Market Day Brings Economics to Life at Humphreys West Elementary
CAMP HUMPHREYS, SOUTH KOREA – Third-grade students at Humphreys West Elementary wrapped up their Project-Based Learning (PBL) unit on economics with an exciting and educational event: Market Day.
This event marked the culmination of a multi-week exploration into economic concepts, centered around the driving question: “How can third-grade entrepreneurs plan for a financially successful business?”
Throughout the unit, students learned about money, supply and demand, goods and services, budgeting, and marketing. They then applied this knowledge by developing their own small businesses to “sell” a product or service to the rest of the elementary student body.
The third-grade hallway transformed into a vibrant, student-run marketplace. Each student, or partner pair, set up a business complete with signage, pricing, and product displays. Offerings ranged from handcrafted jewelry, bookmarks, and origami to nail polish services, carnival games, and even rounds of mini golf. Many students embraced sustainability by repurposing materials from home, highlighting the importance of recycling and budgeting.
Other grade levels received $5 in play money per student, which they used to shop at Market Day. This allowed all students to experience real-world financial decision-making in a fun, hands-on setting. Shoppers had to make thoughtful choices, balancing wants and needs while comparing prices and products, just like in the real world.
Student sellers were responsible for preparing at least 50 items and used thoughtful pricing strategies, typically ranging from $1 to $3, based on factors like time invested, material costs, and item uniqueness. To promote their businesses, students created posters, and commercials were aired on the school’s morning news show, Osprey TV.
Market Day was more than just a celebration of learning, it was a powerful demonstration of how academic content, creativity, and real-life skills can come together in meaningful and memorable ways.
