Students sell cookies to learn about economics.
By: Melissa Hayes
MONROE With the way students were screaming out prices and waving money in the air, it seemed like the Stock Exchange had taken up residence in the Woodland School gym Monday morning.
The students however were learning about owning a business.
Bright, colorful signs advertising various types of cookies, from grandma’s pizzelles to delicious chocolate chips, lined tables.
Sixth-graders sat behind those tables and chatted about their weekends and the cookies they were about to sell.
Then, the floodgates opened and fourth- and fifth-graders rushed in, money in hand, hoping to acquire as many cookies as possible.
The perspective buyers rushed the tables, scoping out the various products. Although the tables with elaborate presentations and screaming salespersons drew the largest crowds.
"What I found to be true for the most part is that packaging sells," said teacher Matt Gorham.
The sixth-grade entrepreneurs were participating in the great cookie project, their teachers’ way of rounding out the social studies unit on economics.
"Some kids really sold a lot, some didn’t sell that many. They really learned a lesson they couldn’t in a book," said teacher Charlene Albrecht.
Although the students had to put a lot of work into the project developing a product and marketing scheme and keeping a ledger with expenses and profits they had a lot of fun doing it.
Danny Deevey, 12, was selling chocolate chip oatmeal raisin cookies packaged in little white bags with shiny blue curly ribbons.
Sales weren’t so good at first, but they picked up once he dropped his asking price.
Even though he had an attractive product, Danny learned that the price plays a role too and $1 for two cookies was just too expensive.
"I started at $1, then lowered the price to 50 cents," he said.
Danny and his friend, Eddie Leonard, 12, who set up shop next to him, agreed that this was one of the best social studies lessons they’ve ever had.
"It was cool," Danny said.
"I thought it was going to be boring, but it was actually better," Eddie said. "It was fun."
Danny sold all but three packages of cookies by the end of the morning sale, but he still had lunch and the bus ride home to strike deals.
Eddie was able to sell out in the first few minutes of the sale.
"I had a line," he said excitedly.
Eddie’s cookies didn’t have any extravagant packaging, just clear wrapper and a ribbon. However, it was his design that drew all the attention.
"I had sugar cookies on a stick," he said.
They weren’t just plain sugar cookies though, they were swirling with various bright colors like All Day Sucker lollipops the product which gave Eddie his idea.
Several other students also drew their ideas from existing products.
Anna Penaherrera, 11, based her creamy delights on Oreo, that is, after she was unable to carry out her original plan of peanut butter cookies with Hershey Kisses on them.
Anna said she then turned to her favorite cookies for inspiration and developed her product, which sandwiched white chocolate between two chocolate cookies.
Joey Romanczuk, 12, based his cookies on dominoes.
"I thought people would be attracted to the design," he said, holding up a sugar cookie with three chocolate dots on it.
Some students were motivated by what would attract buyers.
Michael Mahmoud, 12, sold out quickly.
His slogan was "Look how big they are."
For $0.99 buyers could purchase two large chocolate chip cookies decorated with white icing.
Some students used their product’s uniqueness to advertise, like "Come try the one and only blue wave" a blue colored butter cookie decorated with blue frosting.
One student went well beyond just selling cookies and creating a sales pitch.
Lyndsey Reho, 12, used a cranberry colored tablecloth and silk flowers to spruce up her table. She also sold her cookies out of a basket and offered the recipes to customers.
"I wanted a good grade," she said.
She was selling Lyndsey’s Hometown Country Cookies. Buyers had the option of two large heart-shaped cookies or three medium sized gingersnaps.
"My mom is from the country so I just decided on country cookies," she said.
Selling the cookies was the easy part. Mr. Gorham reminded students that they still had a lot work to do, including writing a summary about their experience and finishing and handing in their ledgers Tuesday morning.
All of the net proceeds will be donated to Share Our Strength, an organization that helps feed hungry children in America.