Process

Process/Resources

Assignment 1: Review Technology, Inc. Work on Automotive, Inc.

Assignment 2: Business letter and CUPS review

Assignment 3: Yahoo Finance

Assignment 4: EduStock ThinkQuest

Assignment 5: Quia On-line Quiz on EduStock ThinkQuest

Assignment 6: Set up Buy Sell Spreadsheet

Assignment 7: Buy stock!

Assignment 8: Create an Update Spreadsheet

Assignment 9: The "looks" of your stock portfolio

Assignment 10: Influences on the stock market (Quia On-line Quiz)

Assignment 11: PowerPoint

Rules for the Stock Market Game:

Every group will have 2-4 players. (Please do not ask to have more than four players in a group. If there is a group of five students, split up into two groups.) You may pick your own groups, however make sure you select students whose gifts and talents complement each other well. Once the groups are chosen you may not switch.
Each group will be given $100,000 to invest.
Stocks may be purchased on the NYSE or NSDQ exchanges only.
Stocks can only be purchased in increments of "round lots." That is, you must buy stocks in increments of 100 shares.
When the group first purchases stocks, a minimum of four different stocks must be selected. Each time a stock update is done, your picks will be charted and also compared to the S&P 500.
Provide rationale for your buying decision. Two reasons for making their stock purchase must be included with each buy/sell. (this can include explanations of business, political, and/or social events that affect the stock market, whether or not the stock is recommended by brokers on Yahoo Finance, the valuation of the stock and the likelihood it will go up in the next 1 months, or maybe you got a stock tip.)
Updates will be performed every couple of weeks. Groups will also be encouraged to buy and/or sell stocks at various times (but only when instructed.)

Each group's progress will be charted and posted both in the computer lab and on the website after every update and/or purchase.

It's important that each person in the group contribute and tasks are rotated each time. Therefore each group will be asked to turn in one job sheet every time a stock update and/or buy/sell is performed. The job sheet will outline what each person contributed on that particular assignment.

Some of your group work will have to be completed on your own time outside of the computer lab. This IS a group project and must be conducted as such. If you have trouble getting your group together where there is Internet access, contact me and we can arrange for your group to spend time in the lab after school hours. DO NOT wait until the last minute to schedule extra time. And, because this project is designed to be a technology-rich learning experience, you'll have to allow for extra time in case of technology trouble. Computers are wondrous tools for learning, but you must always allow extra time in case they misbehave!

Your grade is NOT determined by your success in making money. It is determined by how well you complete the assignments, follow the instructions and work within your group. However, prizes may be awarded to those groups who achieve the highest level of investing success.

Assignment 1:

Review the Stock Market PowerPoint presentation (click here). Let's work through the stock market game one more time together as a class using the worksheet.

Now that we have reviewed how to play the game, let's play another stock market game, but use a different scenario and a company called Automotive, Inc. This will be a group project and completed in class. Click here to get the worksheet used to complete this in class assignment. It's a Microsoft Word file. Print it out and complete it in pencil. Write your group name on the worksheet and turn it in at the end of class.

Time in class will be provided to complete assignment #1

Assignment 2:

Think of a name for your stock market group. Next, create one folder for your stock group. It should be named the name of your group and located on the eighth grade drive in the appropriate class folder (either Taber or Desautels). All of your electronic files for this project should be stored in this folder, not in your student folder.

Each member of the group must write a business letter (in standard business letter in block format) to Mrs. Gardner providing her with the name of your stock market group and who will be participating in the group. If you need help on writing a business letter, click here. Use the "accepted" font size and font type that is suggested on the website. You do not need to include the sender's address. Also, do not use Word's letter wizard. Please include the following in your business letter:

How you think your group performed on Mr. Gundy's second stock market game based on Automotive, Inc. Maybe you didn't make the most money, but how did your group make its decisions? Was it by consensus? Did you have a hard time deciding how much to purchase, etc.?

What do you believe will be your group's greatest strengths and weaknesses?

What do you think will be most enjoyable about the project you are about to begin

What do you anticipate will be most difficult to master in the project (this must be something besides making the most money)

Remember that you are being graded on correct CUPS (capitalization, usage, punctuation and spelling) as well as content. Also, please reference the SPX Guide for Writing. Do not use any taboo words in your business letter.

