Teaching The Necklace

Instructions for You

Objective: Today we're going to blow your kids' minds by having them work up some math in English class. We know, we know, you aren't a math teacher, but this is easy stuff, we promise. We're going to have the kids do some very simple interest calculations and then process M. Loisel's mindset since he's moved from middle class existence to the impoverished life. Don't worry, we'll walk you through it (and even give you the answers).

This may be a bit of a reality check for your students. They'll see a very rudimentary way that interest works. To make things easier, we're going to work in dollars rather than francs.

In all, we think you would need about a class period to complete this assignment.

Materials Needed: Calculators (optional, but definitely helpful), a copy of the text, and/or Shmoop's summary page

Step 1: After reading the story, get your students into groups of four. They'll need to switch the math side of their brain on, and if they need calculators, that's fine too. The biggie is this: the Loisels are paying off this necklace over a 10-year period. We don't know how much interest they paid on the money they borrowed, but for the sake of this exercise we're going with 5%.

Now, have your students figure this out:

The Loisels have a debt of $36,000 at 5% interest. So our formula is: 36000 x (1 + 0.05) = _______________

(hint: the answer is $37,800)

That's for one year.

Step 2: We're going to keep this super simple. You see that extra $1,800? Yeah, let's say that the $1,800 is going to be added each year. New formula!

1,800 x 10 = _________________

Got it?

Good. This is the total interest over 10 years.

Step 3: Now add that number to $36,000. This is the final amount that the Loisels have to pay over 10 years. That's a lot of money.

($54,000 to be exact.)

Step 4: Divide that number by 10 and that's how much the Loisel's need to pay each year. ($5,400)

Step 5: Okay, so we have the amount that they need to pay each year.

Now we're going to make a list of everything the Loisels will have to cut back on. We're going to have to get creative; have your students make up a list of what they had to sell (furniture? Aunt Agatha's best mink?), and what luxuries they had to cut back on (housekeeper, downgrading their living quarters, etc.)

Step 6: Once that list is finished, we want your kids to write a quick synopsis (we're talking a paragraph or two, say 200 to 300 words) telling us how M. Loisel adjusts. If they can write it from his point of view telling us what his struggles are, they'll be golden (or bronze. We're cutting back, after all).

Instructions for Your Students

Today we're going to blow your mind; we're going to do a little math in English class. Yeah, we're mixing it up. Get out your calculators if you have 'em (what, you don't walk around with one all day every day? Yeah, us either..hahaha).

Step 1: After reading the story, get into groups of four. You'll need to ignite the math side of your brain, and if you need calculators, that's fine. The biggie is this: the Loisels are paying off this necklace over a 10-year period. We don't know how much interest they paid on the money they borrowed, but we're going to keep it simple, so let's say they paid 5%.

Here's the math part. Figure this out:

They've borrowed $36,000 at 5% simple interest. 36000 x (1 + 0.05) = X

Find X. Figure it! That's the total cost of the loan with interest for one year.

Step 2: We're going to keep this super simple. Let's say that the figure you got above is going to be added each year. New formula!

X x 10 = A

Got it?

Good. This is the Loisels' total interest over 10 years.

Step 3: Now add that number (A) to $36,000. This is the total (T) amount that the Loisels have to pay over 10 years. That's a lot of money. More than Mathilde's husband makes in one year, we're sure.

Step 4: Divide that Total number by 10 and that's how much the Loisels need to pay each year.

Step 5: Now we have the amount that they need to pay each year. Great. It's all a little depressing if you ask us.

Next you're going to have to get creative; you'll make up a list of what they had to sell (furniture? Aunt Agatha's best mink?) and what luxuries they had to cut back on (housekeeper, downgrading their living quarters etc.) Give it a whirl.

Step 6: Once that list is made up, we want you to write a quick synopsis (we're talking a paragraph or two, so 200 to 300 words) telling us how M. Loisel adjusts (or not). Just write two paragraphs from his point of view and you'll be all done up like a French pastry.