School Spotlight: Oxbow Creek Students Learn About Stock Market
When you’re in the fifth grade, retirement feels a long way off. But you’re never too young to learn about how to make and manage money.
John Wippler is a teacher at Oxbow Creek Elementary in Brooklyn Park, and he’s on a mission to educate a group of fifth-grade students about financial literacy using the Stock Market Game.
“We want kids to understand how the money comes in, how the money comes out, and that it doesn’t take a Wall Street banker to have a comfy retirement if you’re careful with your money,” Wippler said.
The program comes courtesy of the local nonprofit Best Prep.
Each of the groups in the class receives $100,000 of pretend money to invest however they choose. The students build a portfolio, then compete against other schools.
“I don’t love the idea of putting my future in the hands of cryptocurrency,” Wippler told the class on a recent Thursday. “But here are some options.”
Valuable tools
Wippler essentially gives the students the tools on how to invest that money wisely.
A chart shows the class some of the potential ways they could invest their money.
“They could probably be a little bit more aggressive, but I do want them to treat it as though it’s real money and not just play money to throw around and lose,” Wippler said.
So far, the students are seeing some trends.
“Costco, it like, it barely goes down,” said Jordan Fierst, a 5th grader.
Others are starting to realize the long-term potential of what they’re learning.
“I think it’s going to be helpful in the future for when, if I want to invest my money in different things I’ll know, like, how to spread it out and stuff,” said Reghan Cordes, a 5th grader.
It’s valuable information that will serve these students well for the day when they have their own money to invest.
“This is built for anyone, the Stock Market Game,” Wippler said. “Anyone could play it.”
