MA Financial Literacy Standards Gross to Net Pay Calculations
You work at a distribution warehouse earning $16.00 per hour. Check your shifts:
1. Gross Pay
$352.00
22 hrs × $16.00/hr
2. Taxes & FICA (15%)
-$52.80
$352.00 × 0.15
3. Net Take-Home Pay
$299.20
$352.00 - $52.80
Handout Task 5: Complete Task 5 on Handout Page 2: Calculate total hours (22), Gross ($352), Taxes ($52.80), and Net ($299.20)!
MA ELA W.7 • Capstone Pathways How Your Topic Connects Weeks 1 to 5
Your choice today determines the story you build across all 5 weekly slide decks:
PATH 1: TIME
Sumer to Paychecks
W1: Base-60 • W2: Work shifts • W3: Clock math • W4: App algorithms • W5: Showcase
PATH 2: RIGHTS
Babylon to DoorDash
W1: Teamwork • W2: Hammurabi • W3: Stela vs OSHA • W4: Gig contracts • W5: Showcase
PATH 3: CITIES
Indus to Water Bills
W1: Flood plain • W2: Grid plans • W3: Sewage pipes • W4: Droughts & collapse • W5: Showcase
PATH 4: MACHINES
Egypt to Warehouses
W1: Nile logistics • W2: Ramps/rollers • W3: Forklifts • W4: Cargo routes • W5: Showcase
Handout Task 6: Find Task 6 on Handout Page 2: Circle your chosen project pathway!
Project Studio • Slide 1 of 8 Title & Hook (Tailored by Pathway)
Today's studio deliverable: Create the title slide of your capstone presentation based on your pathway:
PATHWAY 1 OR 2 EXAMPLES:
"From Mud Bricks to Minimum Wage: How Sumer Controls Your Work Clock"
OR: "Stone Pillars to Swipe Badges: How Babylon Created Your Job Rights"
PATHWAY 3 OR 4 EXAMPLES:
"Brick Sewers to Bottled Water: The Indus Legacy of Clean Plumbing"
OR: "From Pyramid Ramps to Amazon Docks: The Physics of Heavy Freight"
Handout Task 7: Find Task 7 on Handout Page 2: Draft your Project Slide 1 Title, Subtitle, and Byline!
Project Studio • Slide 2 of 8 Ancient Context & 3 Facts
Today's second studio deliverable: Give your audience 3 solid historical facts about your topic:
Fact 1: Where & When
River valley location and specific BCE date or centuries.
Fact 2: Who Built It
The historical leaders, craftsmen, or laborers involved.
Fact 3: The Purpose
The survival crisis or practical problem the innovation solved.
Handout Task 8: Find Task 8 on Handout Page 2: Write your 3 bullet points for Project Slide 2 and submit your handout!
Educator Resource • Unit 1
MA HSS WHI.T1.4 • Math 6-7.RP
Week 3: City Grids, Sewers & DoorDash Prices Lesson 3 Keys
Civil Engineering (Task 2) & Binary Weights (Task 4):
Straight Grids: Perpendicular avenues allow underground terracotta pipes to maintain a constant downward gravity slope without mechanical pumps. Sharp turns cause solid waste settling and blockages.
Binary Weights: Missing doubling weights are 8 and 32 (Sequence: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64).
Unit Pricing Solutions (Task 6) vs. DoorDash Markup:
Brand A (12 oz): $3.60 ÷ 12 oz = $0.30 per oz
Brand B (28 oz): $5.60 ÷ 28 oz = $0.20 per oz
Verdict: Brand B saves $0.10/oz (33.3% cheaper). On DoorDash Convenience, Brand A costs $5.25 ($0.44/oz) before delivery fees—a 45% markup over in-store!
Week 4: Trade Routes to DoorDash Logistics MA HSS WHI.T1.1 • ELA W.7
Cuneiform as Data & Ancient Supply Chains (Tasks 2–4):
• Written Records: Cuneiform began as an accounting tool to verify trade deliveries and barley payments, not poetry.
