Teacher guide · Real Life Lab · Harder · about 35 min

🏷️ Sale Percentages

Pupils practise real life thinking and problem solving through "Sale Percentages": Percentages and discounts.

Lesson guide

  1. 1. Hook · 5 min

    Show the 🏷️ mission title and read the opening: "50% of £40 is…". Take three quick guesses.

  2. 2. Model · 5 min

    Think aloud through the first step together. Use Coin the Raccoon's line as your prompt: "Smart call. Money and time both count."

  3. 3. Do · 10 min

    Pairs work through the 4 steps on screen or on the printed sheet. Circulate and ask "why?"

  4. 4. Discuss · 10 min

    Use two or three of the discussion questions. Ask pairs to share different answers, not just correct ones.

  5. 5. Reflect · 5 min

    Exit ticket: one sentence on how they used real life thinking today.

Discussion questions

  • What was the hardest choice in "Sale Percentages", and why?
  • 50% of £40 is… — explain your reasoning to a partner.
  • 10% of 300 is… — explain your reasoning to a partner.
  • A £20 game has 25% off. New price — explain your reasoning to a partner.
  • Where could you use real life thinking outside school this week?
  • If you did this again, what would you change?

Adapting it

Support: Read prompts aloud, pair with a confident partner, and accept spoken or drawn answers for writing steps.

Stretch: Ask pupils to create their own extra step for a partner and explain the correct answer.

Curriculum links

  • National Curriculum: Maths: number, calculation, fractions and reasoning (KS1/KS2)
  • National Curriculum: Maths: money, measures and solving real-world problems
  • PSHE: Living in the wider world: economic wellbeing — money, saving and choices
  • PSHE: Health & wellbeing: keeping safe and everyday responsibilities

Pupil sheet

🏷️ Sale Percentages

Name: ____________________   Date: __________

  1. 1. 50% of £40 is…

    ☐ £10

    ☐ £20

    ☐ £25

  2. 2. 10% of 300 is…

    ☐ 100

    ☐ 3

    ☐ 30

  3. 3. A £20 game has 25% off. New price?

    ☐ £15

    ☐ £18

    ☐ £5

  4. 4. Which is a better deal: 1/3 off or 30% off? Explain.