IGICONIC GAMESSENIOR // FUTURE LEARNING
TERM 4 · WEEK 3Make the Numbers Work
YEAR 8IMAGINE · PLAN · BUILD · ACT
FUTURE STUDIO · MISSION 03
BUSINESS ANALYTICS

YEAR 8 · TERM 4 · WEEK 3

Make the Numbers Work

Can an idea survive contact with a budget?

MODEL BAY: The idea has passed its first problem check. Now the numbers get a vote. Build one financial model, state the assumptions, then apply a cost shock without quietly changing the rules halfway through.
ENTER MISSION →
MISSION DECKFUTURE STUDIO / WEEK 03SELECT A MODULE
01BRIEFMission 02LEARNIntel 03INVESTIGATEEvidence 04ENGLISHEvidence case 05DECIDEMake the call 06DATANumbers 07PROJECTBuild 08CHECK-INReflect ★GAMEReward
ACTIVE OBJECTIVEMODEL BAY: The idea has passed its first problem check. Now the numbers get a vote. Build one financial model, state the assumptions, then apply a cost shock without quietly changing the rules halfway through.
WORLDFUTURE STUDIO
SEQUENCE01 / 08
REWARDGAME BREAK
Jump to a lesson part

READY?

Watch. Check the clues. Have a go.

Everything you need is on this page.

Start mission →
Need help getting started?
YOU NEED
  • Required: a device with this page open.
  • Optional: headphones for video or read-aloud.
  • Optional: pen + paper for rough working if that helps you think.
  • Only if you choose a physical build: simple low-cost craft/reuse materials. A digital sketch or model is always okay instead.
HOW TO DO IT
  1. Read or listen to the Briefing + Learn.
  2. Do the interactive mission.
  3. Use facts from the reading and maths parts.
  4. Make your choice and save your project step.
  5. Play the weekly game. Finish Check-in.
WORK YOUR WAY

Short bursts are fine. Use Learning Tools for easier reading, read-aloud, less on screen, stronger contrast, no-rush and quieter-screen options.

If you get stuck, look at the example and try again.

PROJECT NOTE: Your project can stay digital. Physical making is optional unless you choose that format.

MISSION BRIEFING

MODEL BAY: The idea has passed its first problem check. Now the numbers get a vote. Build one financial model, state the assumptions, then apply a cost shock without quietly changing the rules halfway through.

✓Separate fixed cost, variable cost, price and contribution per unit.
✓Calculate break-even from a simple venture model.
✓Stress-test the same model under a changed cost assumption.
✓Explain why a spreadsheet result is conditional on assumptions about price, demand and cost.
INTERACTIVE LEARN MODE

No passive video this week.

This mission is deliberately built around its simulator, investigation, decision room or prototype instead of an external video.

LEARN

COST → CONTRIBUTION → BREAK-EVEN → STRESS TEST

A simple model can use BREAK-EVEN UNITS = FIXED COST ÷ (PRICE − VARIABLE COST PER UNIT). The result is useful only if the assumptions are plausible. If cost changes, recalculate rather than moving another number to make the answer look better. Financial models support decisions; they do not guarantee demand, sales or success.

LEARNING BUILD

Learn it. See it. Try it.

Look at the example. Check another point of view. Then try the task.

Step 1: Choose a starting clue
WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW

Reasoning lens:ASSUMPTION → EVIDENCE → CONSTRAINT → TRADE-OFF → TEST → DEFEND / REVISE

What do you already know?

English / communication:Explain a financial model, assumptions, uncertainty and trade-offs.

Maths / data:Ratio, unit cost, fixed/variable cost, break-even, revenue/cost, percentage change and scenario comparison.

Topic knowledge:Enterprise, personal finance and resource trade-offs.

This week’s first target:Separate fixed cost, variable cost, price and contribution per unit.

Which clue is a good place to start?

Choose a source that can directly support part of the investigation. More than one source may be useful, but start with evidence that does not outrun its support.

Need more help? See the teaching
TEACH 1 · CORE MODEL

A simple model can use BREAK-EVEN UNITS = FIXED COST ÷ (PRICE − VARIABLE COST PER UNIT). The result is useful only if the assumptions are plausible. If cost changes, recalculate rather than moving another number to make the answer look better. Financial models support decisions; they do not guarantee demand, sales or success.

TEACH 2 · WHAT TO NOTICE

Separate fixed cost, variable cost, price and contribution per unit.Calculate break-even from a simple venture model.

TEACH 3 · CONNECT + TRANSFER

Stress-test the same model under a changed cost assumption. Explain why a spreadsheet result is conditional on assumptions about price, demand and cost.

WORKED EXAMPLE · EVIDENCE

BASE MODEL

Fixed cost = $180, variable cost = $6 per unit, price = $15 per unit. Contribution toward fixed cost is therefore $9 per unit.

Reasoning: Start with exactly what the source establishes. Connect it to the relevant concept, then stop before the claim becomes broader than the evidence. Now compare it with DEMAND ASSUMPTION: The model does not prove 26 customers will buy. Demand remains an assumption requiring separate evidence.

Why caution still matters:This item is useful context, but context is not the same as direct proof. Combine it with stronger evidence before making a broad conclusion.

WORKED EXAMPLE · MATHS / DATA ROUTE

Fixed cost is $180, price is $15 per unit and variable cost is $6 per unit. How many units are required to break even?