• Trade Logistics: Mesopotamia had fertile grain but zero metals/wood. If caravans halted, bronze production stopped.
• Couriers vs. Gig Drivers: Ancient messengers carried sealed bullae on foot; modern 1099 drivers navigate GPS algorithms with personal gas/cars.
DoorDash Markup Math (Task 5) & Tamper Seals (Task 6): In-store meal $12.00 vs. DoorDash total $23.50 → $11.50 extra cost ($23.50 - $12.00), representing a 95.8% total price increase!
Tamper Seals: Clay bullae and branded DoorDash stickers both guarantee that third-party delivery runners cannot open or steal cargo in transit.
Teacher Answer Key & Guide • Unit 1: Ancient River Valleys Page 2 of 3 • Weeks 3 & 4
Educator Resource • Unit 1
MA HSS WHI.T1.6 • ELA SL.4
Week 5 Content: Soil Salinization, Droughts & TikTok Attention (Tasks 2–4):
• Soil Salinization: Canal water evaporated in intense desert heat, leaving salt crystals that poisoned fertile soils until barley could no longer germinate.
• Modern Parallel: Colorado River reservoir depletion (Lake Mead) and lead pipe failures (Flint, MI) prove modern cities collapse if water systems are neglected.
• TikTok vs. Legacy: Viral social media spikes for 48 hours; ancient civic laws and stone infrastructure lasted 5,000 years to create our modern world.
| Category | Proficient Criteria (Full Credit) | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1. "Then & Now" Link | Accurately contrasts ancient river innovation with teen life (jobs, contracts, DoorDash, budgeting). | 30 pts |
| 2. Slide Visual Design | 8 readable slides, fonts 24pt+, max 4 bullets, 2 clear side-by-side comparison images on Slide 5. | 25 pts |
| 3. Weekly Milestones | Completed Week 1–4 handout checks (2 slides drafted per week during Wednesday blocks). | 25 pts |
| 4. Sharing / Voice | Delivered 2-minute talk, recorded video voiceover, or completed 1-on-1 teacher review. | 20 pts |
Alt-Ed Low-Anxiety Presentation Accommodations:
• Option A (Live 2-Min Talk): Student stands at podium with slides projected; peer audience keeps screens half-down.
• Option B (Screencastify / Video): Student records audio voiceover on Chromebook with headphones during studio time.
• Option C (1-on-1 Conference): Student walks through slides at teacher's desk in conversational format.
Teacher Answer Key & Guide • Unit 1: Ancient River Valleys Page 3 of 3 • Week 5 & Assessment
1. Time & Wages: Sumer Base-60 • Work shifts • Gross vs Net • Algorithms • Showcase
2. Rights & Gigs: Babylon law • W-2 vs DoorDash • Breakroom OSHA • Tamper seals • Showcase
3. Cities & Water: Flood basins • Indus street grids • Utility taxes • Water crises • Showcase
4. Freight Machines: Nile floods • Ramps/rollers • Forklifts • Global cargo • Showcase
Project Studio: Building Your First Two Slides (Slides 1 & 2 of 8)
Tasks 7 & 8
Task 7 • Project Slide 1: Catchy Title Hook, Subtitle & Byline e.g., "From Mud Bricks to Minimum Wage"
Task 8 • Project Slide 2: 3 Ancient Historical Facts (Where, When, Purpose) Civilization location, date, and problem solved
Unit 1: River Valleys • Week 1 Handout (MA Math N-Q • ELA W.7) Page 2 of 2
Needs (50%) $1,200 × 0.50 =
Wants (30%) $1,200 × 0.30 =
Savings (20%) $1,200 × 0.20 =
