Business is booming at Glenwood Elementary, where students are turning big ideas into amazing products at their first entrepreneurship fair.
More than 150 students from grades 4 to 7 took part in the fair, selling handmade products like slime, fidget toys, stickers, lip gloss, soap, magnets, artwork and clay figurines.
Some of the most unique products were horseshoe hooks, crocheted cat hats and 3D printed items.
“The fair was a huge success,” said Kim Larson, a grade 4/5 teacher. “Many students felt very successful with what they created and how it went with the customers!”
Larson, along with Glenwood teachers Alexandra Barnes and Marguerite Ferguson, put together the academic work for students and oversaw the planning and organization of the fair.
“We wanted to provide an opportunity for students to learn how to operate a small business and to learn how to manage money,” explained Larson. “We wanted students to develop financial literacy, work on skills related to group work, go through the design process and use their creativity for a unique product to meet the needs of their potential customers.”
The young entrepreneurs learned about what goes into producing, selling and marketing a product.
Grade 6 student Leighton sold macrame keychains at the fair.
“We had to design it, draw some ideas and pick the best one,” she explained. “We had to do a budget and fill out a financial page with our earnings.”
Leighton says she learned a lot from participating in the fair, including how much items cost and how to budget.
“Also, how to price the item, as some more expensive items didn’t sell until the parents and families came to the fair. That slime is really popular with other kids,” she added.