McKinley first graders host families at donut shops
Liam Thomas, a first grader at McKinley Elementary, smiles at his mother, Harmony Thomas (not pictured), after serving her a donut at the first grade donut shop event Thursday. Families of students were invited to come, be given play money, and then spend that money in exchange for a donut and bottle of water. (Photo by Evan Houk)
McKinley Elementary first graders Nina Sandoe and Sophia Donohue welcome family members, or “customers,” to “Rudibaugh’s Sprinkle Palace” donut shop in first grade teacher Carly Rudibaugh’s classroom Thursday. Rudibaugh said students learned skills such as real-life economics, baking, and managing money during the two-week project. (Photo by Evan Houk)
McKinley Elementary first graders Easton Colvin and Emma Howells collect play money from a fellow classmate during the school’s donut sale project in which three classrooms were transformed into fully functional donut businesses— “Mrs. Rudibaugh’s Sprinkle Palace,” “Seidner’s Goodies,” and “Rodgers Rockin’ Donuts.” (Photo by Evan Houk)
A large crowd of family members of first grade students at McKinley Elementary visited the school for the class donut shop event Thursday, where three donut businesses were opened in classrooms and donuts and water were “sold” using pretend currency to everyone in attendance. (Photo by Evan Houk)
Liam Thomas, a first grader at McKinley Elementary, smiles at his mother, Harmony Thomas (not pictured), after serving her a donut at the first grade donut shop event Thursday. Families of students were invited to come, be given play money, and then spend that money in exchange for a donut and bottle of water. (Photo by Evan Houk)
McKinley Elementary first graders Nina Sandoe and Sophia Donohue welcome family members, or “customers,” to “Rudibaugh’s Sprinkle Palace” donut shop in first grade teacher Carly Rudibaugh’s classroom Thursday. Rudibaugh said students learned skills such as real-life economics, baking, and managing money during the two-week project. (Photo by Evan Houk)
McKinley Elementary first graders Easton Colvin and Emma Howells collect play money from a fellow classmate during the school’s donut sale project in which three classrooms were transformed into fully functional donut businesses— “Mrs. Rudibaugh’s Sprinkle Palace,” “Seidner’s Goodies,” and “Rodgers Rockin’ Donuts.” (Photo by Evan Houk)
A large crowd of family members of first grade students at McKinley Elementary visited the school for the class donut shop event Thursday, where three donut businesses were opened in classrooms and donuts and water were “sold” using pretend currency to everyone in attendance. (Photo by Evan Houk)
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LISBON -- First graders at McKinley Elementary showcased their business acumen and customer service skills when they hosted families at one of three classrooms that were converted into donut shops Thursday.
Family members were given a pretend dollar bill upon entering one of the shops, named for each of the teachers whose classrooms they were in-- "Mrs. Rudibaugh's Sprinkle Palace," "Rodgers Rockin' Donuts," and " Seidner's Goodies." The bill could then be spent to receive a donut from Hogan's Baking Co. in Columbiana and a bottle of Deer Park water.
Each of the 50 first grade students learned and practiced every one of the jobs in the donut shop-- like handing out the money, collecting the money in a cash register, or serving the donuts and water-- so each one could take "breaks" to visit with family, first grade teacher Carly Rudibaugh said. This created a strong sense of teamwork, she said.
"They've done great with understanding how different jobs work," she said.
Students actually practiced baking donuts using a convection oven on the school's educational kitchen cart, studied local Lisbon businesses, and learned about the concepts of goods and services and buying and selling.
"The big concept is we have to use currency to buy the things we need and want," Rudibaugh said.
First graders Easton Colvin and Emma Howells were both running the cash register at "Seidner's Goodies," collecting money from patrons before they could proceed to the donut shop table for refreshments. They both said they were having fun with the project.
This is the second year first graders have participated in the donut shop economics project, first grade teacher Kellie Seidner said.
Sophia Donohue and Nina Sandoe were greeting visitors as they approached "Mrs. Rudibaugh's Sprinkle Palace," asking "Are you here for Mrs. Rudibaugh?" The girls said they did things like voting on what supplies they would need for the donut business.
Liam Thomas was serving donuts at "Seidner's Goodies" when his mother, Harmony Thomas, stopped by to pick up one of the tasty treats, eliciting a smile from the young man.
"It's definitely cooperative learning," Rudibaugh said.