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Students play The Stock Market Game?
Students at Kimball Area High School joined BestPrep and more than 8,200 students in 175 schools around Minnesota to compete in The Stock Market Game? (SMG) this spring. Teacher Kelly Sawatzke is advising students as part of the curriculum at Kimball Area High School. The Stock Market Game is an interactive educational tool used in grades 4-12 to supplement subjects such as math, social studies, and business education, while fulfilling Minnesota Graduation Standards. BestPrep, a Minnesota based nonprofit, administers the program to students throughout the state to enhance economics education and financial literacy. Student teams participating in The Stock Market Game are given a virtual $100,000 to “invest” over a fifteen-week period. Each team receives daily portfolio updates on their current holdings, brokerage fees, interest, and team rankings. During the session, teachers incorporate The Stock Market Game’s supporting materials into their curriculum. The students meet core educational requirements, while engaging in a simulation of how the stock market works. Tracy Kelly, a student at St. Cloud State University and a member of the Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) program, assists with The SMG in high school classrooms. Kelly says, “The Stock Market Game promotes a fun, but structured environment. Everyone involved in the program benefits in more ways than just learning about stocks. Students see the connection between real-life events and how it affects the economy and the stock market.” As part of The Stock Market Game, students may also participate in an essay competition, InvestWrite. InvestWrite is an academic extension of SMG designed to help students sharpen critical thinking skills as they compose essays on investment related topics. Last fall, Minnesota had three students place in the top 10 at the national level. Student Louise Vivant beat out over 1,000 other high school students to take third place in the national competition. Vivant received an iPod, laptop computer, a class pizza party, a trophy and letter of achievement. Vivant’s teacher, Karen Koester received a laptop computer, a years subscription to the Wall Street Journal, and a $250 gift card.