Students quickly make connections across areas of the curriculum within a unit and then across conceptual units, enhancing understanding. The unit was created by the first grade team to teach required curricular areas of counting by 5's and 10's, measurement, money, plants and seeds, and reading and writing. Students begin the unit developing popcorn sales for the school. They research brands of popcorn, estimate need, measure and compare unpopped to popped corn, determine price, advertising and packaging. They invest money for supplies, record expenses, make and sell the popcorn, and share profits.
All classes grow bedding plants from seeds.
Typical items selected by individual classes are bubbles, brownies, lemonade, play dough and coloring books. In manufacturing their products, students measure and weigh ingredients, and work cooperatively to create and package the goods. They calculate costs and determine price, establish inventory, design and construct the store front, and advertise their product. As Market Day approaches, students make posters and fliers in art and in the technology resource center, create promotional video clips in performing arts and music, experiment with packaging and plant growth in the science lab, and do labor schedules on computer spreadsheets. The Market Place opens to students, parents and visitors.