Grade five students at Fireside School held an incredible marketplace over the last two evenings (April 3 and 4).

It was a flurry of activity as roughly 30 businesses were set up in the school foyer to sell goods representing our Canadian culture, with all monies going back to a great cause.

Grade five teachers, Jeff McCormick and Chantel Lawrence share the marketplace concept tied back to the school's initiative of project-based learning. "Every grade had to have something that tied into their curriculum and so the grade five's tied it back to social studies and our Canadian identity by selling items at a market."

Getting Junior Achievement to come to the school and help educate students about business and entrepreneurship, the youth was then given the task to create a 'Canadiana' product to sell, business plan, and how to best market, display it and speak to their wares. "This was over a month in the making and then it turned into this."

While initially, the teachers were not sure how it would all turn out, they were absolutely awestruck with the work and how each student embraced the project full on. "The kids were amazing; it is about the kids and not about us at all. The students really bought into it, put the effort in, and every single kid created and completed something they were proud of."

Brooke De Coteau was selling her snowball cookies.

The 55 students had the opportunity to work solo or with a partner, and in the end, roughly thirty businesses were represented at the market. From baking to paintings to burnt wood artwork, the response was amazing. While final funds have yet to be tallied, the teachers estimate they raised close to 1,000 dollars which will be donated to the Cochrane and Area Humane Society. "The kids voted on it and it was what they chose."

Interactive learning at its best, both teachers look forward to doing this again in the future. "This was the first time we did it, it is a big project, there was a lot of learning they had to do and it was not just selling stuff. If all we did was sell food and stuff at a market that would not be have been the point, it was about the business and Canadian identity part. I think it was definitely worthwhile."

 A big shoutout was given to the parents of the school and the community at large who all embraced, supported, and helped sell out goods at many of the thirty displayed businesses. 

A cheque donation to the Humane Society will be forthcoming.