Aiming to introduce elementary school students to the world of business, about 60 members of Marshall’s FBLA chapter participated in the Junior Achievment program on April 18. Statesmen engaged with students of all grade-levels at Shrevewood Elementary School and led eight-hour lessons on basic business concepts.
“Even though I am on my feet for eight hours and I am exhausted running around making sure the kids are understanding the material, I love doing it,” senior Negin Hooshmandnia said, reflecting on her involvement in the function in previous years.
Hooshmandnia added that her goal was to raise business awareness in the elementary school students to create future business leaders. FBLA sponsor Rebekah Glasbrenner agreed with this goal.
“I believe it is important for students to start at a young age being introduced to business and personal finance topics because it makes them more aware of the world around them and opens the door for continued learning,”Glasbrenner said.
According to Glasbrenner, lessons for kindergarteners through third-graders focused on general ideas: needs and wants, the use of money and the basics of trade. Fourth-grade to sixth-grade lessons were geared towards business on a macro-scale; students learned about global businesses and the factors of production.
Senior Robinson Cho was impressed with the fourth and fifth-graders he instructed. “They seemed to know so much already,” he said. FBLA used familar cartoon characters to make material understandable for younger students; Glasbrenner cited “Spongebob” and “The Krusty Krab” as popular references.