Themes 1st Semester (Aug-Nov)

Yard swap

Themes | 5G

  • Make sure that the “Wow!” moments of the projects are clear in the beginning of the Summary
  • Make sure you list all the required materials
  • Make sure that the Financial Literacy skills that will be developed and assessed are clear
  • Make sure you explain and justify the deliverable

Summary:

It’s time to organize a yard swap. Students will research how garage sales and flea markets work and what types of products they can sell. They will also reflect on this type of trade in a more sustainable and fairer trade scenario. With the help of donations from the community they will organize, price and sell products at their proposed event. Then it’s time to reflect on what was sold and what to do with the money raised.

Learning goals:

  • Understand how flea markets and garage sales/yard swaps work.
  • Discuss pricing and the value placed on the objects we buy.
  • Organize an event and be responsible for sales and budgeting.

Skills and Standards:

Skills:

  • Financial literacy – Learn to track and manage the money.
  • Financial literacy – Explore tradeoffs.
  • Financial literacy – Recognize the price of items.
  • SGD #12 – Understand the consumption chain, companies and people involved.
  • WEF | Skill 4 – Combine and establish relationships between information and arguments.

Standards:

  • Cog Skills – Communicate accurately and precisely, expressing, integrating, and applying specific content and/or conventions with accuracy and precision.

  • Cog Skills – Demonstrate active listening and openness to diverse perspectives. Use roles and norms to support collegial discussions and completion of group work.

  • ELA | Writing – Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.

  • History – Describe their varied customs and folkloric traditions.

Deliverables

  • Flyers publicizing the event in the community.
  • Planning and organizing a yard swap event from community donations.

Milestones

  • Milestone 1: What’s the story behind garage sales, yard swaps, flea markets and bazaars?
  • Milestone 2: Let’s prepare our own garage sale/yard swap.
  • Milestone 3: The more our community gets involved, the better.
  • Milestone 4: Discuss and establish the pricing.
  • Milestone 5: Welcome visitors and happy sales.
  • Milestone 6: How were your sales?

Planning suggestions:

Milestone 1

  • Group research – in small groups, students can do research on the origin of flea markets, garage sales etc. It can be an opportunity to talk to teachers, family or friends if they have already bought objects, clothes in such markets.
  • Project wall – on the project wall students can put the main findings about the origin of bazaars, flea market or garage sale. They can also post a reflection on what this type of trade has to do with economy and sustainability.

 

Milestone 2

  • Brainstorm – organize a brainstorm session with students so they can discuss what will be needed to set up their own garage sale.
  • Project wall – add to the project wall the ideas and steps that will be needed to make the project happen.
  • Departaments – define which group will be responsible for what.

 

Milestone 3

  • Design – encourage students to organize different types of communication to get as many donations as possible.

 

Milestone 4

  • Organizing and pricing – the challenge here is to separate all the items, classify them and, above all, assign a fair price. You can use a spreadsheet as a model at this point.
  • Research – students can research the price of items on different websites and compare how much a new, used or semi-new item costs.

 

Milestone 5

  • Visitors – organize the space and the items that will be sold. agree with students who will serve customers, who will be responsible for payments and packaging

 

Milestone 6

  • Balance – prepare a balance sheet on what was sold and what was not. Check on the spreadsheet the amount that was collected and discuss with the group what will be done with the money.
  • Reflect – talk to the group about the experience, challenges the role of garage sales and flea markets in a more sustainable trade perspective.

Golden Tip:

  • On site visits: if possible, invite students to visit a bazaar, flea market or garage sale happening in the area. This way, those who have never been will have the experience of seeing how it is organized, what it sells and the suggested prices.
  • Color coding: you can suggest that students differentiate between new and used products using different colors. Colors can also be used for prices. It makes it easier to organize and pay for things.
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