Lawn Boy. Our class read aloud chosen by student generated economy project. Each chapter is a different economic principle.
Ella painting Mr. Mancuso's nails hunter orange. This is one of the services at her store , BEET.M.
Robby bartered with his mother for her help in creating pillows to sell in his store.
Patent & Copyright Hunt. As an introduction to patenting and copyrighting, as a response to student interest in protecting their original merchandise.
Ella sharing a duct tape creation. Hot ticket item!
One student's financial log
Economics seems to have become more of a focus this year than any other year I have been in a classroom. I believe it is due to our organic class economy. A few years ago, our Director of Instruction, Mary Stowasser, told us that students don’t get enough opportunity to learn about economics in school settings. This year, we are doing just that. We are learning through doing. In addition, I began Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen this week. Each chapter in this book connects to a different economic principle. I am excited to see if this read aloud, which I hear is also hilarious, will facilitate any changes in our class economy and/or class store. Stay tuned.
Mackenzie's explanation about adding services to their store.
Bidding at Reikley's auction house.
Newest topic is keeping a bank balance and record of spending and credit.
Scientific observations of the eagles from NorfolkThis is just darn fun and if you listen to the background talking on the video I sent, you’ll get a taste of the range of questioning that comes from observing the live feed of the three eaglets and mommy and daddy eagle.
Patenting, trademarking, registering, and copyrighting. These topics are also newly born from our classroom economy experiences. Can classmates make the same things we are and sell them? Can someone come into our store and try to persuade customers to leave? Can anyone use the name of our store or our idea for a service?
Robby trying to sell his colored tissue (Tom Otterlee , the patent attorney who visited us, shared that we need to use the word tissue, not Kleenex. Kleenex is patented). What Robby noticed was that his tissues sold really quickly the first day, but had to reflect on his product after that week, since they stopped selling.
Supplies from Ella's store
The sales are ON! None of the products or advertising is created at school. This is one type of authentic 'homework'.
The class economy being shared with parents by Robby, Taylor, and Tori.
These are special order lizards and such. They are not for sale, however there are order forms that can be filled out with one of the store associates.
Angellee showing off the very purchases that bled her dry. She was unable to afford the copay for the nurse's office that next week. She had to rethink her spending.
Wow! Organized products!!!
Reikley employed a slew of economic strategies to make enough money for this science kit. He is passionate about science and was passionate about earning enough money to afford it.
Services added - Mackenzie doing Delaney's nails. Nail polish, your choice of color: $5.
Reikley experienced a slow down in his store traffic, so he dug in and created a lot of new products such as tie-dyed skull caps.
Reikley created charts and place mats as well. He brought the cup from home as a prop to demonstrate usage and entice shoppers.
Attorney Tom Otterlee brought in an actual patent for us to see. He brought in copies of the Wright brothers' airplane patent and other very cool examples.
Patent Attorney Tom Otterlee from Michael Best Company was like a celebrity following his presentation. Who would've thought patents, trademarks, and copyrights could enthrall fifty elementary students!?!?
Kaiyli and a few other girls decided it made more sense to combine their money. They purchased a lock box at Walmart and bundle their money in groups of one hundred. They LOVE counting it and adding new groupings. Great idea, except for the few times they lost the key. :)
Hand massage! Low overhead, no investment in supplies and quick startup. The lessons are endless.
Come on over for a back rub. They are allowed to do shoulders, backs, and hands only.
Working on balancing her bank account and reflecting on her spending habits.
