Math9-12+

Prom Night Planning: ACT-Style Word Problems

By Amy D.

A fall-themed ACT-style math word problem set for 10th graders, framed around planning a school prom at Lakeside Banquet Hall. Students work through budgeting, ticket revenue, catering costs, and chaperone ratios, with extra numbers included so they must decide which details matter, and an answer key is provided for quick checking.

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Teacher Guide & Tips

Use as a timed warm-up or a 30-45 minute practice block to simulate ACT math pacing, reinforcing multi-step problem solving with real-world context.
Discussion question: Which numbers in the planning notes were irrelevant to the question, and how did you decide to ignore them?
Scaffold for struggling readers: Have students underline the question first, then list only the numbers that directly feed into it before calculating.
Extension for advanced students: Ask them to build a new question that requires combining three or more notes, such as finding the per-person cost after gratuity and tax under a fixed budget.
Estimated time: about 35-45 minutes for the full set, including review of the answer key.

Math9-12+

Prom Night Planning: ACT-Style Word Problems

By Amy D.

Open in Diffit

Customize for your classroom

Teacher Guide & Tips

Use as a timed warm-up or a 30-45 minute practice block to simulate ACT math pacing, reinforcing multi-step problem solving with real-world context.
Discussion question: Which numbers in the planning notes were irrelevant to the question, and how did you decide to ignore them?
Scaffold for struggling readers: Have students underline the question first, then list only the numbers that directly feed into it before calculating.
Extension for advanced students: Ask them to build a new question that requires combining three or more notes, such as finding the per-person cost after gratuity and tax under a fixed budget.
Estimated time: about 35-45 minutes for the full set, including review of the answer key.

Teacher Guide & Tips

Use as a timed warm-up or a 30-45 minute practice block to simulate ACT math pacing, reinforcing multi-step problem solving with real-world context.

Discussion question: Which numbers in the planning notes were irrelevant to the question, and how did you decide to ignore them?

Scaffold for struggling readers: Have students underline the question first, then list only the numbers that directly feed into it before calculating.

Extension for advanced students: Ask them to build a new question that requires combining three or more notes, such as finding the per-person cost after gratuity and tax under a fixed budget.

Estimated time: about 35-45 minutes for the full set, including review of the answer key.

Teacher Guide & Tips

Use as a timed warm-up or a 30-45 minute practice block to simulate ACT math pacing, reinforcing multi-step problem solving with real-world context.

Discussion question: Which numbers in the planning notes were irrelevant to the question, and how did you decide to ignore them?

Scaffold for struggling readers: Have students underline the question first, then list only the numbers that directly feed into it before calculating.

Extension for advanced students: Ask them to build a new question that requires combining three or more notes, such as finding the per-person cost after gratuity and tax under a fixed budget.

Estimated time: about 35-45 minutes for the full set, including review of the answer key.