One dollar or thirty, Market Day was a success for every seventh grade student as each walked away with a profit after their two day sale in the ASA Middle School gym.
This English language arts unit taught the seventh graders a bit about the free enterprise system as each was challenged to create a product, mass produce it, calculate a marketable price, and then retail it using advertising techniques including testimonial, bandwagon, and loaded language. Studying their audience of 4th - 8th graders was key in deciding on a product and price.
"My pencil flag toppers sold better than I expected them to. I knew through surveying that we had football fans here at ASA, but I found out there are more than I thought," stated Nick.
Abby recalled, "I wanted to make something that was winter themed. I looked on Pinterest and decided on white sock bunnies because everyone has seen the sock snowmen. They didn't sell at first to the younger students, but then the 8th grade came in, and I sold out!" One eighth grader was overheard saying she now had a cute locker buddy!
After all was said and done, what were a few lessons learned and advice to next year's seventh grade? Whether selling painted rocks, bookmarks, beaded bracelets, stress balls, or spongies, making them for a specific audience by researching what colors, teams, and trends the audience is interested in is important. Watching how much you spend on making the product is important, too. Don't spend so much that you have to price your item too high for middle school students. Lastly, don't be nervous. Take a risk! You'll probably sell better than you think you will.