![Northpoint third graders participating in the Market Day activity]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1545252957/springlakeparkschoolsorg/t3kc6fu2z3eoaya3tpju/NP_Market_Days_1820_resize.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1545252957/springlakeparkschoolsorg/t3kc6fu2z3eoaya3tpju/NP_Market_Days_1820_resize.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1545252957/springlakeparkschoolsorg/t3kc6fu2z3eoaya3tpju/NP_Market_Days_1820_resize.jpg","width":800}])
Northpoint Elementary School third grade students have been learning about budgeting and this week, they participated in Market Days where they created and sold homemade products to their classmates.
Northpoint Elementary School third grade students have been learning about budgeting and this week, they participated in Market Days where they created and sold homemade products to their classmates in order to pay for the third-grade cinema that takes place this Friday, December 21.
In each of the third-grade classrooms, students split into groups and decided what their product was going to be. Then, the group decided on a price for their product.
Product prices depended on the product and the level of quality and effort that went into producing the product.
The groups also decided what their bargaining strategy and pricing would be. Products included:
- Homemade mini hockey sticks and mini basketballs
- Paper airplanes
- Mini notebooks
- Mini journals with colorful covers
- Clay creations
- Bouncy balls
- Charms, necklaces, bracelets
- Smiley face balloons
Using fake money, groups had to pay for the materials and resources needed to produce their goods with money earned throughout the unit. Students earned wages by working in their groups and could earn additional income by following Northpoint expectations, including: walking quietly in the halls, reading for 20 minutes at night and having a clean desk.
During the market, students needed to save at least $20 from their market earnings in order to attend the cinema. Each group had to market and sell their product to their fellow classmates, manage their money carefully and strategically decide if and when bargaining was necessary when selling their goods.
This was an important unit and activity for students because budgeting is a life skill. Students will remember this activity, some for the rest of their lives, in having priorities in spending, saving and donating their money. Shannon Zobitz, third grade teacher
- Northpoint Elementary
- Personalized Learning