Wants Stress Test: If your monthly phone bill is $85 and gaming subscription is $45, calculate your remaining fun money (Show subtraction: $360 - $85 - $45):
Project Studio: Building Your Mechanism & Modern Parallel (Slides 3 & 4 of 8)
Tasks 7 & 8
Task 7 • Project Slide 3: The Science / Math / Mechanism Angle How the tool, law, or physics actually worked
Task 8 • Project Slide 4: The Modern Teen Parallel ("Then vs Now") Connect directly to your jobs, rights, or routines
Unit 1: River Valleys • Week 2 Handout Page 2 of 2
Project Studio: Building Visual Match & Data Proof (Slides 5 & 6 of 8)
Tasks 7 & 8
Task 7 • Project Slide 5: Side-by-Side Visual Photo Description Describe Photo A (Ancient Artifact) & Photo B (Modern Parallel)
Task 8 • Project Slide 6: Mathematical or Data Evidence Analysis Calculations, ratios, or budget statistics supporting your argument
Unit 1: River Valleys • Week 3 Handout Page 2 of 2
Applied STE Physics Trading Distance for Force
Ancient Egyptian builders had no engines or forklifts. They relied on simple machines and physics:
INCLINED PLANES (RAMPS)
Lifting a 5,000-lb stone straight up takes 5,000 lbs of force. Pulling it up a gentle ramp takes only 500 lbs! Modern Amazon loading docks and delivery ramps use this exact physics.
CYLINDRICAL ROLLERS
Sliding friction produces massive resistance. Putting smooth wooden logs under heavy loads substitutes rolling friction, cutting effort by 80%! Modern conveyor belts use this same rule.
Handout Task 5: Find Task 5 on Handout Page 2: Explain how ramps and rollers reduce physical lifting effort!
Financial Literacy Lab Budgeting Net Income
Your monthly take-home pay is $1,200.00. Follow the standard financial rule:
Needs (50%)
$600.00
$1,200 × 0.50 (Rent, Groceries, Bus)
Wants (30%)
$360.00
$1,200 × 0.30 (Phone, Fun, Clothes)
Savings (20%)
$240.00
$1,200 × 0.20 (Emergency Fund)
Handout Task 6: Find Task 6 on Handout Page 2: Calculate the 3 budget buckets, then subtract $85 phone & $45 gaming!
Project Studio • Slide 3 of 8 The Science & Mechanism Layer
Today's studio deliverable: Explain how the engineering, science, or math mechanism actually worked:
Mechanism Examples to Choose For Your Topic:
Handout Task 7: Find Task 7 on Handout Page 2: Draft the content for your Project Slide 3 (The Science/Math Angle)!
Project Studio • Slide 4 of 8 The Modern Teen Parallel
Today's second studio deliverable: Connect the ancient system directly to your modern teenage life:
THEN (5,000 Years Ago)
Workers in Babylon carved wage contracts and liability onto stone pillars so rulers could not alter deals.
NOW (Your Life Today)
Whether signing an employee handbook or reading DoorDash gig contractor terms, written contracts determine who pays for damage.
Handout Task 8: Find Task 8 on Handout Page 2: Write your Project Slide 4 Modern Parallel and submit your handout!
Consumer Math Lab In-Store vs. DoorDash Convenience
Delivery apps like DoorDash quietly inflate grocery shelf prices by 20% on top of delivery fees:
The Golden Formula:
Unit Price = Total Dollar Price ÷ Total Ounces
Example: In-store cereal is $3.60 ($0.30/oz). On DoorDash Convenience, the same box is listed at $5.25 ($0.44/oz) BEFORE delivery fees!
Handout Task 5: Turn to Handout Page 2, Task 5: Write down the Unit Price Formula and the DoorDash markup trap!
