Oakwood Elementary students mirror careers in virtual city
The time had come for the CEO of Prows Construction & Development, Inc. to head to First Security Bank to apply and, hopefully, get approved for a business loan.
Luckily for the CEO, the bank was only about 20 yards away.
In fact, he could swing by Best Buy to pick up supplies, and stop at Simmons Media to place a radio advertisement within a few short minutes.
Sounds like an ideal setting for a businessman, or in this case, a fifth-grader.
You see, this wasn’t full scale, real life business operations; this was Junior Achievement City – an interactive learning experience where students participate in hands-on economic practices in a simulated town facility.
During a full day event at Discovery Gateway, the students worked as employees in various businesses, such as CenturyLink, SelectHealth, Smith’s Marketplace, Zions Bank, Real Salt Lake, and Merit Medical. Additionally, a mayor is selected along with utility workers and other government employees.
With the help of business partners from Discover Card, the students managed budgets, shopped around the town as consumers, and executed sales strategies to attract customers.
Following the simulation, the students participated in a debriefing session to fully grasp the dynamics of a world economy. Classroom subjects were literally brought to life as the students identified relevant skills learned at school.
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