Welcome to the real world
hat a fun and exciting month. I kicked off the month at Discovery Days helping the Family Resource Management Program Focus Team host a simulation called ‘In The Real World’ with 27 students. Here is an excerpt from an article written about the event.
Paying bills, managing a budget, owning or renting a home — these are everyday concerns of most adults, and some Kansas 4-H teenagers got their first introduction to them during last week’s 4-H Discovery Days at Kansas State University.
“Welcome to the Real World” was an afternoon workshop designed to introduce students to what lies ahead, when they start life on their own.
At the end of the simulation excellent discussion took place and participants were quick to make connections to the challenges their own parents dealt with, frequently without telling their children. “How did they do it?” said 4-H member John Achen. “I’ve got 10 brothers and sisters, and I’m on the bottom end, but like, how did they manage to take care of all of us and still … you know, survive?”
An additional simulation also took place at Independence Community College this month with a group of 25 high school students. With great help from Wildcat Extension District staff and Community National Bank employees we also held a successful simulation. Continue to watch for more simulations in the future.
E-Squared (Entrepreneurship Experience) pilot SPIN Club program is also underway. E-Squared curriculum covers more than entrepreneurship. . . They learn about entrepreneurship, goods and services, the difference between needs and wants, goal setting, what the difference between a consumer, producer and resources are. There is a lesson on budget and income. Participants get a chance to learn how to count change, the importance of communication and ethics. There are so many life skills that they can gain from this program.
In lesson two (pictures are attached) They learned about recognizing opportunities. Snack time taught the children about needs vs. wants and what scarcity means. This lead us into a scenario where a lady wanted to go visit her grandbaby out of state but she had no one to watch her dog. The children then had to figure out what the need was, how to recognize a business opportunity and then create a marquee sign and a flyer to tell their consumers what they offer.
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