Small markets, big lessons

POLSON — If you’ve never been to a place where you can get a tattoo, massage, go bowling and shop for gifts all in the same room, then you’ve never been to the Linderman Elementary market.

On Wednesday, Dec. 21, fourth-grade students filled the gymnasium, setting up booths where they could offer goods and services to fellow students at reasonable prices.

The day was filled with fun and games, smiles worn by all, but in addition to being a good time for the students, it was also a learning opportunity for the entrepreneurs.

“Each class is a microcommunity,” fourth grade teacher Tami Morrison said. “There’s a mayor, assistant mayor and the students have jobs. The Linderman market is one part of the village.”

The annual event gives kids in other grades the chance to come down to the market and spend Linderman bucks to buy cool gifts, food and services. One quarter equals one Linderman buck and kids can buy up to $5 worth of the bucks.

The students learn about the economy as well as they go through the process, as they are taxed on their earnings and must pay a booth fee when they set up shop. But with the money they make through their business, and throughout the year at their classroom job, the kids can bid at an end-of-the-year auction for cool items that Morrison calls “summer-healthy things.”

While students enjoy the market for the ability to interact with classmates, they also love it because it gives them that chance to run an independent business.

“I really like knowing how to handle money,” fourth-grader Bo Kelley said. “It teaches you about life and how to run a business.”

For others, the day was about having fun and seeing classmates do the same.

“I like having fun and letting people play my game,” dart shoot attendant Summer Kovarik said. “People love playing my game.”

With the students laying the groundwork for a successful future and having fun while doing it, the Linderman market was on the money once again.