DESCRIPTION OF LEARNING EXPERIENCE OUTLINE

Title of Learning Experience: My Personal Stock Portfolio
By: Kristine Oczkowski
Whitesboro Central School District
Final Submission

LEARNING CONTEXT

The student will read and write for information and understanding (Language Arts #1) The students will access, generate, and transfer information using appropriate technology. (Math, Science, & Technology #2) The students will understand mathematics and become mathematically confident by communicating and reasoning mathematically, by applying mathematics in a real world settings, and by solving problems through integrated study of number systems and data analysis. (Math, Science, & Technology #3)

Procedure

Overview- The students will be investing in the New York Stock Exchange. Together the class will use Microsoft Excel to create a stock portfolio sheet to be used throughout the year The students will use the internet to first learn the terms of the stock market and then to track the stock prices each month for the stocks they invest in. Each quarter the student will generate a graph showing their stock portfolio. Along with the graph will be a written narrative of their thoughts concerning the project
(Basic Internet instruction has already been given as well as basic lessons on Excel) The class will have a discussion on investing. (What is it?, why important, etc.) We will use URL:http://tqd.advanead.org/3096/This address has information on basic concepts of investing. In addition from this main page students can select the glossary, the beginning investor, and sections on how to select stocks.
The students will use the above address URL: http://tqd.advanced.org.giossary.htm and work with a partner to get definitions for some basic terms needed for the unit. Terms they must locate ace: asset, bid price, buy and sell order, common stock, Dow Jones Industrial Average, market order, New York Stock Exchange, portfolio, stock split, stockbroker, and stockholder. (These concepts will be reviewed when the class studies the Virginia Company and it's settlement at Jamestown) The class will then have a discussion to review the terms and look at an overview of the unit. We can review basic ideas of investing using the URL:http://tqd.advanced. org/3096/begioner. htm Now the students are ready to select their stocks. Again we will have a class discussion on ways to select the stocks they want to invest in. Following a class discussion each student will be given a page of approximately 55 NYSE stocks and $100,000 to invest in any five stocks they select. They may go to URL:http://tqd.advanced.org/3096/41piek.htm to review or to learn more on how to select stocks. Students should make sure they create a diversified portfolio. Each student will set up a stock portfolio page using Microsoft Excel. The Excel sheet must include: their name, the names of the stocks, the initial value invested, the original purchase price per share, the number of shares purchased, a column for the current price each month, and a total profit/loss column. (See sample sheet)
Each month (during the first few days of the month) the student will go on-line at URL: http://www.usatoday.com to get the updated stock price.
Once on line they navigate to the money page.
Next they load their five stock identifications and obtain the current market value for their stocks. They can then transfer the current price to their excel spreadsheet and allow the computer to figure out their new profit/loss margin.
On a second excel sheet (same file) they will track each months stock prices, This will be used to generate the graphs.
Each quarter the student will be responsible for printing a line graph showing their stock market portfolios history for the quarter. They will also include a short narrative detailing progress and thoughts on their portfolio. (How do they think they are doing? Will they boy or sell any stocks?
Why?)
Beginning the second quarter they will also have the opportunity to change stocks by selling some shares and purchasing others. At the end of the year, students will have a yearly report of their stocks performance and a graph for the ten months.

INTRUCTIONAL/ENVIRONMENTAL MODIFICATIONS

Students are free to work with partners on each step of creating each of their portfolios or work alone. The computers are located in the classroom with all students having equal access whenever they need to update their portfolio Internet access is only available when the teacher signs on to insure only acceptable sites are visited. Student s requiring extra time and additional help will he given necessary and support to complete the project.

MATERIALS & SUPPLIES

A list of 55 stocks, access to the internet, access to excel spreadsheet program

ASSESSMENT TOOLS & TECHNIQUES

Students will self assess their ability each quarter to locate the current stock prices from USA Today on-line ( a basic rubric will be distributed ). Students will self assess their ability to effectively use Excel to track their stock portfolio and create a graph. Teacher will conference with students on their narrative and their self assessments considering computer use. Teacher will assess the completed graph using a rubric

TIME REQUIRED

For each aspect of the learning experience, state the amount of time for:

planning implementation; and Assessment.

Launch- Introduction to investing: 1 class period

Internet use for glossary: 2-3 class periods

Discussion and selecting stocks: 2 class periods

Setting up Excel spreadsheet: 1 class period in computer lab or individual time in classroom cluster Monthly internet access to obtain current prices: 10-30 minutes per child. Once the program is in place each student is responsible for getting to the computer on their time, locating current prices, creating a graph (each quarter), and writing a short narrative (each quarter).

STUDENT WORK

Send samples of student work that reflect the diversity of students participating in the learning experience

First quarter work reflects many common misconceptions among the students, especially when the stock split Samples of student work reflect this range of understanding Included with student work is the graph, their narrative, and their self assessment using the rubric.

REFLECTION

Comment on the learning experience, including:

How it might better meet the needs of ALL learner;

How it might better support student progress toward attainment of the learning standards;
How to expand the connections to other learning standards; and
How it reflects current scholarship in your field and "best" classroom practice.

This project is very involved. The beginning of the school year is a very hectic time and students need a lot of one on one with the computer I think that it's realistic to set up the stock sheet as a class, and overall I believe the project is worthwhile. However, I think that the students need more practice in really understanding what their graphs show than we had time for the first quarter. In the future, [ would allow move time for class discussion, and more computer time throughout the month to practice locating their stocks and getting current prices (especially during September and October) Also I would probably not require a graph and narrative until the second quarter when students have had ample time to do a better job, and truly demonstrate their understanding and ability. In the future I would also like to invite an investment consultant to speak to the students about investing, the basic vocabulary, diversified stocks, and the importance of starting to save early.

Attachment:

My Personal Stock Portfolio

Listing of Companies - NYSE