Adorned with heart balloons and tablecloths with pink and red hearts, the Hayot Center for Innovation was ready to host the first annual “Friendship Fair” on Friday, February 13.
Despite its name, this event was not just for encouraging friendships across grades – the focus was actually on math! As part of Class 2’s math instruction, students have been developing fluency in addition, subtraction, with making change, and with foundational financial literacy. To apply this knowledge in a real-life application, the girls created their own businesses. The Fair, designed by Head of Lower School Math Jess Pham, LS Technology Integrator Jess Busk and Director of the HCI Dr. Jon Olivera, provided an interdisciplinary, experiential learning opportunity for our students, while integrating design, collaboration and problem-solving across disciplines.
In early January, Class 2 students were put into groups and asked to select an item they wanted to make or sell from a predetermined list. Objects included bracelets, keychains, bookmarks, rock pets, magnets and more. If a student had their own idea, they were also welcome to share it with Ms. Pham and Dr. Olivera. One group, for example, asked and then endeavored to make their own hair bows.
With the expert help of Dr. Olivera, endless inspiration and myriad tools at their fingertips in the HCI, the girls brought their ideas to life. During Technology lessons with Ms. Busk, the students created digital signs to display their business logos and pricing options.
On the Friday morning of the Fair, Class 2 students stood eagerly behind the long tables, awaiting the arrival of their first guests…Class 1 students! Their younger peers had been practicing counting coins during their own math lessons and were ready to shop! Before they began, two second graders introduced the businesses and advised their younger friends to “Shop wisely and make good choices! If you don’t have the exact amount, wait for your change…You may not have enough money to buy everything you want, so think carefully about what you choose.”
Each first grader, a pouch of 100 (fake) cents (six dimes, 6 nickels and 10 pennies) in hand, began to excitedly peruse the shops with intriguing names, like “The Hair Tie Queens,” “The Animal Kingdom Keychains,” and “Stuffie Store.” Items were listed at varying prices, 10 cents, 41 cents, and 76 cents, and everything in between. While the Class 1 girls shopped in pairs to help each other, Upper School and Class 7 students were also on hand to offer guidance and support. Visiting teachers and Head of Lower School Thérèse Cruite used fake dollar bills to purchase items, as well.
Equipped with toy cash registers and entrepreneurial spirit, each section of Class 2 sold out of their merchandise! The joy was palpable as students across divisions engaged in a morning of math, fun and friendship.
