OKEECHOBEE — Rock Solid Christian Academy hosted its annual Marketplace on Thursday, March 9. Friends, family and students swarmed the market purchasing items handmade by the students. 

The marketplace began about eight years ago with one class taught by Laura Feightner. Feightner was teaching her class about economy and decided to give the students a real-life example. Each year after that, they added more classes until it became a school-wide event. The teachers use it in the classrooms to teach an economy unit. The kids do a commercial. They have to create a project themselves. They have to do a proposal, and the older kids even do a projection of their sales, profit and things like that.

A few years ago, the younger students were welcomed into the marketplace but only as consumers. They have to wait until second grade to make and sell their own products.

Products are purchased with  “Soldier Bucks.” Parents are able to purchase the Soldier Bucks with cash. They can use them or give them to their children to use. 

The money gained from the sale of the soldier bucks is used to buy rewards for the top seller, most creative project, best sales person, etc. The kids do their best to win this one by shouting things like, “Buy one get one free” or “Come get your stress ball here.” Some of the students perform services instead of selling a product — face painting, nail painting, hair braiding, etc.

As the younger children shop the marketplace, they are encouraged to look at the products the older children are selling. This helps them with ideas for next year.