Ware Elementary students learn business of making money

By Lyndsey BornMarch 24, 2009

Ware Elementary students learn business of making money
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A second-grade Ware Elementary student asks for $2 from a first grader looking to purchase juice from their store March 13 during Market Day at Ware Elementary. Students from each second-grade class had to come up with a product to sell to first gra... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Ware Elementary students learn business of making money
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A first-grade student picks out the paper airplane she wants during the Market Day event March 13 at Ware Elementary School. Groups from the second grade researched what kind of products to sell to first graders. The students were able to use any p... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT RILEY, Kan. - At the age of 8 many children are not thinking about what would be a good item to sell, but the second-grade students at Ware Elementary had to do just that. On March 13, the second graders opened their stores up to the first graders hoping to make a profit off of their merchandise.

The items being sold ranged from paper airplanes to ice cream treats. Not only did the students have to do research to find out what would be a good item to sell, but they also had to decide on what a good price would be for the item.

Airplanes went for as little as a dollar, while ice cream sundaes went for $4.

Autum Kaho, second-grader, said her group decided to sell ice cream sundaes for $4 because it would be a good product for their customers.

"They get to pick what they want to put on it," Kaho said.

As the first group of shoppers left, Kaho and the rest of the ice cream sellers decided to sell their sundaes for a dollar off because the second group had already spent some of its money. Each first grader was given $10 in play money to spend.

After the shopping spree was over, sellers counted their cash to add up their profits. After subtracting money to pay for bills, the sellers got to take their profits and take their turns at the shops.

Many of the components used to make products were donated by parents. Parents also were able to volunteer to help the students sell their items.

Although the money and businesses weren't real, the students were able to have fun while learning what it takes to run a business.