Business Fair

The third grade at Wade's school has a business fair every year. Each student has to choose a product to make. They have to make at least 6 items. They then take it to school and work with the teacher to price them. Each year they have had a special Preview day in which other students, teachers, and parents are able to come see what they have produced and plan for how much money they need to bring for the actual fair the next day. Then, the following day the actual business fair happens where people are able to come and buy the products.

It's a really great lesson in profit and loss. The students have to be thoughtful in the whole process about whether or not they are producing something that can be sold and whether or not they will be able to make a profit.

Wade came up with this idea all on his own.

He bought clay flower pots, paint, soil, and individual packages of different kinds of seeds. He then painted each pot, filled it with soil, and placed a package of seeds in it. They turned out really cute.

The poor third graders this year got kind of gyped on the whole process. The week of the scheduled preview day and Business Fair day was the week that school was closed for the silly Swine Flu! Therefore, the Business Fair was moved to the last week of school before our flex days. So, they ended up not having a preview day which meant they sold fewer things because fewer students were prepared to buy on the actual day. Yuck!!! Kind of disappointing.

He had 10 pots and only came home with 4. He has sold one to one of his grandmothers and one aunt. We just have two more to go. His Oma just got home from Germany late last night so I'm sure we'll be able to sell one to her. We'll get it done.

It was a fun process though and I was really proud of him for coming up with this idea all on his own and carrying it out!!!