Mission: Design a One-of-a-Kind Mini Theme Park

Materials Needed

• Paper or graph paper
• Pencil, eraser, ruler, and colored pencils or crayons
• Coins, counters, or small objects for modeling money
• Calculator, optional
• Scissors and building materials such as blocks, craft sticks, or recycled boxes, optional
• “Theme Park Planner” recording sheet or notebook

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, the learner will be able to:

• Add and subtract money amounts involving dollars and cents.
• Use multiplication to calculate the cost of several identical items.
• Represent a plan on a simple grid or map.
• Explain mathematical thinking using words, pictures, numbers, or models.
• Create a themed mini theme park that stays within a budget.

Success Criteria

A successful project will:

• Include at least four attractions or activities.
• Show a clear map with labels.
• Use accurate addition, subtraction, and multiplication.
• Stay within the assigned budget of $50.
• Include a short explanation of the design choices.

Introduction: The Theme Park Challenge

Hook: Imagine you have been hired to design a brand-new theme park. Your park must be exciting, easy to navigate, and affordable for visitors. Can you create the best park while spending no more than $50?

Tell the learner:

“Today you will be a park designer, mapmaker, and mathematician. You will use a budget, solve real-world problems, and create a park that reflects your own interests.”

Invite the learner to choose a theme, such as:

• Space adventure
• Animals and nature
• Sports
• Books and stories
• Science inventions
• Fantasy or superheroes

Part 1: Explore the Park Budget

I Do: Model the Thinking

Explain that a budget is the amount of money available to spend. Model one example:

Think aloud:

“First, I add the whole dollars: 8 + 6 + 7 + 9 = 30. Then I add the cents: 0 + 0 + 50 + 25 = 75 cents. The total is $30.75. I still have $19.25 left from my $50 budget.”

We Do: Solve Together

Work through these questions together:

1. How much would two game booths cost? Answer: $12.00
2. How much would three small rides cost? Answer: $27.75
3. If the park spends $34.50, how much money remains? Answer: $15.50

Quick Check: Ask the learner to explain why it is important to line up decimal points when adding money.

You Do: Create a Feature Price List

Have the learner create a price list for at least six possible park features. They may use the sample prices below or invent reasonable prices.

Part 2: Design the Theme Park Map

I Do: Demonstrate Map Planning

On graph paper, draw a simple rectangular park. Demonstrate how to:

1. Draw an entrance.
2. Place attractions in different areas.
3. Add paths connecting the attractions.
4. Leave space for visitors to move around.
5. Label each feature clearly.

Explain that a map is easier to use when it has a title, labels, paths, and a key or legend.

We Do: Plan the Layout

Discuss the following questions:

• Where should the entrance go?
• Should noisy rides be near quiet areas?
• Where should the snack stand be located?
• How can visitors travel from one attraction to another?
• What safety features should the park include?

Invite the learner to sketch a rough plan before creating the final map.

You Do: Draw the Final Map

The learner creates a colorful, labeled theme park map. The map must include:

• A park name and theme
• An entrance and exit
• At least four attractions
• Paths or roads
• A snack or rest area
• A map key or legend

Part 3: Complete the Budget Challenge

I Do: Model a Budget Table

Show how to organize costs in a table:

Explain that multiplication can find the total cost of repeated items:

2 small rides × $9.25 = $18.50

We Do: Check the Sample Budget

Ask:

• Is the sample plan within the $50 budget?
• How much money remains?
• What feature could be added with the remaining money?

Answers: The plan is within budget. It has $8.75 remaining. The learner could add a rest area for $3.25 or save the money for decorations.

You Do: Make Your Own Budget

The learner chooses features from the price list and completes a budget table. They must:

1. Choose at least four features.
2. Calculate the total cost of repeated features.
3. Add all costs.
4. Subtract the total from $50.
5. Revise the plan if it goes over budget.

Challenge Question: Can you spend between $45 and $50 without going over?

Part 4: Park Designer Presentation

The learner presents the completed park to a family member, teacher, or group. The presentation should include:

• The park’s name and theme
• A tour of the map
• The total cost
• The amount of money left
• One design choice and the reason for it
• One feature the learner would add with a larger budget

After the presentation, the listener asks at least two questions, such as:

• Which attraction would you visit first?
• Why did you place that feature there?
• How did you stay within budget?

Formative Assessment

• Listen for accurate use of addition, subtraction, and multiplication.
• Ask the learner to explain how they calculated one total.
• Check whether decimal points are lined up correctly.
• Review the rough map before the final map is drawn.
• Ask the learner to estimate whether the park will be within budget before calculating exactly.

Summative Assessment

Evaluate the final project using this rubric:

Differentiation and Support

For Learners Who Need More Support

• Use whole-dollar prices before introducing cents.
• Provide a completed example of the budget table.
• Allow the learner to use coins, counters, or a calculator.
• Limit the choices to four features.
• Work on the budget and map on separate days.
• Use sentence starters such as, “My park costs ___ because…”

For Learners Ready for More Challenge

• Add admission prices and calculate the money earned from 25 visitors.
• Use area or perimeter to determine the size of the park.
• Create a second design and compare which plan gives better value.
• Include discounts, such as a $2.50 coupon.
• Write a persuasive advertisement for the theme park.
• Build a three-dimensional model from recycled materials.

Conclusion: Reflect and Recap

Ask the learner to complete these statements:

• “Today I learned that a budget is…”
• “I used multiplication when…”
• “One design choice I made was…”
• “The most challenging part was…”
• “If I redesigned my park, I would…”

Recap the key ideas:

• Budgets help people make decisions about spending.
• Multiplication is useful when the same cost appears more than once.
• Maps use labels, paths, and symbols to communicate information.
• Mathematics helps people plan, create, and solve real-world problems.

Optional Follow-Up Activities

• Design a park brochure with opening hours and attraction descriptions.
• Create a menu for the snack stand and calculate the cost of an order.
• Write a short story about a visitor spending a day in the park.
• Compare the design with a real amusement park map.
• Build the park using blocks, cardboard, or a digital drawing program.