Assignment 3:

For our on-line research in building your stock portfolio, we'll be using Yahoo Finance. After you've completed your second stock market game based on Automotive, Inc., and you've written your business letters, we'll begin to learn how to use Yahoo Finance as an investing tool.

In Yahoo Finance we'll be use the following tools: profile, research, charts, historical prices, industry and news. Click here to print the Yahoo Finance Worksheet.

Assignment 4:

All group members, click here to explore the following EduStock ThinkQuest on the stock market. The EduStock ThinkQuest provides valuable information on how the stock market works. The most important part of this ThinkQuest is the information in the "Stock Market" section. Please read this section carefully.

Assignment 5:

This is an "open-Internet" on-line quiz using Quia. In other words you may have the the EduStock ThinkQuest open while you are taking the quiz on Quia.

Assignment #5 must be completed in class.

Assignment 6:

Let's set up our Buy/Sell Excel Spreadsheet with the correct formulas. Instructions will be given in class. This is a group project. Print one spreadsheet (displaying formulas.) Place it in your stock folder and turn it in by the end of class.

Also, your stock group will be purchasing stock on Friday. Get with them through the week and begin researching stocks to buy. Remember, the first time you buy, your group must purchase at least four different stocks in lots of 100 shares.

Assignment #6 must be completed in class.

Assignment 7:

Now that we all have a basic background in the stock market and our spreadsheet is set up, it's time to buy some stock. Hopefully your group has done some out-of-class research on what stocks to buy. You will have 15 minutes to finish up your research as a group.

There are three different tasks each time a Buy/Sell is performed.

Job #1 is completing the Excel spreadsheet and/or chart.

Job #2 is a writing assignment.

Job #3 is filling out the job sheet.

Jobs MUST be rotated each time an Update or a Buy/Sell is performed. Some groups have four people. The fourth person is a support person and should help anyone having a difficult time accomplishing their task. Click here to display and print the job sheet.

All "paperwork" should be placed in your stock folder and turned in at the end of class. Place new assignments on the RIGHT SIDE of your stock folder so they can be quickly identified. You must work efficiently and quickly to complete the assignment before the end of class.

Assignment 8:

Now that we've purchased stock, it's time to see how they are performing. Create an Update Spreadsheet. When we "update" our stock portfolio we check to see how our stocks are performing, but we don't actually buy or sell any new stock. Instructions will be given in class on how to set up your Update Spreadsheet.

Print two Update Spreadsheets, one with formulas and the other with actual data. As always, a job sheet must be included in your stock folder. Assignment due at the end of class.

Assignment 9:

Let's work on the "looks" of your stock portfolio. In this assignment we'll work with the digital camera to take photos of our groups for the cover of our stock folders. Next, we'll each design artwork for a logo for our stock folder. The artwork should be on bright white paper. You may choose to use color. We'll be scanning your artwork so make sure the image is dark enough. Your logo must somehow include the name of your stock group.

Lastly, use Publisher to insert your photo and logo in Publisher. Save the document to your stock folder and then print on photo paper. Glue stick it on top of your stock portfolio and turn it in by the end of class.

Assignment 10:

You've probably discovered that many different things affect the prices of stocks. Economic, political, and social events can affect the performance of the stock market. Sometimes, stock market performance is nothing more than "perceived" strength or weakness. Review the following website to get more information.

Next log onto the Eighth Grade Quia Class page and take the on-line quiz. Your quiz session name will be provided in class. Assignment must be completed by the end of class.

Assignment 11:

Create a five slide PowerPoint presentation on your stock group and its performance thus far. Use the following format.

Slide 1: Title slide - the name of your group and group members

Slide 2: Insert your logo and group picture

Slide 3: List the companies you are invested in at present. Include the company logo if possible. Give a BRIEF description of what they do.

Slide 4: Include in a bulleted format, what could potentially hurt your portfolio and/or what political, economic or social factors could help your portfolio.

Slide 5: What is the balance of your portfolio? Include an Excel spreadsheet to depict the dollar amount.

You MUST have correct CUPS. Click here for a review. Also, follow these PowerPoint Guidelines. The group grade you receive will be based on following correct CUPS and the recommended PowerPoint. guidelines. Make sure everyone in your group contributes and proofreads the final project!

Your group will have two days to complete this assignment. Presentations will be shared with the class when finished.

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