It was a project-based lesson in entrepreneurship Kings School students took all the way to the bank.
The sixth through eighth grade students were responsible to create a company and a feasible product based on customer need, research, design, and market prototypes, advertising, production and sales.
The “fruits” of their labor will offset the costs of their extended field trip in May, with stops at the Children’s Museum in Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Zoo, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio and the Warren Dunes in Sawyer, Michigan.
The entire process took four months, with the students meeting twice a week for 30 minutes. The task began with first determining what they enjoyed working on and brainstorming to create a list of possible products.
It also involved the creation of eight student-run companies with their own specific product line:  CJAM, dog leashes; Trash to Treasure, hand-painted wooden quote blocks; BBMT Baits Inc., decorated spoon baits; The Bracelet Bunch, bracelets and keychains; The Story Tellers, original fictional story with bound book; Kings Wood Association, bean bag sets for bags games; Art Inc., original paintings featuring dogs; and Garden Inc., flower boxes with soil and seeds.
Mingus explained the students had to develop three prototypes with detailed drawings and/or items and present those to the fifth graders in an expo booth style; the fifth graders voted for the one product each of the companies should produce.
“Students researched and comparison shopped to develop material lists (supplies were donated by staff) and created the final products,” Mingus said. “The companies also created both print and electronic advertisements.”
The products were made available for sale during the winter concert. Total sales reached $434.

Mingus added after all was said and done, the students were asked to provide written reflections on the process and outcome.
“I think that the most rewarding part of this project is that people get to leave with an object that they could love or give it to someone to love too, and to see the joy they have,” Jonathon Dewey, eighth grade student with Garden Inc. said.
Sixth grade student Jacob Ost with Kings Wood Association thought the most rewarding aspect was being able to use Mrs. Dewey’s sewing machine.
“The most rewarding part of this project is the awesome finished projects and feeling accomplished,” seventh grade student Anna Toczylowski with Art Inc. said.
Other rewarding aspects from their reflections included seeing the excitement about other students wearing the products, spending time with friends and working together and earning money for the field trip.
Students also shared what some of the difficulties were while working on the project.
“The most difficult part of my group’s project was trying to find a way to make the spoon baits colorful with it still being waterproof,” Brandon Moody, eighth grade student with BBMT Baits Inc. said.
Mingus added although it has not been made official yet, the students hope to host a Culver’s Share Night in the spring. More details will be made available once the event plans have been finalized.