Real World Math: Unexpected Events Game

Most adults in the real world know how challenging it is to stick to a budget and plan for those unexpected events - car repairs, doctor visits, loss of income, and other emergencies. Fortunately, the unexpected events in this game do not quite rise to the level of the worst problems faced by actual grown-ups; instead, the events are based on earning and spending by typical kids. This board game allows students to practice balancing a checkbook as they draw cards describing an income/credit or debit/spending event. To play, each player takes turns spinning the spinner, advancing the appropriate number of spaces, and drawing a card from the pile. Each illustrated card describes an event such as "You win $50 in your city's annual essay contest," or "You return a book to the library and pay $35 in overdue fines." Players record the debit or credit in their checkbook ledgers (yes, a negative balance is possible), and when the players reach the end of the board, their scores are tallied. The player with the highest balance in their account is the winner. The game includes an 18" x 18" fold-up game board, 50 unexpected events cards, 6 round dollar sign game pieces, and 20 reproducible check register sheets. ~ Lisa