Learning About Business, Product & Charity at Todd School Popcorn Factory

@font-face { font-family: "Cambria Math"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }.MsoChpDefault { font-size: 10pt; }div.WordSection1 { page: WordSection1; }

The aroma of popcorn filled the hallways of Todd Elementary School as the annual “popcorn factory” project took shape. For three consecutive mornings in January, the school’s second-grade classes took turns transforming their rooms into functional factories. The project stemmed from the students’ economics unit, during which they learned about assembly lines, producers and consumers, supply and demand, budgets, loans, interest and profit, among other topics.

Each student chose a role in the factory and viewed a slideshow to become acquainted with his or her specific job. Assisted by parent volunteers and three popping machines, the apron-clad second-graders spent time turning out bags of hot salted popcorn.

The students sold between 300 and 400 bags, at 50 cents each, during their daily lunch periods to third- through fifth-grade peers. At the end of the project, a total of approximately $1,000 had been raised. All proceeds will be donated to charity.