Mini Society

3rd Graders at Runyon study economics in a fun way. They call it "mini-society" - a few weeks of learning, experimenting in barter and trading, choosing names, flags, money design, working to earn money (regular school "chores" as well as jobs like bankers, money cutters etc), market surveys, manufacturing products, balancing checkbooks, and selling products.

Today was selling day. It was oh so fun. Parents also earned money by coming to a prents meeting, or helping out in the classroom with book balancing. SO Elise and I got to shop, too.

Here is Owen setting up his shop:

The storefront:

Customers are lining up!

The product, #1 - Bendy snakes:

Product #2 - Cool Cork dudes or dudettes.
A few left waiting to be sold in the holding box:

A customer!


Making a transaction:

ELise trying to decide which flower tobuy:

Counting his money after the sale:




Elise bought a Cootie Catcher:

Owen making some sales:

Kids who weren't selling (the worked in 3 different shifts) comparing their loot and playing:

Here's some of our "loot" we all bought:

Whew! Exhausting day!