Laura Stasenko and Gail Terry

Stasenko’s and Terry’s innovative teaching idea, “Consumers in the Classroom,” is designed to help second graders in the rural area effectively devise and run a business plan using goods or services. Students will discover first-hand how supply and demand and scarcity of resources influence changes in consumer decisions. The money will be used to bring their visions alive during Market Week. Students, teachers, and community members will preview advertisements created by the students and will be invited to participate in Market Week to actually purchase goods or services. The second graders will analyze what resources are needed, the overhead costs, daily profit, determine sample wages, and explain consumer sovereignty. Any profit earned will be used to fund each yearly project thereafter so other students have the benefit of the program.