Market Marvels: Sixth-Grade Startup Showcase!

6th Grade Project 4 weeks

Market Marvels: Sixth-Grade Startup Showcase!

Kylie Thorne

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Purpose

Students will engage in a dynamic, hands-on market project where they will design, create, and sell homemade products, fostering a deep understanding of financial literacy and entrepreneurship. By collaborating with community partner Kara Danroth from Homestead, students will gain real-world insights and mentorship. The project will kick off with an inspiring visit to a local market, setting the stage for students to develop their business plans and products. The culmination will be a vibrant community market exhibition, where students showcase their creations and business acumen. This project empowers students to harness their creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking skills in a practical, meaningful context.

Learning goals

Students will develop financial literacy skills by creating comprehensive business plans for homemade products, which they will sell at a community market. Through collaboration with Kara Danroth from Homestead, students will gain insights into sustainable practices and local business operations. By visiting a local market, students will observe real-world examples of commerce and apply these observations to their own market strategies. The project will culminate in an exhibition where students showcase and sell their products, demonstrating their understanding of entrepreneurship and market dynamics.

Standards

Common Core - CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.RP.A.3: Use ratio and rate reasoning to solve real-world and mathematical problems.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.4: Present claims and findings, sequencing ideas logically and using pertinent descriptions, facts, and details to accentuate main ideas or themes.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.7: Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and refocusing the inquiry when appropriate.

Products

Students will create homemade products such as candles, soaps, and baked goods, which they will sell at the community market exhibition. Each student will design and execute a business plan, detailing product creation, pricing strategies, and marketing approaches. The project will culminate in a vibrant market day where students showcase and sell their products to community members, applying their financial literacy skills in real-world transactions.

Launch

Begin the project with a visit to a local market where students can observe various vendors, their products, and customer interactions. Encourage students to engage with vendors by asking questions about their business strategies and product creation processes. This experience will provide students with real-world insights into market dynamics and inspire ideas for their own homemade products.

Exhibition

Students will host a vibrant community market day, transforming the school grounds into a bustling marketplace. Each student will set up a booth to showcase and sell their homemade products, inviting family, friends, and local community members to attend. Kara Danroth from Homestead will be present to provide feedback and support, highlighting the students' entrepreneurial efforts. This event will not only serve as a platform for students to demonstrate their financial literacy and business acumen but also foster community engagement and celebration of their hard work.

Plan

Week 1	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Day 1: Launch the project with a visit to a local market. Encourage students to observe vendor interactions, product displays, and pricing strategies. Students should take notes on their observations and prepare questions to ask vendors.	Day 2: Facilitate a classroom discussion where students share their market visit observations. Guide them to identify key elements of successful market stalls and products. Introduce the concept of a business plan and its importance.	Day 3: Organize a brainstorming session where students generate ideas for their homemade products. Encourage them to consider feasibility, materials needed, and potential customer interest.	Day 4: Begin the initial stages of business plan development. Have students outline their product ideas, target audience, and initial pricing strategies. Provide a basic template to guide their planning.	Day 5: Host a guest session with Kara Danroth from Homestead. She will provide insights into sustainable practices and local business operations. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions and refine their business ideas.
Deliverables	1. A reflection journal entry based on the market visit, focusing on observations and insights gained. 2. Initial product idea proposal and draft outline of the business plan.
Preparation	1. Coordinate and schedule the visit to the local market, ensuring permissions and logistics are addressed. 2. Prepare a list of observation prompts and questions to guide student focus during the market visit. 3. Develop a basic business plan template for students to use as a guide. 4. Arrange the guest session with Kara Danroth, including communication and logistics. 5. Gather materials for brainstorming activities, such as chart paper, markers, and post-it notes.

