See the step by step guides for details on using these sites: Edmunds guide | Kelly Bluebook guide

Click here to see the Microsoft Excel Car Payment Calculator Set Up Guide .

Click here to see the Microsoft Excel Car Payment Calculator sample spreadsheet.

Click here to download a copy of the Directions for this lesson in Word format.

Planning/Time:

The lesson take should four sessions in the computer lab of 60 minutes each.

Before going to the lab, prepare students for the lesson, by going over the process.

Session 1 - Introduction. Go through the assignment and set expectations. Set up the Excel calculator or download the example file. Practice exploring the Edmunds and Kelly Blue Book sites so that students are comfortable with them. Take a look at the exemplary examples and go over the rubric. Use the rubric as the reference point.

Session 2 - Reserve this session for working on locating the cars for the customers.

Session 3 - Reserve this session for creating the presentation model for the cars found for each customer.

Session 4 - Reserve this session for sharing the students' work with each other.

Computer Science AKS:

6th Grade:

• identify the purpose and functions of spreadsheets (QCC) (6CS_F2001-24)
  
• identify the components of spreadsheets (cells, rows and columns) (QCC) (6CS_F2001-25)
  
• demonstrate the use of formulas (QCC) (6CS_F2001-26)
  
• create, save and present a multimedia project (QCC) (6CS_G2001-29)

7th Grade:

• demonstrate understanding of purpose and function of a spreadsheet (QCC) (7CS_H2001-22)
  
• demonstrate understanding of components of a spreadsheet (change size of columns and rows) (QCC) (7CS_H2001-23)
  
• demonstrate the use of formulas (QCC) (7CS_H2001-24)

8th Grade:

• master identification and application of the purpose and function of spreadsheets (QCC) (8CS_G2001-16)
  
• master the use of formulas (minimum and maximum) (QCC) (8CS_G2001-19)
  
• create a project and save it (QCC) (8CS_I2001-31)

Math AKS:

• 6th Grade 6MA_B2001-16 (QCC 01 and 11) Relates to proportions, percents et al
• 7th Grade 7MA_B2002-05 (QCC 10 and 40) Relates to proportions, percents et al
• 8th Grade 8MAA_D2003-36 and -37 (QCC 12, 41 and 42) Relate to percents et al and also to using exponents.

Here are some site that can help you with the terms, acronyms, abbreviations and initials associated with cars.

Dictionary of Automotive Terms & Abbreviations
http://www.100megsfree4.com/dictionary/car-dica.htm

CAR Library Acronyms, Abbreviations and Initials
http://www.dar.csiro.au/library/faqsandtips/acronyms.html

Extension Recommendation to Teachers:

For loans:

For 6th grade, don't use interest on loans at all.
For 7th grade, include the interest rate loan sites, but not the calculators.
They should do simple interest only.
For 8th grade and beyond, they can use the interest rates and the calculators.
They can use the compound interest.

For Insurance, the student should find the insurance rates first for the cars and determine the monthly payment by dividing by the time frame (usually 6 months). The sites chosen do not charge for a quote. They also encourage "comparison shopping". The students may require names and/or email sites. If you want to protect them, have a default site established and a default name (e.g. Joe Berkmar) that will take the email and not expose the students to any solicitations. The sites do not always require this (not even a last name in many cases), but you need to have the students know they should not enter any fields other than required fields.

Click here for links to Car Insurance and Finance Sites.