Third graders thrive at Market Day event in Warner Robins

Young entrepreneurs packed the conference center inside the Health Pavilion in Warner Robins on Friday.

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Young entrepreneurs packed the conference center inside the Health Pavilion in Warner Robins on Friday.

More than 2,000 third graders from the Houston County School District participated in Market Day, where the young entrepreneurs showcased their creativity, selling and buying a variety of handmade products. The items included colorful bracelets, bookmarks and pet rocks.

For the past four months, students across the district have been preparing for this special day. One student told 41NBC it taught them math.

The goal of market day is to help students gain an understanding of how the market economy works.

Students were able to explore what it means to create a business and make a final business plan.

“A lot of times, kids don’t get that experience to go into a store and purchase things,” Debraca Tookes, a third grade teacher at Westside Elementary, said. “So, them getting that personal experience hands-on in a real-world setting, I feel like that is the biggest benefit for me.”

Tookes, along with other third grade teachers, have been guiding students through the entire process. She explained how meaningful it was for her to support her students.

“Being able to mold them and guide them in making those decisions that they need to make,” she said.

Courtney Fannin, a third grade teacher at Miller Elementary, says the biggest reward for her was witnessing the kids realize they could dream big.

“They realized that, ‘Hey, I can have my own business even if I am seven, eight, or nine years old,'” she said. “It’s really fun to watch.”