Lesson ProgressPhase 3 of 6
Phase 3Guided Practice
Guided Practice: Launch: The Investor Question

Collaborative practice applying Income Statement construction from journal entry data with scaffolded support

Guided Practice: What Moves When Business Happens?
Predict how each business event changes the scoreboard before you see the answer

Now that you know the scoreboard, let's watch it move. Every business event changes at least one line on the scoreboard — and often all three. Your job is to predict first, then reveal.

How This Works

  • Read each business event carefully.
  • Make your prediction about which scoreboard line(s) change.
  • Click Reveal to see the before-and-after.
  • Check whether your prediction was right. If not, read the explanation.

These events happened during TechStart's first month after Sarah started working with Jennifer Kim. Track how each one ripples through the scoreboard.

Event 1: Land a Big Client
TechStart completes a $3,850 web development project. The client pays $2,000 cash now and owes $1,850 for 30 days.

Before you reveal the answer, predict: which scoreboard line(s) change?

Event 2: Pay Monthly Software Bills
TechStart pays $600 for software subscriptions and $450 for a freelance contractor.

Predict: which scoreboard line(s) change when Sarah pays these expenses?

Event 3: Buy a New Laptop for the Business
Sarah buys a $1,200 laptop using the business credit card. She will pay the card bill next month.

Predict: which scoreboard line(s) change when Sarah buys equipment on credit?

Understanding Financial Statement Integration
Test your understanding of how the three statements work together to tell a business story

1. Why is it important that the three financial statements work together as an integrated system?

2. What is the key difference between Sarah's internal spreadsheets and professional financial statements?

3. In building TechStart's financial storyboard, what should be the first step?

0 of 3 questions answered
Building Toward Independence

Checkpoint with your teacher: Before moving to independent practice, make sure you can confidently explain:

✓ Core Concepts

  • How the three statements work as an integrated scoreboard
  • Which scoreboard lines move when revenue, expenses, assets, or liabilities change
  • Why profit and cash are not the same thing

✓ Application Skills

  • Predicting scoreboard changes before calculating them
  • Explaining why a business event affected certain lines and not others
  • Reading all three scoreboard lines together to form a business judgment

Ready for the next challenge? In Independent Practice, you'll make bounded business decisions and see their consequences on the scoreboard without guided support.