Westwood second graders recently explored the fundamentals of economics in their social studies classes, learning about goods and services, as well as the concepts of spending and saving. Their unit culminated in “Market Day,” an engaging hands-on activity that brought classroom lessons to life.
To prepare for Market Day, students used their creativity and entrepreneurial thinking to develop a handmade good or service they could “sell” to their classmates. After creating their products, students designed colorful advertisements featuring the name and price of their items or services.
When the market officially opened, students used “class cash” to shop among their classmates’ booths. Offerings ranged from artwork, bracelets, and painted rocks to services such as temporary tattoos, face painting, hair styling, and nail design. The classroom was filled with excitement as students practiced making purchases, managing money, and interacting as both consumers and business owners.
The activity provided students with a fun and meaningful opportunity to apply what they learned while also building creativity, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.