What would you do if someone handed you a million dollars to spend today? That’s the question that flipped our 4th grade math class upside down. Suddenly, students were CEOs, world travelers, real estate moguls, race car drivers, and future billionaires—all thanks to a wild, wonderful thing called The Million Dollar Math Unit.
The Million Dollar Math Unit is a real-world, project-based learning activity where students are challenged to plan how they would spend, invest, or grow a million dollars. It combines multiple math skills with creativity and financial literacy. This project feels relevant and empowering as students ask “What would I do with a million dollars?” It builds important life skills and offers choice and creativity, which motivates students with different interests.
Fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Gagne, comments “Fourth graders are “given” one million dollars to spend but there are certain stipulations – they must buy a house (a real house currently online for sale), buy a car, put money away for college, and plan a family trip. Students track their money from one million down to zero in addition to writing checks for their purchases.”
“The Million Dollar Project made me feel like I could conquer any project and that I have mastered larger digit subtraction,” adds fourth grader, Nova. “Large digit subtraction is more clear to me now and I loved being creative and designing my poster,” comments student, Lacey.