Consumer Math Lab Step-by-Step Grocery Calculation
Perform the division for each box and calculate the true cost per ounce:
Brand A (Standard 12 oz)
$3.60 ÷ 12 oz
$0.30 / oz
Brand B (Family Size 28 oz)
$5.60 ÷ 28 oz
$0.20 / oz
Handout Task 6: Find Task 6 on Handout Page 2: Calculate $0.30/oz and $0.20/oz, and write which saves you money!
Project Studio • Slide 5 of 8 Side-by-Side Visual Comparison
Today's studio deliverable: Plan the two side-by-side comparison images for Slide 5:
PHOTO A: ANCIENT ARTIFACT
Example: An ancient Indus brick covered sewer trench, Hammurabi's diorite pillar, or Egyptian sledges on rollers.
PHOTO B: MODERN PARALLEL
Example: A modern city storm drainage pipe, a restaurant OSHA breakroom poster, or an Amazon warehouse loading dock.
Handout Task 7: Find Task 7 on Handout Page 2: Describe the two comparison photos you plan to use on Slide 5!
Project Studio • Slide 6 of 8 Mathematical & Data Analysis
Today's second studio deliverable: Provide mathematical or quantitative proof supporting your argument:
Data & Math Examples for Slide 6:
Handout Task 8: Find Task 8 on Handout Page 2: Write your data/math evidence for Slide 6 and submit your handout!
Handout Task 4: Find Task 4 on Handout Page 1: Compare gig delivery drivers today to ancient couriers!
Applied Consumer Math The Hidden Costs of Convenience
Convenience comes with high platform markups. Look at the real cost of a fast-food order:
In-Store Meal $12.00 Base Price
App Menu Markup +$2.50 App higher price
Service & Delivery +$5.50 Platform fees
Total Cost with Tip $23.50 Almost double!
Handout Task 5: Turn to Handout Page 2, Task 5: Calculate the percentage price increase between buying in-store ($12) vs. DoorDash ($23.50)!
Packaging & Security Technology Tamper-Proof Tracking
How do you prove that someone didn't steal food or goods during delivery?
ANCIENT CLAY BULLAE & SEALS
Merchants wrapped ropes around grain jars and pressed a unique cylinder seal into wet clay. If the seal was cracked upon arrival, the merchant knew a courier stole cargo!
MODERN TAMPER-EVIDENT STICKERS
Restaurants seal DoorDash bags with adhesive branded stickers. If the sticker seal is torn, the customer knows the bag was opened during transit. Same concept 5,000 years later!
Handout Task 6: Find Task 6 on Handout Page 2: Explain why tamper-proof seals are essential for trade trust!
Project Studio • Slide 7 of 8 Trade, Supply Chains & Logistics
Today's studio deliverable: Explain how trade, delivery, or logistics makes your topic functional:
Slide 7 Topic Prompts:
Handout Task 7: Find Task 7 on Handout Page 2: Draft the content for your Project Slide 7!
Project Studio • Slide 8 of 8 Final Verdict & 2 Verified Sources
Today's second studio deliverable: Write your 1-sentence conclusion verdict and list your 2 sources:
FINAL VERDICT SENTENCE
"Ultimately, studying ancient river valley supply chains proves that human survival has always depended on trusting written records, standardized measures, and coordinated delivery networks."
2 VERIFIED ONLINE SOURCES
List 2 credible websites (e.g. worldhistory.org, britannica.com, metmuseum.org) where you researched facts.
Handout Task 8: Complete Task 8 on Handout Page 2: Write your 1-sentence verdict and 2 source URLs!
Handout Task 4: Find Task 4 on Handout Page 1: Why does lasting community infrastructure matter more than short-lived viral attention?
Showcase Preparation Scoring & Low-Stress Delivery
Choose your delivery format: Option A (Live Talk), Option B (Video Voiceover), or Option C (1-on-1 Conference):
30 Pts
Then & Now Link
Clear contrast of ancient system to teen life
25 Pts
Slide Design
8 readable slides with 24pt+ font and 2 sharp images
25 Pts
Milestones
Completed Week 1–4 handout checks
20 Pts
Sharing / Voice
2-min talk, audio recording, or teacher review
Handout Task 5: Turn to Handout Page 2, Task 5: Circle your delivery pathway and audit your score categories!
