First Grade Market Day
Dear First Grade Families,
During our most recent unit in Social Studies, your first grader has been learning all about Economics. Your child has been learning the meaning of needs vs. wants, goods and services, and who we are as consumers and producers. As a way to extend our learning and provide an opportunity for you get get involved from home we will be opening a First Grade Market on the morning of March 22nd!
We are excited to provide each of these first graders the opportunity to become PRODUCERS! The home component will be an opportunity for you to assist your child in producing goods to “sell” at our First Grade Market (see next page for ideas and options). The GOODS that you choose to make will be provided and made entirely from home and will need to be small enough for your child to carry to school on the market day. Please note that these items are meant to be homemade and not simply bought from the store. Get creative and remember - creative does not mean expensive!
On the day of the market, you will be invited, along with the rest of the school, to come and ‘purchase’ their goods using our Market Money! Your child will have the chance to see what it is like to earn ‘money’ for their hard work and persistence in completing quality goods.
Not only will each child be able to produce goods and provide this service to their peers and parents, but they will also have an opportunity to become CONSUMERS too!! At the end of the day, after our market has closed, the first graders will get to count up their earnings and spend them on goods back at our classroom such as books, stickers, etc.
Please take a look at the next page to get ideas of various GOODS that you and your child can make and produce at home! Please mark your top 4 choices (in order of interest) with 1 being your top choice and 4 being your last choice. This will help the teachers ensure that we have a variety of items at the market. If you have an idea of something you would like to make that is not on the list please write it in and indicate that on your list of 4! We can’t wait to see all of the amazing GOODS your young PRODUCER comes up with! Please contact me with any questions you may have!
MARKET QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
How many items should my child make?
Please have your child make a minimum of 30 items. Once your child’s products sell out, they will close down their stand and have other things at the market that they can help do while they are waiting for the entire market to close.
Will there be an exchange of real money?
NO! Each shopper will receive some market money (tickets) in order to purchase items at the market. The seller will save their tickets and cash them in when they return to their first grade classroom.
How will items be priced and advertised?
We will work on signs and pricing during our classroom work time. At home, you only need to help your child create their products to sell.
What if I absolutely cannot think of something for my child or can’t afford this?
NO WORRIES!!! We have lots of inexpensive and FREE ideas for you! We are also happy to supply things that we have on hand at school - just ask! Also, we have other options if you absolutely cannot do this project at home - but please make every effort to reach out to us for ideas/help/supplies first. We want every student to feel included and have a plan for market day. It is best to talk to us ahead of time so we can work together to make a plan for your child to fully experience market day and learn about goods/services first hand!
Market ideas include:
*necklaces /bracelets
*magnets
*popsicle stick picture frames
*geodes
*suncatchers
*homemade
*gak
*bookmarks
*paintings
*homemade playdough
*bird feeder
*pen toppers
*pencil toppers
*games (ex. Tic-tac-toe, balloon tennis, etc.)
*pencil holders
*you can also get creative with your own ideas!!!
We can't wait to see what you come up with! Please send back the paper in your child's folder by this week Thursday (February 15th) so that we can confirm with your your item choice. This will give you a whole month to prep and make your items at home!
See you at the Market!!!
