UNIT TITLE: Buying Your First Car                                        

Author: Steve Webster
E-Mail Address: Steven.Webster@chsd218.org
School: Dwight D. Eisenhower High School : Blue Island, IL
School Home Page URL: www.chsd218.org

THEME : Explorer (car buyer)

BROAD CONCEPT: Survival

GRADES: 10 through 12

INTEGRATED SUBJECTS: Driver Education, Economics, Mathematics, Reading, Writing.

UNIT GOALS AND PURPOSE: Students through this unit will gain a more clear understanding of what type of research and preparation is required when making a major investment such as buying a car. Students will be encouraged to work together through cooperative learning activities. Students will also be encouraged to think creatively through the many tasks in this lesson. Students will be evaluated using a variety of formal and informal assessments and a final project culminating in a webquest where students will purchase their first car.

TIME FRAME: Two to Two and a Half Weeks

OBJECTIVES:

In this lesson, students will:

• Gain a greater understanding of Car Buying.
• Gain a greater understanding of money management.
• Effectively use the Internet to locate information vital to researching the car they will purchase.
• Work cooperatively to create a PowerPoint presentation on car buying tips.
• Integrate writing by producing a written account of what steps they would follow to buy a car.

MATERIALS:

• General materials and equipment: Paper, pencil, textbook

• Technology tools Computer, Projector

• Software Used in this Unit

Brainstorming (Inspiration)

Word Processing (MS Word)

MS PowerPoint

Spreadsheet (MS Excel)

Internet

STATE STANDARDS ADDRESSED BY THIS UNIT:

Mathematics

6.B.2 Solve one- and two-step problems involving whole numbers, fractions and decimals using addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

6.C.4 Determine whether exact values or approximations are appropriate (e.g., bid a job, determine gas mileage for a trip).

Social Studies

15.B.4a Explain the costs and benefits of making consumer purchases through differing means (e.g., credit, cash).

15.B.2c Explain that when a choice is made, something else is given up.

15.B.5b Analyze how inflation and interest rates affect consumer purchasing power.

Reading and Writing

1.B.4a Preview reading materials, clarify meaning, analyze overall themes and coherence, and relate reading with information from other sources.

1.B.4c Read age-appropriate material with fluency and accuracy

3.A.3 Write compositions that contain complete sentences and effective paragraphs using English conventions.

3.C.3b Using available technology, produce compositions and multimedia works for specified audiences.

4.A.4a Apply listening skills as individuals and members of a group in a variety of settings (e.g., lectures, discussions, conversations, team projects, presentations, interviews).

4.A.4b Apply listening skills in practical settings (e.g., classroom note taking, interpersonal conflict situations, giving and receiving directions, evaluating persuasive messages).

4.A.4c Follow complex oral instructions.

4.B.4d Use verbal and nonverbal strategies to maintain communication and to resolve individual and group conflict.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES WHICH WILL PROMOTE ENGAGED LEARNING:

LESSON 1: Students will use Inspiration program to Brainstorm thoughts and ideas on what a person should do when they want to buy a car. What is the students’ prior knowledge about subject?

LESSON 2: Students will use their textbooks and MS Word to complete a writing sample on what procedures should be followed when buying a car.

LESSON 3: Students will be grouped together and use MS PowerPoint to create a slide show presentation on car buying tips. Students can use textbook, websites, and tips from parents to create show.

LESSON 4: Students will use MS Word to compile a list of cars that they are interested in purchasing. The must provide the options in which they are interesting in such as power seats, sunroof, 6 CD changer.

LESSON 5: Students will use the Internet to locate the cars on their list and to locate the pricing on those vehicles. Students will use websites such as http://www.carmax.com/, http://www.ford.com/, http://www.gm.com/.

LESSON 6: Students will use the following link to determine how interest rates will effect how much money they will actually pay for their vehicle. This lesson will help the students to learn about financing and how it works. This is relevant because most students will not be able to pay the entire purchase price of the car they want.

LESSON 7: After a short lecture on insurance coverage’s students will use the Internet to browse several insurance company websites and request quotes based on the cars they researched earlier in the week. Insurance is an important concept to remember to discuss when talking about car buying because your students’ must be made aware that they will not be driving legally until they obtain insurance coverage.

LESSON 8: Students will use MS Word to list the different types of insurance coverages and what each type of coverage protects you from. They will also list whether the coverage is needed on a new car or not.

LESSON 9: Using MS Excel students will create a spreadsheet to determine the total cost for purchasing the car the researched earlier in the week. The total cost must include purchase price, options, 7% sales tax, title and licensing fees (provided by teacher), and the insurance quote they obtained. The students will also use the spreadsheet to determine what the monthly cost would be to own the vehicle. They will determine this using the loan calculator they used earlier in the week to get their monthly car payment, and then they will add in their monthly insurance payment.

                        LESSON 10: THE JOY OF CAR SHOPPING webquest. Students will partner up and complete The Joy of Car Shopping webquest. Students                             will also present their findings to their classmates. The webquest can be found by clicking here. Students will be graded using the rubric that is                                 displayed in the Share Your Ideas section of this template.

SHARE YOUR IDEAS:

Students will share their experience of shopping for their first car by completing the assigned webquest. Students will gather and collect their information and will present their findings to their classmates. They will be graded using the following rubric.

