HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

If you are in New Zealand - imagine you have $20 to spend, if you are in Britain - imagine you have £10 to spend.

If you had that much money, and you could spend it all in a weekend having fun, what would you spend it on? Or would you save it? Tell us how much each thing would cost so that we can compare buying power between the two countries.

Now for some specifics - find out what the following things cost:

• you fancy a takeaway - how much does fish and chips or pizza or a hamburger cost you?
• you go to the cinema - how much for the ticket and the munchies from the candy bar?
• you head off to a dance party - how much to get in? (Would they let you in???!!)
• you take the bus or train to the nearest town to visit a friend - how far do you travel and what's the cost of the ticket?
• you play or watch some sport - how do you get there? - how much does it cost to get in?
• you quench your thirst with a sports drink or a soft drink - how much?
• you make yourself some lunch - what do you make and how much does it cost?
• you head out for dinner with your family at the local restaurant - what do you eat and how much are the courses?
• you buy a music CD or tape - what do you buy and how much is it?
• you buy a magazine or a book to read - what do you buy and what's the price?
• you get a video out from the local video hire shop - what do you get out and how much did they charge you?
• You want to buy some new clothes, say a pair of jeans, a T-shirt or a pair of trainers. How much would they cost? What make or label would you buy?
• Do you get pocket money or an allowance? Do you have to work for it? If you do get something each week, how much do you get?

Get the idea? I'm sure there are heaps more things you could compare - like how much money you might expect to earn in your first job after you leave school - or how much you earn now if you have a paper round or a Saturday job.

Money's an interesting subject because in addition to national comparisons, there will be some people in each country who have quite a bit to spend, and others who have very little. A sensitive exploration of this area could be quite illuminating......

National Curriculum areas covered:
New Zealand - Level 4
Maths	Social Studies
Number 1,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,11	Strand E1
Britain - Stage 3
Maths	History
Using and applying 1ab, 2cd, 3bc Number 1a, 2ab	Study unit 4-2 Key element 2a