Fifth graders at Clear Lake Elementary spent last Thursday selling their homemade products to parents and other students at their fourth annual Economics Fair.
The cafeteria was loud and cramped, much like a foreign marketplace, as the customers slowly weaved their way in and out of each vendor’s table.
Students sold jewelry, painted rocks, bookmarks, flavored toothpicks, wooden airplanes and even marshmallow launchers made out of pvc piping.
The Economics Fair is put together by fifth grade teachers Kerry Knight, Ann Ashley, Lynae Farmer with help from Debbie Klimbal as a part of the student’s social studies class.
By participating in the fair, students learn how to run a business, like selecting products to sell, borrowing money, building a product display, advertising and determining a price for their product.
‘This is the real world for them,? Knight said. ‘It really gives them a sense of responsibility.?
Miranda Kucemba created Pop-A-Pack, which allows candy lovers to enjoy Skittles, M&M’s and Reese’s Pieces one piece at a time in a convenient packaging.
Martin Giannola made small puzzles featuring sports teams and other artwork.
‘I thought puzzles would be a good idea because it’s fun for everyone to put together and you can give them to someone as a gift,? he said.
Taylor VanVoorhees took a humorous approach when creating her product called Spilled Milk.
Using mini milk cartons, pudding cups and nail polish bottles, VanVoorhees made each item look like it was spilled over by using glue and paint. She said her product would be used to play jokes on people.
Myles Stevek and Jaime Toloerd both loved airplanes, so they decided to create small, wooden airplanes. Their customers could purchase planes that they painted in camouflage and various different colors.
When all of their money is collected, Knight said the students plan to donate a portion of their profits to various charities, like the American Cancer Association or the American Heart Association.
‘They will donate it to whatever (charity) is meaningful to them,? she said.