Second-graders start small business

Not many elementary school children would suggest a trip to the principal's office.

But that's exactly what second-graders at St. Joseph Catholic School in Marion did as part of a small business their class started in February.

Students made and sold jewelry to benefit the Cedar Valley Humane Society and decided - without prompting from their teacher - that they first should get Principal Cathy Walz's permission for the two-week project.

“We met with the principal. It was hard, scary and fun,” second-grader Alex Frericks said. “Some of the questions were hard and we didn't really know what to do.”

But the four students who took it upon themselves to lead the meeting said they figured out the answers and walked away with permission to move forward with their jewelry business.

This is project-based learning, an educational approach where students direct their own learning through hands-on experiences.

Students opted to make bracelets on Rainbow Looms, a wildly popular toy with the elementary school set. They came up with a marketing plan and voted to donate proceeds to a non-profit.

Divided into four teams - sellers, creators, public relations and marketing - they made a commercial and posters advertising their products. They set up a table in the hallway to sell the jewelry to fellow students and teachers after school.

They also put out a tip jar for extra donations to the Humane Society, wrote receipts for customers and took orders for special jewelry from classmates who wanted specific colors and designs.

They even taught themselves how to make bracelets, by watching YouTube.

“Creator” team member Jackson Dybvig said he was already a Rainbow Loom fan, but learned more complicated techniques for the project.

“I've been practicing for about a year, and now I'm a master,” he said. “I know almost every bracelet.”

Their teacher Samantha Paulson said students practiced public speaking, math, teamwork and creativity.

“I think the big thing is the students are asking the questions, and the students are figuring out the answers if possible,” she said.

Student Claire Vasey said she enjoyed the project.

“We learned working together is fun and how to run a business and helping others,” she said. “We learned how hard jobs are.”

Hard, but well worth it. In one week, including an order of 200 bracelets from Walz to hand out at an assembly, the bracelet sale brought in $446.26.

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