Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to apply arithmetic skills in a fun and engaging way while playing Zoo Tycoon on Xbox.

Materials and Prep

• Xbox console with Zoo Tycoon game
• Controller
• Paper and pencil for note-taking

Prior knowledge of basic arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) is recommended.

Activities

1. Start the Zoo Tycoon game on Xbox and choose a zoo to manage.

Take a moment to explore the game and familiarize yourself with the different aspects of running a zoo.

2. Create a budget for your zoo by setting aside a certain amount of money for various expenses, such as animal care, habitat construction, and visitor amenities.

Use your arithmetic skills to calculate the total amount of money needed for each expense and adjust your budget accordingly.

3. Monitor the income and expenses of your zoo as you play the game.

Keep track of the money coming in from visitors and the money going out for different zoo-related activities.

4. Analyze the financial situation of your zoo and make decisions to ensure its financial stability.

Use arithmetic operations to determine if you need to cut costs, increase ticket prices, or invest in new attractions to attract more visitors.

5. Reflect on the financial decisions you made and their impact on the success of your zoo.

Consider the consequences of your choices and think about how you can improve your financial management skills in the game.

Third Grade Talking Points

• "In the game Zoo Tycoon, we get to manage our own zoo and make important decisions about its finances."
• "We need to use arithmetic skills to calculate the total amount of money needed for different expenses in our zoo."
• "By monitoring the income and expenses of our zoo, we can make informed decisions to keep it financially stable."
• "We can use arithmetic operations to determine if we need to cut costs, increase ticket prices, or invest in new attractions to attract more visitors."
• "Reflecting on our financial decisions helps us learn from our mistakes and improve our financial management skills in the game."