Lesson Plan: The Party Favor Business Challenge

Student: Ella (Age 12)
Subject: Applied Math, Business Literacy, and Professional Writing
Topic: Creating a Business Proposal for Custom Party Favors

Materials Needed

• Computer with internet access
• Word processing software (like Google Docs or Microsoft Word)
• Calculator (or a calculator app)
• Notebook and pen/pencil for brainstorming
• (Optional) A simple design tool like Canva for proposal layout

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, Ella will be able to:

1. Research and calculate the cost of materials required to produce a custom product (Cost of Goods Sold).
2. Determine a profitable sale price for a product by applying a markup percentage.
3. Create a clear, professional, one-page business proposal for a client.
4. Synthesize math, research, and writing skills to solve a real-world business problem.

The Lesson Plan

Introduction: Your First Client! (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Ella, congratulations! You've just landed your first potential client for your new party favor business. The client, Mrs. Davis, is planning her daughter Ingrid's Bat Mitzvah. It's a huge party, and she needs 75 custom party favors for all the kids attending."

The Client's Request:

• Item: Unisex boxer shorts.
• Design: They must have the phrase "I danced my tuchus off at Ingrid's Bat Mitzvah" printed on them.
• Quantity: 75 pairs.
• Your Task: Mrs. Davis needs a professional proposal from you. She needs to know exactly what you will provide and how much it will cost before she agrees to hire you. Our mission today is to build that proposal!"

Part 1: The Investigation - How Much Does It Cost? (25 minutes)

Teacher: "Before we can tell Mrs. Davis a price, we need to be detectives. We have to figure out our 'Cost of Goods Sold' – that's the business term for how much it costs us to make just ONE item."

1. Research the Boxer Shorts:
   • Using the internet (with parent supervision on shopping sites), search for "bulk plain cotton boxer shorts" or "wholesale boxer shorts."
   • Look for a price for a single pair when buying in a large quantity like 75. Find a good balance between quality and cost.
   • Goal: Write down the cost for ONE pair of shorts.
2. Research the Printing Material:
   • The best way to put letters on fabric is with Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV). Search for "Heat Transfer Vinyl sheets" or "HTV rolls."
   • Estimate how much vinyl you would need for the phrase. A standard 12x15 inch sheet can probably make 4-5 phrases.
   • Calculate the cost of the vinyl for just ONE pair of shorts. (Example: If a sheet costs $3.00 and you can make 5 phrases from it, the vinyl cost per pair is $3.00 / 5 = $0.60).
   • Goal: Write down the estimated cost of vinyl for ONE pair of shorts.
3. Calculate Total Cost Per Item:
   • Add the two costs together: (Cost of 1 pair of shorts) + (Cost of vinyl for 1 pair) = Total Cost Per Favor.
   • This is your secret number! It's the absolute minimum you need to charge just to break even.

Part 2: The Profit Plan - Setting Your Price (15 minutes)

Teacher: "Great work! Now you know what it costs YOU to make one favor. But a business needs to make a profit. Profit pays for your time, your talent, and helps your business grow. We need to decide on your 'Sale Price'."

1. Understanding Markup: A common business strategy is to use a "markup." You take your cost and multiply it to get your sale price. A simple markup is 2x (known as "keystone") or 3x the cost.
   • A 2x markup gives you a decent profit.
   • A 3x markup is for more custom, high-value items, which this is! Let's use a 3x markup for this project.
2. Calculate the Sale Price Per Favor:
   • Take your Total Cost Per Favor (from Part 1) and multiply it by 3.
   • (Total Cost Per Favor) x 3 = Sale Price Per Favor. Round to a nice-looking number, like $14.50 or $15.00.
3. Calculate the Total Project Price:
   • Now, calculate the full price for the client.
   • (Sale Price Per Favor) x 75 = Total Project Price. This is the final number the client will pay.

Part 3: The Big Pitch - Creating Your Proposal (25 minutes)

Teacher: "You have your numbers. Now it's time to look professional. Open up a new document. A good proposal is clear, simple, and has all the important information. Let's build it section by section."

Proposal Structure:

• Header: Your Business Name (make one up!), Your Name, Date.
• Client Information: Proposal for: Mrs. Davis, Event: Ingrid's Bat Mitzvah.
• Project Summary (1-2 sentences):
  Example: "This proposal outlines the cost and plan for creating 75 custom boxer short party favors for Ingrid's Bat Mitzvah."
• Item Description:
  A clear description of what the client gets.
  Example: "One pair of high-quality, 100% cotton unisex boxer shorts featuring the custom phrase 'I danced my tuchus off at Ingrid's Bat Mitzvah' in durable heat transfer vinyl."
• Cost Breakdown:
  Be transparent! This builds trust.
  • Price Per Item: [Your Sale Price Per Favor]
  • Quantity: 75
  • Total Project Price: [Your Total Project Price]
• Timeline (Estimate):
  Let the client know how long it will take.
  Example: "Please allow 2-3 weeks for production and delivery after proposal approval."
• Closing:
  A polite closing.
  Example: "Thank you for considering my business for this special occasion! I look forward to working with you."

Part 4: Final Review & Polish (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Let's review your final proposal. A professional document is like a firm handshake—it makes a great first impression."

Review Checklist:

• [ ] Is the spelling and grammar correct?
• [ ] Is the math double-checked and accurate?
• [ ] Are all the sections from Part 3 included?
• [ ] Does it look clean and easy to read (good spacing, clear font)?
• [ ] Are you proud to send this to a client?

Extension & Creativity (Optional)

• Level Up Your Brand: Use a tool like Canva to create a simple, fun logo for your business and add it to the proposal header.
• Competitive Analysis: Do a quick search on a site like Etsy for "custom party favors" or "custom boxers." Are your prices competitive? This helps you understand your place in the market.
• Write a Follow-Up Email: Draft a short, professional email to "Mrs. Davis" with your proposal attached.

Assessment

The completed, one-page business proposal will serve as the assessment for this lesson. It will be evaluated based on the checklist in Part 4, ensuring accuracy in calculations, clarity of communication, and professional presentation.