What began years ago with a teacher’s desire to help students understand the difference between sales and profit, has turned into a business venture complete with a marketing campaign and assembly line productions: the 4th grade Holiday Market.
New products added
This year’s 4th grade business project is expected to set records in both sales and items sold. After last year’s market sold out in less than 2 hours and $2,780 in sales, the students decided to increase production and add a few new products. In addition to the customer favorite mason jar cookie mixes and reindeer food, they added chicken noodle soup mix, cinnamon sugar mix and reindeer noses (aka M&Ms).
HOw it works
Students fill out job applications early in the fall highlighting their skills. Based on the job applications, students are assigned to after school workshops throughout the fall to assemble the products. They even create their own commercial. (See Below) Proceeds from the market will benefit hurricane relief efforts.
In the Classroom
The 4th grade curriculum integrates entrepreneur-themed activities and content throughout the school year in addition to the Holiday Market. A book study centered around “The Lemonade War” by Jacqueline Davies starts the school year and introduces basic business concepts. From there, students develop a product at our yearly Invention Convention, research an American business founder, and even manage a classroom economy system with bank accounts and check writing.
Engaged learners
The students took a field trip to Half-Moon Outfitters King Street store, where owner and CDS parent Beezer Molten shared tips on running a retail business.
“On the field trip, I learned about impulse buys near the cash register in stores,” said student Nolte Dukes.
The Market runs from 8:00 a.m until 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 1.