A study of producers and consumers not only taught students the ebb and flow of economics but also the importance of giving back to the community.

Susan Reissing’s second grade class at Huddleston Elementary spent the better part of spring semester learning about all the ins and outs of supply and demand and how it relates to income and making wise spending choices.

As a way to demonstrate what they had learned, the class thought it would be fun to have a “factory day” where they would be the producers of a commodity that consumers at Huddleston would buy. They decided to donate all of their proceeds to benefit the Race for Riley, a 5K Walk/Run named after 6-year old Riley Peek of Palmetto who has mitochondria disease. The event raises proceeds to fund research into the disease that causes children to be nonverbal, have delayed development and muscle failure, among other symptoms.

“When we were deciding what charity to give our proceeds to, one of my students mentioned the Race for Riley and brought in a brochure. The students voted for this almost immediately,” says Reissing.

The students decided to manufacture pom-pom caterpillars and sold them to their schoolmates for 25 cents each, netting $57.75 to benefit the race.

The students had a great time making the caterpillars and sharing their product with others. They learned many valuable lessons along the way, not just about the production and consumption of goods and services but also the importance of being charitable.

“I learned that it is good to give your money to someone who really needs it,” says Hannah Nauck. Her classmate John Mark Gagliano echoed her statement saying, “I learned that is good to help certain people.”

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