Investing in Our Future: Fifth Grade Participates in Market Watch

“Is SpaceX a public company?” fifth-grade student George B. calls out to his teacher, Matt Johnson. How many elementary school students do you know that worry about companies’ IPO and market trends? At Covenant, this is a normal day in a fifth-grade class.
Several years ago, “Market Watch” was introduced into the Grade 5 accelerated math curriculum as a way to introduce investing concepts at an earlier age. Students in this section were given some background and then encouraged to research in order to play the Stock Market Game. Each student received $100,000 of pretend-money to invest as they saw fit. Whoever ended the section with the most money was the winner. 

In an effort to include all fifth-grade learners, Susy Willetts (Lower School Academic Coordinator and Fifth Grade Math Teacher) changed the format this year so that the accelerated section would take the class in the first semester after some careful advising from the Board Chair and current parent, Jonathan Boersma. After they completed their study, they were assigned as advisors to two “clients” in the other sections. 

Parent Andriy Shapowal, Investure, spoke to the two new sections at the beginning of this semester to get them started on the right foot. The fifth-grade “advisors” help their clients understand the Stock Market Game and can also win if their client ends with the largest return on their investment. 

Thanks to all those who have set our students up for future success, and good luck advisors and investors!

Want to learn more about the Stock Market Game? Visit their website: https://www.stockmarketgame.org/
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The Covenant School

Birdwood Campus | Lower School | Pre-K–Grade 5 |
1000 Birdwood Road Charlottesville, VA 22903 | 434.220.7309

Hickory Campus | Middle and Upper School | Grades 6–12 | 175 Hickory Street Charlottesville, VA 22902 | 434.220.7329
Located in Charlottesville, VA, The Covenant School is a non-denominational, private, Christian day school for Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. Students benefit from a challenging academic program, visual and performing arts, competitive athletics, and a wide selection of extracurricular activities.
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