Week 2	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Day 1: Students will research materials and costs for their homemade products using digital resources and library books. Encourage them to explore sustainability options and local sourcing. Guide students to record their findings in a research log.	Day 2: Facilitate a workshop on crafting marketing strategies, including branding and product presentation. Students will create mood boards to visualize their brand and product display ideas.	Day 3: Students begin drafting their detailed business plan, including material sourcing, production timeline, marketing strategy, and financial projections. Provide structured time for peer feedback sessions to refine ideas.	Day 4: Host a collaborative session with Kara Danroth where students present their business plan drafts and receive constructive feedback. Kara will share insights on market trends and effective sales techniques.	Day 5: Students refine their business plans based on feedback received and develop a prototype of their product. Conduct a peer review session where students test their prototypes and provide feedback on functionality and appeal.
Deliverables	1. Completed research log detailing materials and costs. 2. Mood board illustrating branding and product presentation ideas. 3. Draft business plan, including feedback from peers and Kara Danroth. 4. Initial prototype of the homemade product.
Preparation	1. Compile a list of digital resources and library books for research on materials and costs. 2. Prepare materials for mood board creation, including magazines, scissors, glue, and poster boards. 3. Develop a structured template for the detailed business plan. 4. Coordinate the collaborative session with Kara Danroth, ensuring logistics and communication. 5. Gather materials for product prototype creation, including tools and resources relevant to student product choices.

Week 3	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Day 1: Students finalize their business plans, focusing on refining financial projections and marketing strategies. Provide time for peer review and ensure students incorporate feedback effectively.	Day 2: Conduct a workshop on sales techniques and customer interaction. Role-play scenarios where students practice selling their products and handling customer questions.	Day 3: Facilitate a session on booth setup and presentation skills. Students will design and plan the layout of their market stalls, considering aesthetics and functionality.	Day 4: Host a session where students create marketing materials such as flyers, social media posts, and signage for their stalls. Provide guidance on effective communication and visual appeal.	Day 5: Organize a mock market day in the classroom where students set up their stalls and conduct a trial run of their market interactions. Invite feedback from peers and Kara Danroth, who will provide insights on market readiness.
Deliverables	1. Finalized business plan with financial projections and marketing strategies. 2. Design and layout plan for market stall. 3. Marketing materials such as flyers and social media posts. 4. Feedback from mock market day, including insights from Kara Danroth.
Preparation	1. Prepare materials for peer review sessions, such as feedback forms and criteria checklists. 2. Develop role-play scenarios and provide resources for sales techniques workshop. 3. Organize materials for booth design and layout planning, including model furniture and props. 4. Gather resources for creating marketing materials, such as templates, graphics, and basic design software. 5. Coordinate with Kara Danroth for participation in the mock market day and ensure logistical arrangements.

Week 4	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Day 1: Students will finalize their product creations, ensuring quality and consistency. Allocate time for peer review to provide constructive feedback on product presentation and functionality.	Day 2: Facilitate a workshop on effective communication and customer service. Students will practice their sales pitches, focusing on clear articulation of product benefits and engaging customer interaction.	Day 3: Conduct a session on financial review and setting up cash flow systems. Students will finalize their pricing strategies, prepare a pricing list, and set up a simple cash handling process for market day.	Day 4: Host a setup day where students arrange their market stalls as planned. Allow time for troubleshooting any logistical issues and rehearsing the setup process to ensure efficiency on the exhibition day.	Day 5: Execute the community market exhibition. Students will operate their stalls, sell their products, and engage with customers from the community. Kara Danroth will provide support and feedback throughout the event.
Deliverables	1. Finalized products ready for sale. 2. Completed pricing list and cash flow setup. 3. Detailed reflection journal entry on market exhibition experience, including lessons learned and feedback received.
Preparation	1. Arrange for necessary permissions and logistics for the community market exhibition, including space allocation and setup requirements. 2. Prepare resources for the communication workshop, such as role-play scenarios and feedback forms. 3. Gather materials for cash flow setup, including cash boxes, receipt templates, and transaction record sheets. 4. Coordinate with Kara Danroth for her participation in the exhibition day, ensuring she has a clear role and schedule. 5. Ensure all safety and logistical considerations are addressed for a successful market day, including signage, traffic flow, and contingency plans.