SOE Market is an interactive, hands-on field trip where students set up and run a full-scale economy. Students put classroom skills into action as they experience the real-world demands of business, banking, and commerce.
STANDARD ALIGNMENT
Building an Economic Foundation
Students step into a working marketplace where they begin understanding how businesses, consumers, money, and economic decisions work together.
Students will:
- Identify producers and consumers and the roles they play in a marketplace.
- Distinguish between goods and services.
- Understand how limited resources require people to make choices.
- Practice making decisions about earning, spending, and saving money.
- Explore the consequences of economic decisions.
- Understand how businesses participate in a market economy.
CLASSROOM PREP
Before Field Trip Day arrives, each school will elect a mayor and assign student job roles. Once assigned, students work in shop teams to prepare for their market experience. Each team is given a budget to order supplies, a pricing guide to set starting prices, and a loan application covering worker salaries, rent, taxes, supplies, and interest. Students are also welcome to make flags and advertisements to show off their shops.
THE FIELD TRIP
On field trip day, students bring economics to life! They run businesses, manage banks, balance personal budgets, and compete for top profit. Follow the step-by-step walkthrough below to see how the day unfolds from morning orientation to the final closing ceremony.
Explore the Field Trip Schedule
▼ STANDARD ALIGNMENT
Making Smart Money Decisions
Middle school students build on basic economics by beginning to make personal financial decisions. Through the School of Economics experience, students explore what happens when income, expenses, borrowing, interest, and financial choices meet in the real world.
Students will:
- Develop and manage a basic budget.
- Differentiate between income and expenses.
- Make informed spending decisions.
- Set savings goals.
- Understand borrowing and loans.
- Explore how interest affects the cost of borrowing.
- Consider the consequences of financial decisions.
- Develop entrepreneurial and marketplace decision-making skills.
CLASSROOM PREP
Before Field Trip Day arrives, each school will elect a mayor and assign student job roles. Once assigned, students work in shop teams to prepare for their market experience. Each team is given a budget to order supplies, a pricing guide to set starting prices, and a loan application covering worker salaries, rent, taxes, supplies, and interest. Students are also welcome to make flags and advertisements to show off their shops.
THE FIELD TRIP
On field trip day, students bring economics to life! They run businesses, manage banks, balance personal budgets, and compete for top profit. Follow the step-by-step walkthrough below to see how the day unfolds from morning orientation to the final closing ceremony.
Explore the Field Trip Schedule
▼ STANDARD ALIGNMENT
Preparing for Financial Independence
High school students take financial literacy beyond the classroom. Students experience the School of Economics while practicing the financial decisions they will encounter as they move toward college, careers, and adulthood.
Students will:
- Build and manage a realistic budget.
- Differentiate between income, fixed expenses, variable expenses, and savings.
- Understand credit and responsible borrowing.
- Explore credit scores and the financial impact of borrowing.
- Understand simple and compound interest.
- Compare loans and borrowing costs.
- Explore saving and investing.
- Examine the relationship between investment risk and potential return.
- Understand how education and career choices influence earning potential.
- Make informed short- and long-term financial decisions.
CLASSROOM PREP
Before Field Trip Day arrives, each school will elect a mayor and assign student job roles. Once assigned, students work in shop teams to prepare for their market experience. Each team is given a budget to order supplies, a pricing guide to set starting prices, and a loan application covering worker salaries, rent, taxes, supplies, and interest. Students are also welcome to make flags and advertisements to show off their shops.
THE FIELD TRIP
On field trip day, students bring economics to life! They run businesses, manage banks, balance personal budgets, and compete for top profit. Follow the step-by-step walkthrough below to see how the day unfolds from morning orientation to the final closing ceremony.
Explore the Field Trip Schedule
▼
VOLUNTEER GUIDELINES
Kansas City Location Notice:
Every school is required to bring 11 volunteers. It is the responsibility of the school to background screen/verify volunteers that will be attending School of Economics. All school volunteers are required to ride the bus with the students. No late arrivals or early departures will be permitted.
Blue Springs Location Notice:
Each school is required to have a minimum of 12 volunteers and there is a maximum of 21 volunteers for the day. Volunteers will need to attend a training meeting 30 minutes prior to student arrival as they will be supervising students in the shops. It is the responsibility of the school to background screen/verify volunteers that will be attending School of Economics.
LOCATION
Blue Springs
Access the Teacher Resources for the Blue Springs location by clicking the button below.
LOCATION
Kansas City
Access the Teacher Resources for the Kansas City location by clicking the button below.