Evaluation

Objective	Beginning 0-3 points	Developing 4-6 points	Accomplished 7-8 points	Exemplary 9-10 points	Score
Create a table that displays the information concerning the five vehicles that have been located.	The table created displays information for one or two vehicles.	The table created displays information for only three vehicles.	The table displays information for five or more vehicles, but had limited information regarding the details about each vehicle.	The table displays information for five or more vehicles, including thorough information regarding the details about each vehicle.
Ensure that the vehicle meets the requirements established by your parents.	The team found vehicles, but none of them met the requirements established by your parents.	The team found vehicles that met one or two of the requirements established by your parents.	The team found vehicles that met three or four of the requirements established by your parents.	The team found vehicles that met all of the requirements established by your parents.
Identify three web sites, which were particularly helpful in this project and explain what information they provided.	The team identified one web site used in this project and explained what information was provided at the web site.	The team identified two web sites used in this project and explained what information was provided at each web site.	The team identified three web sites used in this project, but did not explain what information was provided at each web site.	The team identified three web sites used in this project and explained what information was provided at each web site.
Present your findings for steps 6 through 8 orally to the class.	The team left out one or more steps during the presentation of their findings.	The team presented its findings from 6 through 8, but did not explain their findings.	The team presented its findings from 6 through 8, but lacked thoroughness and clarity.	The team thoroughly presented its findings from steps 6 through 8 in a clear and concise manner.
Points earned x 2.5 = _____ Grade = _______

STUDENT AND TEACHER ROLES:

Student Roles: Students will be explorer, Cognitive Apprentice, and Producers of Knowledge for this project. These roles will be defined through cooperative learning, presentations, and use of technology.

Teacher Role: The teacher will act as a facilitator, guide, and co-learner during this unit. The teacher provides the material for the students to produce the work and thought through group work, presentations, etc.

ADDITIONAL REFERENCE PRINT RESOURCES STUDENTS MAY USE :

Textbook, Teacher Handouts

THE FOLLOWING BOOKS CONTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TOPIC:

What Car Dealers Don’t Want You to Know by Mark Eskeldson

Buying a Car for Dummies by Deanna Sclar

How to Buy a Car by James R. Ross

Don’t Get Taken Every Time by Remar Sutton

FOR ADDITIONAL ONLINE INFORMATION AND MEDIA PERTAINING TO THIS UNIT, TEACHERS MAY WANT TO USE THE FOLLOWING INTERNET ARTICLES: 

Title1: Kelly Blue Book

URL1: http://www.kbb.com/

Description1: Website for pricing new and used cars. Includes what you could expect to pay a private owner and what your trade in might be worth.

Title2: Carsmart.com

URL2: http://www.carsmart.com/

Description2: Comprehensive auto site assists with car buying, leasing, financing, auto reviews, pricing and vehicle specifications.

Title3: Car Buying Tips

URL3: http://www.newcar101.com/

Description3: New Car 101 is a free consumer car-buying guide. Learn in minutes how to save thousands buying a car. Real, honest advice - no hype.

Title4: A Car Buying Guide

URL4: http://www.smarsense.com/

Description4: Want to be prepared when buying a car? Free hints and a guide to getting the best deal on a new or used car can be found here.   

Title5: The Webquest Page at San Diego State

URL5: webquest.sdsu.edu/

Description5: Ready-made web search activities and training materials to make your own.

Title6: Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators-Webquests

URL6: school.discovery.com/schrockguide/webquest/webquest.html

Description6: A categorized, annotated list of over 2000 sites to help educators, teachers, and parents enhance instruction and support the curriculum.

RELEVANT INFORMATION, STUDENTS WILL VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEB SITES:

Title1: Cars.com

URL1: cars.com

Purpose of Use1: Help students locate and review car prices.

Description1: The cars.com Buying Guide series helps you do research by vehicle type and includes photos, invoice prices and reviews for every vehicle on sale in the US

Title2: Drive the Best Car Buying Guide

URL2: http://www.drivethebestbook.com/

Purpose of Use2: Help students locate car prices and car buying tips.

Description2: Tips and information on buying a car, suv, minivan and saving money, articles (making vehicles run longer, lowering repair costs. 

Title3: Geico Car Insurance

URL3: http://www.geico.com/

Purpose of Use3: Help students get car insurance quote.

Description3: GEICO auto insurance, online car insurance quote, motorcycle insurance quote,
online insurance sales and service from a leading insurance company

Title4: Progressive Auto Insurance

URL4: http://www.progressive.com/

Purpose of Use4: Help students get car insurance quote.

Description4: Provides instant online auto insurance quotes, insurance rate comparisons.
Offers motorcycle, RV, boat, or car insurance. Purchase insurance online.   

Title5: Nine Ways to Lower Your Auto Insurance Costs

URL5: http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/cars/autoinsu/autoinsu.htm

Purpose of Use5: Provide students with information on how to lower their insurance.

Description5: Nine tips for lowering the cost of insuring your vehicle, provided by the US Federal Consumer Information Center and the Insurance Information Institute 

Title6: CarBuyingTips.com Guide To Auto Insurance

URL6: http://www.carbuyingtips.com/insurance.htm

Purpose of Use6: Provide students with information on car insurance quotes and scams.

Description6: Car insurance, auto insurance, car insurance quotes, car insurance tips, automobile insurance Car dealers hate us... You'll Love us!