Confidence & Practice Peer Rehearsal Sprint
Calm your nerves with 4-second box breathing, then deliver a timed 2-minute rehearsal with a partner:
BOX BREATHING RESET
Inhale 4s → Hold 4s → Exhale 4s → Pause 4s. Lowers your heart rate and resets adrenaline before speaking!
PEER FEEDBACK PROTOCOL
Partner A presents for 2 minutes; Partner B writes 1 genuine compliment and 1 actionable suggestion on their handout.
Handout Task 6: Find Task 6 on Handout Page 2: Complete your peer rehearsal and have your partner write feedback!
Showcase Arena Class Presentations & Audience Norms
Demonstrate active audience citizenship. Track 3 classmates' presentations in your notes:
SCREENS DOWN
Laptops half-closed so the presenter has everyone's undivided respect and focus.
ACTIVE LISTENING
Notice surprising historical comparisons you didn't think of in your own slides.
WARM APPLAUSE
Every speaker receives genuine applause when they conclude their final verdict.
Handout Task 7: Find Task 7 on Handout Page 2: Track 3 classmate presentations (Speaker, Topic, Standout Fact)!
Unit 1 Graduation Looking Ahead to Greece & Rome
Synthesizing Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Indus across 5 weeks of history, science, math, and civics:
Final Reflection from Handout Page 2:
"What is the most important lesson ancient river civilizations can teach our modern cities about survival and fairness?"
Consider: Coordinated teamwork, public infrastructure, written laws, and protecting everyday working people!
Handout Task 8: Write your complete 2-3 sentence reflection on Page 2, tally your score out of 100, and celebrate completing Unit 1!
Unit 1 Capstone Verified Total: Rubric Score + Milestones Check:
____ / 100 Unit 1 Complete!
Unit 1: River Valleys • Week 5 Handout Page 2 of 2
Explain why your funding model is fairer to working teens and families:
FINANCIAL LITERACY: Sales Tax at the Register
You buy a pair of work sneakers for $80.00 and a phone case for $20.00 (Subtotal: $100.00). The local sales tax rate is 8% (0.08).
1. Total Tax Amount ($100.00 × 0.08):
2. Total Checkout Cost ($100.00 + Tax):
Pecunia (Money/Cattle): Source of "pecuniary" & "impecunious".
Civitas (Citizenship): Source of "civics", "civil", and "city".
Res Publica (Public Thing): Source of "republic" (rule by law).
Unit 2 Student Packet • Classical Mediterranean Page 2 of 4
Unit 2 • Module 3
Spectacle & Event Math
Roman politicians used Panem et Circenses ("Bread and Circuses" — free grain handouts and 50,000-seat Colosseum gladiator games) to keep citizens distracted from economic inequality and political corruption. Today, mega-concerts and sports spectacles generate billions in revenue.
CLASSROOM MOVEMENT DEBATE #3: Mega-Salaries vs. Vital Workers
The Dilemma: Top Roman charioteer Gaius Appuleius Diocles made the modern equivalent of $15 billion. Today, top athletes and streamers earn $50M+/year while paramedics and teachers earn $50k/year.
STAND LEFT (Market Value): Athletes and stars generate massive broadcast profits; they deserve their share.
STAND RIGHT (Societal Value): Society's pay is broken if entertainers make 100x more than life-savers.
What is your verdict on entertainment pay vs essential work?
REAL-WORLD MONEY MATH: The True Cost of a Concert / Game
You save up to buy a stadium concert ticket advertised at $65.00. Look at the real checkout receipt:
Ticket: $65.00
Service Fee: $18.50
Facility Fee: $6.50
Parking Pass: $25.00
1. Total Cost of Outing:
2. Fees & Parking as % of Base Price ($50 ÷ $65):
Health & Nutrition: Roman gladiators ate a heavy barley-and-bean diet ("barley-men") to build a protective subcutaneous fat layer. Why do modern combat fighters focus on lean protein and calorie-cycling instead?
