Ask students to bring in circulars from various stores. Have them choose a few items to "purchase." Ask them to calculate prices for the items if they were to be a certain percentage off. You can begin with a simple calculation, such as 10 percent, and end with a more difficult calculation, such as 43 percent.
The Internet offers math programs that focus on helping students strengthen their knowledge of percent and percent change. Websites such as Math Playground and FunBrain are free, while others, such as Study Island, require users to purchase a membership.
When you teach percentages, you are teaching decimals and fractions as well. Bring in a few candy bars and begin the activity with one. Give half of the candy bar to one student and ask the class: "What percent of the candy bar does the student have?" Ask the student to give half of his piece to another student. Then ask the class, "What percent of the candy bar does the other student have?" This helps students understand that when you want to find a percent of a percent, or a fraction of a fraction, the number becomes smaller, not larger.
Sports buffs use decimals and percents to determine the levels of success for different teams and players. Give students access to the Internet and ask them to accumulate data on a particular team's wins and losses for the season. Have them use this raw data to compute the team's win/loss percentage.