K-8 REAL
The K-8 REAL curriculum is a detailed instructor’s guide for establishing a community in a self-contained classroom, grade, or school. It includes activities and step-by-step guides for implementing school-based enterprises, financial literacy, and community service projects. Components of the K-8 REAL include:
Merchants Mall:
This is the entrepreneurial cornerstone of a K-8 community. Materials in this chapter help students learn skills by owning and operating a business venture. Students initially purchase items from their teacher(s) to sell in their stores, but as the businesses grow and demand increases, warehousing and manufacturing soon become new opportunities for student-run ventures.
Courts:
Every classroom, as well as community, has norms and rules individuals must adhere to as a part of the group. When someone does not conform to expectations, then appropriate consequences must occur. Activities in this component may result in the creation of a legislative body, a written constitution, a community charter, and the formation of courts to address special community needs.
Banking:
Because it is important that students gain an understanding of the flow of money, banking is an integral part of the K-8 community. Banks initially provide a place to cash checks, save money, or take out a loan. Eventually, there may be competing banks, interest calculated on accounts and certificates of deposits to compete for the investment dollars of K-8 citizens.
Revenue:
This component helps students understand that nothing is without cost. Citizens must pay taxes on the goods and services they receive. Paying taxes helps students understand that communities, too, must make decisions about the tab revenue they collect. Teaching revenue concepts may include personal budgeting, gross and net earnings, salary raises or bonuses, credit counseling, garnishment, etc.
K-8 REAL seeks to help elementary and middle school students gain hands-on experience in three areas:
- Being an effective citizen of the school community
- Being an effective part of an enterprise
- Affecting the broader community in a positive way
The four components of K-8 REAL may be taught in the following sequences or may be presented to students individually, depending on need and student day structure.
1. Community Counts:
Applying the REAL Exploration process to address a need in the local community. This component includes examining the community’s history and current institutions and needs, features research, proposal writing, creating a plan of action, identifying and securing resources, and exploring ethical and legal issues. Community Counts underscores each student’s worth as a potential change agent.
2. REALity Check:
Learning the real value of money for oneself and one’s family through budgeting, demographics, and goal setting.
3.The REAL Workplace:
Learning how an enterprise works through the experience of holding a job and participating in the running of a school-based business. Managing, operating, and marketing the enterprise teach students the key concepts of responsibility and accountability.
4. REAL Exploration:
Learning the entrepreneurial process through research, writing, and implementation of a business plan for a class or school-based enterprise. This process reinforces the acquisition of knowledge and skills in the areas of presentation, leadership, communication, and collaboration.
Note: The K-8 REAL curriculum is licensed only to teachers/educators who attend a K-8 REAL Institute.
