spent – can have up to $1.00 left over
10 pts
Page Order – matches the table of contents and check number order
20 pts
Binding – neat, will not fall apart, professional quality, with cover page
20 pts
Essay – 5 paragraphs, honest, creative,
12 pts
Presentation – creative,
28 pts
TOTAL
200 pts
Presentation Rubric
Criteria
4
Points
3
2
1
Made movements or
Very little
No movement or
gestures that
movement or
descriptive
Body Language
enhanced
descriptive
gestures.
articulation.
gestures.
Holds attention of entire Consistent use of Displayed minimal
No eye contact with
Eye Contact audience with the use of direct eye contact eye contact with
audience.
direct eye contact.
with audience.
audience.
Student delivers open
Student clearly
and closing remarks
Student does not
Student displays
uses either an
Introduction
that capture the
display clear
clear introductory or
introductory or
attention
of
the
introductory
or
and Closure
closing remarks. closing remark, but
audience and set the
closing remarks.
not both.
mood.
Delivery is
Delivery is either
Good use of drama and
Delivery is in bursts
patterned, but does
too quick or too
student meets
and does not meet
not meet
slow to meet
Pacing
apportioned time
apportioned time
apportioned time
apportioned time
interval.
interval.
interval.
interval.
Makes minor
Tension and
Student displays
Displays mild
mistakes, but quickly
nervousness is
relaxed, self-confident
tension; has trouble
recovers from them;
obvious; has
Poise
nature about self, with
recovering from
displays little or no
trouble recovering
no mistakes.
mistakes.
tension.
from mistakes.
Movements seemed
fluid and helped the
audience visualize.
Voice
Satisfactory use of
Use of fluid speech and
inflection, but does
inflection maintains the
not consistently use
interest of the audience.
fluid speech.
Purchased
Items & Math At least 10 are included
Content
At least 8 are
included
B= 22-24pts
C=19-21pts
____
____
____
____
Displays some
level of inflection Consistently uses a
throughout
monotone voice.
delivery.
____
Less than 5are
included or missing
math content on
more than 2 items
____
Total---->
____
At least 6 are
included
Teacher Comments:
A=25-28pts
____
F=18-0pts
Million Dollar Math Project
Essay Rubric
Organization
Editing
Fulfilled
Requirements
4
3
2
1
Essay is extremely
well-organized.
Author adjusts tone to
fit the need of the
paper. Transitions are
clear and effective.
Essay includes a very
strong introduction
and conclusion.
Essay exceeds
expectations. There
are no grammatical
errors and author has
taken responsibility to
have the paper edited
by several different
people.
Author goes beyond
what is required.
Essay includes at least
five paragraphs, a
strong introduction,
and conclusion, and
logical transitions
between paragraphs.
Essay includes at least
five paragraphs, an
introduction and
conclusion, but may
be lacking transitions.
There are no
grammatical errors
and author has taken
responsibility to have
the paper edited by
different people.
There are some
grammatical errors
and it is unclear if the
author has edited the
paper.
Essay does not
include at least five
paragraphs;
introduction and
conclusion may be
missing or
incomplete. Little or
no transitions are
used.
The grammatical
errors get in the way
of reading the essay.
Author includes a
description of each
purchase, why each
item was purchased,
what they are
planning to do with
their time, and where
they plan to live in a
clear and detailed
way.
Author includes most
of the required
information such as:
a description of each
purchase, why each
item was purchased,
what they are
planning to do with
their time, and where
they plan to live.
Author is missing
required information.
Comments:
Score: 4 3 2 1
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
How to Write a Check
This is the information you write on a check.
Your Name
Your Address
City, State, Zip
Check #
16-123/4567
Date ______1_____
Pay to the order of _____2_____________________________________
$ __3______________
4__________________________________________________________________________ dollars
Bank’s Name
Address
City, State, Zip
For _5___________________________________
1234567
6__________________________________
0000000016093829387 1001
What to write:
Example:
1.
Write the date: month, day, year.
August 5, 2006 or 8/5/06
2.
Write the name of the person or
business that gets the check.
ABC Store
Write the amount of the check in
numbers
$21.28
3.
4.
Write the amount of dollars in words.
twenty-one
Write the amount of the cents in numbers. 28/100
Draw a line to the word “dollars.”
twenty-one and 28/100--------
5.
Write a note to remember what
the check was for and which category.
party supplies/Other
Sign your name.
Your Name
6.