Looking for classroom business ideas

I am looking for ideas to start a business in my third grade class. I do not need a fundraiser, per se, because I want something that will make money consistently. I want my class to raise money for a school in Africa to help pay for tuition, etc. for their students.

I am not artistic, so that limits some ideas. We do not have access to an oven, so we cannot bake. The only idea I have come up with so far is "take and bake" dog treats/cookies. I mainly thought of this because I really like dogs, but I do not know if it is a sound idea or not.

My class is low income with very little parent support, which I need to consider in my plan. Any thoughts or ideas?

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Patrick Chukwura on August 7, 2009 at 1:36pm

Sounds like a touch situation. I could not think of anything off the top of my head, but maybe you could do various programs and not just one. Maybe something dealing with recycling or so?

Is this an ongoing thing or is there a particular deadline?

--
Patrick Chukwura
Developer/Co-founder - SimpleLeap Software
Cram - flash card and multiple-choice testing app for Mac
Cram Educator Program - Help us, and you get paid.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tracy Richards on August 7, 2009 at 3:42pm

You should look into the Young Entrepreneur Fair. Students have to come up with, market, create and sell an item. Whole grade groups do this in my district. For example grade 6 in one elementary did this and many ideas were: flower pens, scented candles (in shells, as we live by the ocean), braided & beaded bracelets, driftwood sculptures (with house tag #s), etc.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Samuel Fye on August 7, 2009 at 9:02pm

Good thoughts! Where can I find this Fair? I was having the thought about making some kind of office supplies to sell to local businesses, but I could not think of anything specific.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Joel Garcia on August 7, 2009 at 6:31pm

My school is also low income with very little parent support. Our fifth grade class sold Smencils. They sold extremely well. All grade level students were buying them for themselves, friends, and family. We sold them for a dollar a piece. Purchase one case and use earnings to pay yourself back and to purchase another case. You will eventually make a profit.
http://aimfundraising.com/smencils.htm We sold four and a half cases last year; each case has 500 pencils. Our customers came to us.
Joel

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Samuel Fye on August 7, 2009 at 9:00pm

Those are awesome--thanks for the link!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Donnie Smith on August 8, 2009 at 3:45pm

Could you have raffles for savings bond or laptop computer? Maybe try writing Apple or Microsoft of your intention and idea to see if they would be willing to donate a laptop for the drawing. Maybe even Best Buy. If you make a big deal about it and let your local press know, they may be willing to help you out.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Donnie Smith on August 8, 2009 at 3:47pm

Better yet, have your class present the idea to Mac, Bank or Microsoft.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Anthony VonBank on August 8, 2009 at 4:03pm

Some ideas:
Recycling scrap metal or cans? They collect from littered areas and you deliver to scrap yard?
An online product? Use a template to create online scrapbooks for older folks?
Bath bombs or homemade soaps? Recipes and idea on the net...
Tie-Dyed Shirts, Pants, Undies, Canvas Shoes?
Custom-braided belts, jewelry, leashes, etc from fabric scraps?
Tie-blankets for all ages?

Best idea: Buy and maintain a vending machine of some sort? Maybe one for your school grounds containing snacks, school supplies, and personal care items? Something small you could buy for a few hundred, pay yourself back and track which products sold better, worse, etc? Perhaps a business in the community would allow you to place it there because of who you are and where the money would be going? A business might even front you the money to buy it, if you make sure they get x% of your profits until it is paid off.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jonah Salsich on August 16, 2009 at 12:04pm

The smencil idea is a great one! A school in our district sold them last year and had to re-order several times. They are a big hit.

I found a few resources on edutopia.org (a fantastic site), that might give you some ideas if you want to have the fund-raising overlap with content areas for a project based learning activity. Here are two: From Worms to Wall Street (video) and Books For Africa.

Jonah