Introducing the Project
The first step is to discuss the role that budgets play in households. Open the existing budget template in Numbers and print out enough copies for your class. Lead a discussion as you evaluate the different categories on the budgeting worksheet. Be sure that students understand how different items work together in determining household budgets.
Next, pair the students into groups of two. These student groups will evaluate several criteria in balancing their budgets. Their first job will be to determine their fictitious career paths.
You can vary the complexity of the tasks in this project and adapt them to match your educational goals and time constraints. For example, the lesson can be streamlined for a math class, with the number variables simplified to expedite the project. On the other end, in a career development course, students can do more research into their career options and choose between multiple career paths.