By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of BRE

Young Ameritownes purpose is to engage young citizens in a curriculum unit about basic personal finance, and civics and real-life scenarios.

Fifth grade students at Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) recently participated in a beloved tradition, the Young Ameritowne field trip. Young Ameritowne is an opportunity for the kids to run a town for a day. Students are shopkeepers, bankers, law enforcement officials, and other critical roles in communities, including politicians. They earn a wage and purchase goods and services. The program even includes a random drawing of illness or injury, complete with time away from work and a co-pay to the hospital. This annual fun day is more than just a field trip, it is a curriculum unit about basic personal finance, and civics and real-life scenarios.

Weeks before the field trip, fifth grade classrooms began to prepare. “Students participated in lessons that developed their understanding of financial institutions, various types of accounts available, how to write checks, fill out withdrawal forms and how to maintain a register,” said KerriLynn Andrew, one of BRE’s three fifth grade teachers.

Teachers noted that while many banks and other institutions use primarily digital formats, knowing the basics the old-fashioned way is fundamental. “Students also learned about supply and demand, risk taking when investing (risk vs. reward), and making good personal financial decisions,” Andrew continued.

Young Ameritowne is a chance to learn and have fun.

Students reviewed U.S. government structures because the curriculum includes lessons on taxes and elections for mayor and judge for Ameritowne. Knowing they would run a town, students learned how basic city government functions and all the roles required to have a productive society, even for one day. “They took a strengths assessment to help them narrow down a career that best matched their skills and interests,” stated Andrew. Students then filled out job applications and practiced interviewing with one another before facing parent volunteers for the interviews that would determine the field trip hiring. The most coveted jobs were working at the snack shop.

Braxton S. landed the snack shop manager position at Ameritowne. He put his new knowledge about supply and demand in practice as goods were depleted throughout the day and prices adjusted. He hoped to be a salesperson in the snack shop, “but I got something better – manager. It gets a higher paycheck and I got to fill in when anyone was gone, so I got to do three jobs instead of one,” he said.

Synchronously, fifth grade has a financial literacy unit that carries through the whole year. Students earn money in a variety of ways, including turning in assignments on time, and helping others. They are expected to pay rent for their desks, and can be fined for talking in the halls, goofing around, or having missing work. There is also a weekly class store where students can purchase small trinkets and treats.

A BRE student learns how a Post Office facility runs while delivering the mail to other business in Young Ameritowne.