What does the price of eggs have to do with fourth-graders at The Lamplighter School? Well, a lot. These kids are running a mock egg company to learn how businesses operate. They each hold stock in the company, and have duties like tending to the chickens and collecting eggs. They also track income versus overhead — and market and sell those fresh eggs. Teacher Kathey Beddow says this makes for real-world lessons in math, language arts and social studies. And because the students get to vote as business partners, they learn the meaning of cooperation. “It gives them the much-needed exposure to working in groups,” Beddow says. “It’s difficult even for adults to see their opinions be challenged and sometimes voted against. The students learn the validity of offering ideas, and that all ideas are important to the process. If only Congress worked together as well as these 9- and 10-year-olds!”
