It was a momentous occasion as a small crowd gathered to cut the ribbon on a handful of new businesses.
These businesses were not the product of bricks and mortar or investment capital, but rather, the ingenuity of fourth graders at Brecknock Elementary School.
The students unveiled their newest additions to “Sweet Read City,” a fictional mini city “built” on the shelf of the Brecknock Elementary library, as part of the school’s annual business symposium.
GMIS Care Cart and Mustang Keystone were among the simulated businesses that Governor Mifflin fourth graders created as part of an annual business symposium. (Courtesy of Governor Mifflin School District)
“In addition to providing the infrastructure needed to operate a completely student-centered library, Sweet Read City is the backdrop for understanding real world concepts such as the economy, entrepreneurship, and community interdependence,” Rachel Sebastian, a librarian at Brecknock and the organizer of the symposium, told MediaNews Goup.
The annual symposium on Nov. 21 is the culmination of a longer project that aims to teach Brecknock fourth graders concepts like the economy, entrepreneurship and community interdependence.
Throughout the project, students in each class choose a local businesses to connect with, learning about the goods or services they provide, understanding the career opportunities within the organization, and eventually visiting and touring the business.
The project is modeled using Total Experience Learning, an educational framework used by institutions like Alvernia University, which focuses on learning by experience.
To that end, local business owners played a significant role in the development of the symposium and the fourth graders’ simulated businesses.
“To take learning beyond the four walls of the classroom, students learn all about entrepreneurship from the business owners themselves,” Sebastian said.
Businesses that participated in this year’s project include Classic Harley Davidson, East Penn Manufacturing, Schlouch Inc., LedgeRock Golf Club, Goodwill Industries and The Restaurant Store.
The annual symposium is where students demonstrate their knowledge by adding new businesses to Sweet Read City, which are modeled after actual businesses in Berks.
The students cap off the project with the ribbon cutting and keynote speeches.
Brecknock Elementary fourth graders give keynote speeches as part of an annual business symposium at the school library. (Courtesy of Governor Mifflin School District)
“Experiences like the business symposium not only provide immersive, real world learning but also nurture innovative, community-minded solutions,” Sebastian said.
Governor Mifflin fourth grade students operate mock businesses at a business symposium Nov. 21 at the Brecknock Elementary library. (Courtesy of Governor Mifflin School District)