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Mathematically based.
Links with QCA  ICT  KS3  Unit 4 (Models: rules and investigations)
Some links with QCA Geography  KS3  Unit 24 (Passport to the World)

Edited for inclusion in WebQuestUK by Dave Kibblewhite
(Site last checked on 15th July 2004)

Introduction  |  Task  | Resources  | Process  |  Evaluation  |  Score Chart

Congratulations! You have just won a dream holiday for three to Disneyland in Anaheim, California.  When you get there you will have to hire a car so you can do a bit of sightseeing as well as going to Disneyland.  You also need to calculate as many of your expenses as possible in advance - USING DIFFERENT CURRENCY THAN YOU ARE USED TO.  Fortunately all the internet sites for car rental etc. give prices in US dollars, so you will only need to do a conversion once, to check if you are in danger of overspending.

You have saved up for the trip, and when you change your money into dollars it comes to $1,600.00. This seems a lot of money, but don't forget there are one and a half dollars to a pound, so it's really only about £1,000.
You must keep a written record of all the expenses, using several categories to make it easier to understand.

The categories are:-
food
automobile expenses
hotel accommodation
admission expenses
miscellaneous expenses

During your trip you must consider the following:-

car rental
petrol at $1.31 per gallon
hotel accommodation
food expenses of $25 per person per day
Disneyland admission (which is calculated on the number of persons for the number of days). 

MapQuest-Travel distance, hotel accommodations, and dinning.
Enterprise-Car rental rates.
Avis Car Rental-Car rental rates.
Hertz Car Rental-Car rental rates.
Disneyland-Admissions and planning information.

1. Work in groups of three and decide on the length of the holiday.
2. Find the distance for all the travelling you plan to do, and the hotel expenses, using MapQuest.
3. Find the cost of renting a car, and all the admissions expenses, using any of the resources provided.
4. Calculate the cost of petrol at $1.31 per gallon.
5. Calculate the cost of meals at $25.00 per day.
6. Use a spreadsheet to help set out your calculations.  If you have forgotten how to use a spreadsheet you may need to ask for help here.
7. What were your total expenses?
   
   
8. Did your plans go over your budget?
9. (If no, go to 11.)  If yes, by how much?
10. Use the spreadsheet to try out different ways to economise, AND leave some extra money to spend?
    
    
11. How much money did you have left over for spending?
12. If none,  use the spreadsheet to try out different ways to economise so you will have some extra money to spend?

Learners will be evaluated using a simple score chart.  Individual grades will be given based on group participation and the completion of the group project.