43
Boardman elementary students learn economics basics at carnival
BOARDMAN
Terms such as “consumer” and “profit” might be beyond the grasp of a second-grader.
That’s why second-grade teachers at Stadium Drive Elementary organized the school’s second annual economics carnival this week.
“Anything we can connect to the real world helps them understand why they need to learn it,” said teacher Jessica Koehler. “If we can connect it to something they can touch and work at, they’ll get it so much more.”
The school’s second-grade students divided into groups, each of which ran its own booth. There was an “Amazing Arcade,” “Crazy for Candy” store, and the “Petting Zoo Crew.”
Carley Albanese, 7, manned the “Crazy for Candy” booth. She explained that blow pops cost two tickets, while Dum Dum lollipops cost only one.
“It’s pretty fun,” she said of running the booth.
The experience taught her that running a business isn’t all fun, though.
“It’s kind of hard work,” she said.
“I’ve learned that you don’t always get a lot of customers,” said Gianna Berardino, who was stationed at a portrait-drawing booth.
But, she added, “I’ve learned that if you make colorful signs, it will attract customers.”
Kaidyn Hurst, too, explained the challenge of drawing in customers. Her group seemed to have figured it out, though, as students clustered around the “Pin the Tail on the Monkey” booth.
“Our booth is really good. We get a lot of people,” the second-grader said. “It’s fun. It’s like we’re grown-ups.”
The carnival’s customers were students from other grade levels. Each student received tickets to use at the carnival and got extra tickets if they brought in canned goods for Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley. Last year the school collected 1,500 pounds of food, with hopes to top that this year.
The carnival inspired some students to think about running their own business someday.
Carley sees herself owning a candy store when she grows up.
“Because this job is really fun,” she said.