Unit 2 Student Packet • Classical Mediterranean Page 3 of 4
Unit 2 • Culminating Milestone
6-Slide Scaffold
Economic Link: Coin Debasement & Shrinkflation When Rome ran out of money, emperors melted silver Denarius coins and mixed in cheap copper. As silver content dropped from 95% to 5%, merchants raised prices 1,000%! Today, when food companies shrink snack sizes while charging the same price, that is shrinkflation.
STEP 1: Select Your Classical Topic & Modern Comparison
Classical Topic (e.g., Julius Caesar, Roman Aqueduct, Spartacus, Colosseum):
Modern Parallel (e.g., Political Leaders, City Water Grid, Labor Strikes, Stadiums):
STEP 2: Draft Your Unit 2 Slide Content Notes
Slide 1: Catchy Title & Hook
Slide 2: Classical Mediterranean Context & Map
Slide 3: Science / Tech / Money Angle
Slide 4: Modern Comparison ("Then vs Now")
Slide 5: Visual Image / Diagram Comparison
Slide 6: Student Opinion & 2 Sources
Unit 2 Big Takeaway: In what way is modern American society most similar to the Roman Republic or Empire?
Unit 2 Student Packet • Classical Mediterranean Page 4 of 4
Choose your side and defend your economic plan!
Financial Literacy Lab Sales Tax at the Register
Just like Roman imperial tribute built aqueducts, modern city sales tax funds your daily public life.
Item Price
$100.00
Work shoes ($80) + Case ($20)
8% Sales Tax
+$8.00
Roads, Fire, Parks, Schools
Total Checkout
$108.00
Actual cash/card deduction
Shopping Pro-Tip: Always multiply the sticker price by 1.08 to know your real checkout total!
Movement Dilemma 3 Colosseum to Modern Arenas
The Situation
LEFT → FAIR MARKET VALUE
Millions watch them; they generate billions in broadcast and ticket revenue. If players don't get paid, billionaire owners keep it.
RIGHT → BROKEN PRIORITIES
Society is upside down when life-saving workers struggle to pay rent while games and spectacle get all the wealth.
Move your feet! Defend your stance on entertainment wealth.
Consumer Math The Real Cost of Entertainment
Roman gladiators were free for plebeians. Modern concerts advertise $65 tickets, but what is the true checkout cost?
Base Ticket
$65.00
Service Fees
+$25.00
Stadium Parking
+$25.00
Total Outing
$115.00
Fees & parking added +$50.00 (a 77% markup) over the advertised ticket price!
Economic Reality Rome to Modern Grocery Aisles
When Roman emperors melted silver coins with cheap copper, money lost value and prices skyrocketed. Today:
1. Ancient Coin Debasement
Denarius went from 95% pure silver to only 5% silver. Loaf of bread went from 1/2 coin to 50 coins!
2. Modern Shrinkflation
Chip bags shrink from 10 oz to 8 oz while staying $4.50. You get 20% less food for the same cash.
Turn to Page 4 in your packet to draft your Unit 2 Presentation Plan!
Exit Challenge Four Corners Debrief
Walk to the corner representing the classical invention that impacts your daily life most.
CORNER 1
Democratic Voting & Courts
Civic rights, juries & public elections
CORNER 2
Concrete Highways & Aqueducts
Interstate roads, bridges & clean tap water
CORNER 3
Mega-Stadium Spectacles
Sports culture, concerts & entertainment economy
CORNER 4
Language & Rhetoric
Latin roots, advertising & online persuasion
Complete the Big Takeaway reflection on Page 4 before turning in your packet!
