From salt to stones, plastic, cardboard and doggy bones — these are the makings of Springwood student products.
That, and business plans, of course.
Grade 6 and 7 students unveiled their products at Springwood Elementary School on Wednesday, April 19, to crowds of students and adults interested in checking out and buying their wares.
The Young Entrepreneur’s Market Mayhem event, organized by teacher Gayle Bertrand, was the second she’s put together, with the aim to teach students the basics of creating a product, pricing it based on facts, and selling. More than a dozen students participated in creating goods.
Some of those included the classic pet rock, as well as stress balls made of balloons and flour (which sold quickly), mugs dipped in swirled nail polish, doggie treats, bird feed, phone speakers made of cups and paper towel rolls, and much more.
Ella Confortin said she made stress balls because they help when she’s arguing with members of her swim team.
Maddie Dussome created her unique mugs by swirling nail polish on top of water, and then dipping the mugs into them, revealing a pattern.
Darby Skuse made Darby’s Energy Bird Feeders with lard, cornmeal, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, and cranberries to help re-energize birds after winter.
But there were many steps for students to complete before getting to market day, said Bertrand.
“Their first objective is to pay their loans,” she said.
Most students borrowed capital from their parents to jumpstart their venture — spending the money on materials or even time in the school shop room to work.
The cost to make the products had to be factored into the sale price, said Bertrand, as well as various other factors, including their target market. They had to detail all this in business plans.
Students were also committed to passing on 10 per cent of their profits to the Canadian Red Cross and the B.C. Cancer Foundation. Each student had previously presented on what group they wanted to support before students voted for beneficiaries.
Both the cancer foundation and the Red Cross were close to students’ hearts, as one of the participating students had received help from the Canadian Red Cross during the floods in Calgary, while some members of Springwood’s teaching staff had recently gone through cancer treatment, said Bertrand.
After paying off their loans and donating 10 per cent, the rest of the money goes to the student who made the product, she said.
“If they lose money, that’s just as much of a learning experience,” she said.