Junior Achievement’s fourth grade program introduces students to entrepreneurship and how entrepreneurs use resources to produce goods and services in a region. As students operate a mock hot dog stand, they learn about some of the fundamental tasks required to run a business such as tracking the revenue and expenses of a business. Additionally, they learn to consider the resources necessary to run a business: the human resources, capital resources, and natural resources.
JA Rocky Mountain is able to offer a closer and localized look at these resources thanks to a partnership with Coloradans for Responsible Energy Development (CRED).
“Thanks to the support we receive from CRED, students can look at a map of Colorado and discover the resources we have here at home that benefit our local businesses and economy,” said Chris Silberman, Director of Communications for JA Rocky Mountain. “Learning about supply chains and engaging in activities through the lens of the resources here in their own home state like produce, livestock, and energy resources make the lessons feel real to students and less hypothetical.”
With their entrepreneur hats on, students quickly begin practicing problem solving and critical thinking skills to ensure their hot dog stand is profitable.
“What changes would they see because of a food shortage or an oil and natural gas shortage? These are questions that students are challenged to consider,” Silberman said.
JA Rocky Mountain offers all of its K-12 classes at no charge to schools and instead relies on contributions from corporations and the community.
“This removes any barrier to entry for schools to partner with JA,” Silberman says. “We are so grateful to CRED for making our 4th grade program possible and accessible to classrooms across Colorado and southern Wyoming.”
