To market, to market: Northridge students sell their wares while learning economics

Northridge Elementary School Principal Megan Waver gets a purple streak in her hair as part of market day on Friday at the school. At left is student Boston Harrod. Wendy Nugent/Harvey County Now

By Wendy Nugent, Harvey County Now

NEWTON—Northridge Elementary School Principal Megan Nagel said she always wanted purple in her hair and she was glad to get it on Friday afternoon.

She received a purple streak, thanks to a student, who, with another student, had their BFF hair salon set up as part of the third grade market day in the school gym. Third graders sold items or services, while they and other students got to “buy” them.

Third graders had booths set up around the gym’s outer perimeter. At the far end of the gym, students had various items for sale, like painted rocks, slime and cotton candy. A couple of boys, Grason Crawford and Silas Weller, gave other students and adults attending the chance to spin a tool that could fling a plastic bottle cap into one of several cups, where they could earn points. People taking part got a prize, no matter how well they did.

Miyah Gordon had slime for sale and there was a reason for that.

“Because I feel like a lot of people like slime now and it’s a good thing to play with,” Gordon said.

To make it, she mixed an activator, shaving cream and glue. Once her base was complete, people could choose a color. Despite its name, the slime had a pleasant odor.

Prizes at the Crawford/Weller booth included homemade airplanes.

“I made them without any video,” Crawford said. “All the videos were blocked, so I made my own.”

Another student, Hope Ediger, had colorfully painted rocks with smiling faces on them for sale. She said she had help painting the rocks and she had her own reasons for picking what she did.

“Because they’re creative and I like to draw,” she said.

One of the third grade teachers, Jessica Weimer, said third graders are learning about basic economics.

“Each student had to create their own product. They had to advertise, they had to come up with a fair price, which meant they had to figure how much profit they would make,” Weimer said.

Students also had to use basic vocabulary, since they talked to others during the sale.

She said that this week, they’ll reflect on if they had enough product for the event, what they would do differently next time and if they made a profit.

For the most part, actual money wasn’t exchanged—just school “currency” that had dollar signs printed on paper or cardstock.

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