Preparation began in January when students were tasked with creating a business pitch to present to their fourth-grade teachers: Caitlin Bailey-Cavanaugh, Laurie Bedard, and Katelyn Pearson. They instructed students to pick a product or service that matched well with their interests.
“I tell the students: if they can’t talk about their businesses for a minute, then they will not be passionate about it the day of the fair,” Bailey-Cavanaugh said. “They also had to come up with a business name and slogan, and a lot of students would share their slogans with the shoppers.”
A wide array of products and games were offered by the students. Tasty treats, cute creations, and games of chance thrilled student shoppers as they perused the options. Games included Lucky Ducky, Carter’s Skee Board, and Charlie’s Hoops, while products included Sugar Rolls, Candy Sushi, Wildflower Wishes, and Lulu’s Tiny Turtles, which offered palm-sized plush turtles and a play on words: “Experts all concurtle: It helps to hug a turtle!”
“All the grade levels in the school came and shopped, and most of the fourth-grade parents were able to come support their students. They were were so proud of their child’s work.”
Students who chose to host games for the fair were genuinely passionate about games and loved being part of the activity themselves, Bailey-Cavanaugh said.
“They loved interacting with their classmates. Many had ways to adapt the games for different ages that played. They were intentional about making it age appropriate for K-2 students by moving them closer to the goal or adjusting it for middle schoolers.”
Bailey-Cavanaugh said many of her students remembered shopping at the fair in previous years, which helped them focus on the verbal interactions needed when eager shoppers stopped by.
“They can remember the interaction and enthusiasm at the stands, and they love seeing siblings come through or friends in other grades. They get so excited to see people they know, and they love seeing former teachers too.”
Congratulations on a fun event for all, Queen’s Grant!
About Queen's Grant Community School
Queen's Grant Community School is a tuition-free, public charter school in Mint Hill, North Carolina, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through high school across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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