This week’s maths/data focus:Ratio, unit cost, fixed/variable cost, break-even, revenue/cost, percentage change and scenario comparison.

Define the baseline, cost, time, proportion or criterion first. Calculate on the same basis, then test the result against the user need, constraint or success criterion.

WE DO · GUIDED PRACTICE

Which source needs the most caution before it is used to support a broad conclusion?

Choose a source that mainly supplies context rather than direct proof of the whole conclusion.

YOU TRY · INDEPENDENT PRACTICE

For Make the Numbers Work, explain one core idea, connect it to one named source or observation and one quantitative/data point from this page, then state an alternative explanation, trade-off or limitation that a strong judgement must consider.

Write at least 30 words. Name the evidence or data you are using and keep the claim inside what it can support.

MISCONCEPTION CHECK

DEMAND ASSUMPTION:The model does not prove 26 customers will buy. Demand remains an assumption requiring separate evidence.

This item is useful context, but context is not the same as direct proof. Combine it with stronger evidence before making a broad conclusion.

HELP

Try: “The assumption is ___. Evidence ___ supports/challenges it. The main constraint/trade-off is ___. I would defend/revise ___ because ___.”

STRETCH · OPTIONAL

Build the strongest reasonable counter-argument or alternative explanation. Name one additional piece of evidence that could distinguish between the two positions.

FUTURE STUDIO · WEEK 3

MAKE THE NUMBERS WORK · MODEL BAY

◇

Stress-test the model.

Lock a simple venture model, expose it to a cost shock and decide whether the idea still works under the new assumptions.

BASE MODEL
FIXED COST$180
VARIABLE COST / UNIT$6
PRICE / UNIT$15

1 · CHOOSE THE CORRECT BASE BREAK-EVEN

2 · COST SHOCK: VARIABLE COST RISES TO $8 / UNIT

3 · WHAT SHOULD THE FOUNDER DO?

LAB IN PROGRESS

INVESTIGATE + ENGLISH · EVIDENCE CASE

A model can be correct and still be wrong about reality

A fictional venture has $180 in fixed costs, $6 variable cost per unit and a $15 selling price. Under those assumptions, each sale contributes $9 toward fixed cost, so break-even is 20 units. If the variable cost rises to $8, contribution falls to $7 and break-even rises to about 26 units. The arithmetic can be correct while the overall plan still fails if demand is lower than expected or another cost has been omitted.

MAKE THE CALL

After variable cost rises to $8, would you change price, reduce scope, seek a lower cost, or keep the model and test demand first? Defend the sequence of actions rather than just choosing the option with the biggest margin.

BUILD YOUR CASE CONCLUSION1. Make the call. 2. Use at least two relevant pieces of evidence. 3. Explain one limitation or uncertainty. 4. Finish with what can responsibly be concluded.Strong structure: My judgement is… The strongest evidence is… However, we still do not know… Therefore…

CASE CONCLUSION: Write 200–280 words documenting the financial model. Define the assumptions, show the base break-even, explain the cost-shock result, identify one demand or cost uncertainty and recommend what evidence should be collected before committing resources.

0/200 words minimum for this writing mission.

CLAIMEVIDENCELIMITATIONCONCLUSION

MATHS + DATA LAB

Check the numbers.

HOW TO SUCCEEDRead the situation first. Estimate what a sensible answer should look like, choose an efficient calculation, then use the feedback to check your reasoning.For data questions, explain what the number shows — and what it does not prove.

Fixed cost is $180, price is $15 per unit and variable cost is $6 per unit. How many units are required to break even?

MISSION 05 · MATHS + DATA LAB

DATA TRAINING

STATISTICS + PROBABILITY · YEAR 8 EXTENSION
6 PROBLEMS
QUICK METHODSTATISTICS + PROBABILITY

Identify what the statistic or probability represents before calculating.

GUIDED · Q01–Q03Use the quick method, then check the explanation.
Q01

Mean of 4, 6, 8, 10?

Q02

Median of 3, 5, 7, 12, 20?

Q03

A fair coin: probability of heads?

INDEPENDENT · Q04

A bag has 3 red and 7 blue counters. P(red)?

INDEPENDENT · Q05

Range of 6, 9, 11, 15?

INDEPENDENT · Q06

Which sample is most likely to represent the whole school?

OPTIONAL CHALLENGE · OPEN RESPONSE

Two groups report different means. Name two things you would check before deciding the groups are genuinely different.

0 words · optional
0 / 6 completeComplete every problem to finish the data lab.

PROJECT HQ · PROJECT FILE 03

MODEL — cost/resources/constraints.

Start something real. Build an idea, test it, improve it, and share it. Make your move.

Start Something: choose an idea, name who it helps, make a small version, then test and improve it.

IDEA→RESEARCH→PLAN→BUILD→TEST→IMPROVE→PRESENT

WEEK 3 · MODEL · Build and stress-test the resource or venture model behind the idea.

This saves into your Term 4 Start Something project record as you type.

Project sharing will be optional. A future upload system must keep private submission separate from public-showcase/marketing permission.

CHECK-IN

What changed in your thinking?

YEAR 8 · REMIX · TERM 4 / WEEK 3

POWER WINDOW

Find the centre timing window across five increasingly demanding hits.

UPGRADED DIFFICULTYBEST SCORE SAVED
PLAY POWER WINDOW
A remastered ICONIC GAMES favourite · phone + keyboard controls.

YEAR 8 · SENIOR HOMEWORK CLUB

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