Educational Excellence Since 1912
Hamden Hall Country Day School
Educating students in PreSchool through Grade 12
Hamden Hall Country Day School
Educating students in PreSchool through Grade 12
JA In A Day Program Produces Business-Savvy Students
The entrepreneurial spirit was humming in 4th-, 5th-, and 6th-grade classrooms on Tuesday as students brainstormed innovative ideas and learned about everything business – from the economy to finances to supply and demand.
Most impressive to fifth-grade teacher Monica Emanuelson was the vocabulary students used to express their ideas and opinions.
Now in its fifth year, JA in a Day – sponsored by Junior Achievement – has become a familiar program for our students, many of whom have experienced the offering for several years in a row.
“Students become more familiar with the terms and with the process, which allows them to take what they know and add to it,” said Mrs. Emanuelson. “It’s a real-world experience, and the students are really engaged.”
Hamden Hall annually partners with Junior Achievement to provide programming in Lower School classrooms. Students in Grades 1-4 have participated since 2015 while Grades 5 and 6 were added in 2017. Junior Achievement programs foster work-readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy skills and use experiential learning to inspire students to dream big and reach their potential. Grades 1, 2, and 3 will welcome JA instructors to their classrooms next week.
In learning about the economy and financial literacy, Mrs. Emanuelson’s students began by doing some pricing on everyday items such as pencils, water bottles, and a bag of chips. “Why do you think products are sometimes charged at a higher price,” asked Miss Kentha, a JA volunteer.
Next door in Emily Schimelman’s Grade 5 classroom, students were having fun trying to sell one another their own personal belongings such as lunchboxes and sneakers. Their JA instructor was Mr. Ross, who guided their activities and conversations by asking well-placed questions and utilizing various visual materials.
A poster featuring the STEM disciplines – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – was a topic of discussion in terms of future jobs and careers. Mr. Ross pointed out that two of the entrepreneurial ideas students came up with – shoes that fly and ski goggles with windshield wipers – would require science prowess.
Grade 4 students in teacher Kathy McNeiece’s classroom were introduced to the process of using resources to produce goods and services within a region. Students operated a hypothetical hot dog stand to understand the fundamental tasks performed by a business owner and to track the revenue and expenses of a business.
Sixth-grade students worked in groups to start their own companies and “pitch” their ideas to their peers. That pitch had to include their entrepreneurial story, the problem solved or need met with the origin of the business, and the target market identified for the product.
An entrepreneurial characteristics inventory helped students discern for themselves whether they tend to be self-motivated, a team player, innovative, and/or other qualities.
“What do you need to start a business,” asked JA volunteer Josh. “Money,” replied students.
Click here to view a slideshow highlighting the various activities.
Hamden Hall Country Day School
1108 Whitney Avenue
Hamden, Connecticut 06517
Phone: 203-752-2600
Fax: 203-752-2651
admissions@hamdenhall.org
Hamden, Connecticut 06517
Phone: 203-752-2600
Fax: 203-752-2651
admissions@hamdenhall.org
About Us
Hamden Hall Country Day School is a nurturing and inclusive community with a dynamic learning environment that promotes academic excellence by understanding each child and fostering their individual growth.
