Fort Huachuca, Arizona - Students at Colonel Johnston Elementary School were given a hands-on lesson in economics on May 8 while participating in a mini society fair hosted by kindergarten teacher Althea Brown's class.
The mini society, which the 18 citizens named Strawberry World, was started in August during their first day of class.
"[The students] have jobs to make money; one of their jobs is to come to school, so if they attend, they get $2 a day which our accountants pay them," Brown said. "If they don't have any fines … they keep their $2. If they have to pay a fine, then they pay a dollar for their fine."
The entrepreneurs were also able to make a profit during the Strawberry World Fair on May 8. Consumers from five kindergarten classes, two first grade classes and one second grade class were each given $5 to spend on goods at the fair.
Parents helped their children craft different products to sell to the students and faculty. Some of the students' businesses included stands selling various fruit, a kissing booth with Hershey kisses, brownies, cookies, geodes, magic wands, decorative pencils and pencils in a bag.
"I think it's amazing they are learning how to market and create a business and then create profit off of it," said mom Katie Gabel. This is something I would have never learned in kindergarten much less in high school, so I think it's really amazing that they are learning it at this young of an age."
The various goods sold out quickly during the fair, leaving nothing but the entrepreneurs counting their profits.
"We are hoping to teach them, we have our standard which is economics and it's showing kids how to learn in a society, how people work to earn money to pay for things that they want and need," Brown said.
Brown used to teach in Hawaii where mini societies were popular in the school system. This is her second year teaching at Johnston and the second year she has had her students participate in a mini society.
"This is an event that kids come to me years later saying they loved it. It's a memorable event," Brown said.
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