Junior Achievement's Elementary School Program is organized in a series of six related themes, each building upon the other, that help students in kindergarten through fifth grade learn about the U. S. economic system. Though concepts and skills taught at each level form a foundation for preceding levels, each level can also stand on its own.

       One visit a week for five weeks, volunteer consultants from the local community lead students in hands-on activities that make the concepts come alive in ways meaningful to children of that grade level. Activities are many and varied, ranging from guessing and board games to building a city, setting up a business, making pens, and starting a newspaper. All materials for each level are packaged in complete, self-contained kits (such as the third-grade kit, pictured here), including detailed lesson and activity plans for the volunteer consultant and workbooks and certificates for the students.

       At the end of the program, volunteers are also encouraged to take their students on a field trip, either to the volunteer's place of business, or some other business in the community. These field trips really show students how what they've learned in the classroom will appy in the "real world."

       Click here  for complete descriptions of all elementary in-school and after-school programs. For additional questions, please phone our JA office at (269) 983-7579 or email info@michianaja.org .