Young Entrepreneurs Create Learning Marketplace

March 14, 2016

GW_Marketplace_4 — Who could pass up orange and purple soda ice cream sundaes at the Purple Cow station?

West Godwin Elementary first- through fourth-grade students spent an evening working as mini-entrepreneurs at the T21 Marketplace, selling candyand other goodies, masks and chances to shoot hoops and bowl.

Playing in the halls was part of the fun

The event, hosted by the after-school program Team 21, introduced students to real-life concepts of buying and selling goods or services, said Betsy Berry, West Godwin Team 21 coordinator. While Berry purchased materials, students cooked, created their products, advertised and cashed out at the end of the evening. Each good or service cost one Berry Buck, fake money students had earned for good behavior.

“The purpose of learning about being a consumer as well as a producer was beyond achieved,” Berry said.

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Team 21

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Erin Albanese

Erin Albanese is managing editor and reporter, covering Kentwood, Lowell and Wyoming. She was one of the original SNN staff writers, helping launch the site in 2013, and enjoys fulfilling the mission of sharing the stories of public education. She has worked as a journalist in the Grand Rapids area since 2000. A graduate of Central Michigan University, she has written for The Grand Rapids Press, Advance Newspapers, On-the-Town Magazine and Group Tour Media. Read Erin's full bio