The grade 2’s have been busy learning about their local community and the important parts of a thriving working community.
2TW began their classroom community with a story about how they were wandering around the desert with nothing but a suitcase. In groups of two and a little bit of money, they slowly built Silly City! Over a month and a half, students went from making $2 a day while having no jobs, to building two businesses and making a scaled-down accurate pay cheque. Students were shocked to find out about how much money the jobs they picked made. Their first job had to be something that communities need to survive. They made places like a grocery store, hospital, gas station (even though we had no cars yet), car dealership, police station, fire department, clothing store, people in the trades, lumber store and mechanic stop. They wanted more money so that they could save more money faster to buy things like a car. Eventually, they were able to get a second job that would bring in tourism to make more money. They made places like a bowling alley, hotel, flying squirrel, electronics store, airport, dentist, school, toy store, pet store/vet and prison.
Students also had to pay bills such as, gas, groceries, house maintenance, car maintenance, vet bills, etc. Luckily they did not pay taxes even though this was often discussed. When their classmates tried to sell them cars and pets, they had to try to bargain to get a good deal and remember that everything comes with extra bills…
It was fascinating to watch students learn to spend their money wisely at our classroom store. Some students became big money savers, and some would spend every loonie they got. The project has come to a close and some wallets still have over $300 (keep in mind, everything was scaled down), while other groups have no money left, but no one has a bank loan anymore!
Students worked in pairs, learning to collaborate, communicate, and compromise. They were forced to take each other's feelings into account, but rock, paper, scissors will always help make decisions in a pinch. Would this work in your house?