Business Fair

2026 Business Fair Schedule

       The week of February 23rd – Introduction to the project

       The week of March 2nd  – Continue to search for product idea 

                                                     Idea sheets due by Friday, March 6th  

       The week of March 9th – Approve final product idea to “market”

                                                    Begin to work on supply list 

                                                    Supply lists due Friday 13th

       The week of March 16th  –Shopping at Wal-Mart 

                                                     Tuesday, March 17th (12pm-2:30pm)

                                                      Begin making products at home

       The week of March 23rd   –Come up with a business name

                                                     Create business cards

       The week of March 30th  – Learn about applying for a loan

                                                      Fill out loan papers

The week of April 6th   – Applying for business loan with Mrs. Walsh

                                                     Thursday Afternoon- Mrs. Babcock’s class 

                                                     Friday Afternoon - Mrs. Vukovich’s class

       The week of April 13th  – Sample product due (Date TBD)

                                                    Determine selling price

                                                    Take pictures of items for advertisements

                                                    Make advertisements for the school

       The week of April 20th  – Create business signs Thursday, April 23rd 

                                                    Buy your own poster board please

                                                    Parents are invited for 8am Mass 

                                                             and to help with business posters 

                                                   Finalize plans….finish up all odds and ends!

       Monday, April 27th  – Bring all products, table decorations, name tags, business cards, and business signs to school.  Some of this will already be here.

       Tuesday, April 28th  – BUSINESS FAIR!  Set up will be during the day. 

                          Businesses will be open from 2:30pm – 4:00pm.  

2026 Business Fair Letter to Parents

Dear Parents,

       Each spring, the fifth grade class puts on a business fair.  This is such a wonderful learning experience for the students.  They are given the opportunity to learn about money, loans, getting the best buy, and presenting themselves and their product.

       The students will pick an item to “market”, shop for the supplies they need, create a “business”, take out a “loan” for their supplies, and then sell their product on Tuesday, April 28th after school.

All profits made from this business fair will be used for the 5th grade retreat to the Mother Church of our diocese, St. Joseph Cathedral, in Sioux Falls.  Therefore, no money will come from you, and since the money is used for the retreat, there is an incentive to be successful.  Because the students do not use any of their own money, all products not sold will stay at school.  The products will be saved for next year’s business fair or used as door prizes for other events. 

There are several steps to the Business Fair process, and it is important that the students progress through the steps as a class. Please do not proceed on your own. Parents are not to make supply purchases for their child. If a hard to find item needs to be purchased out of town or online, arrangements will be made between the parents and teachers to do so. No reimbursements for supplies will be made without prior approval.

       The following is a tentative schedule to be followed until the fair on April 28th. 

       The week of February 23th – Introduction to the project.  A review of this outline will be discussed together.  The concept of choosing a product to make and sell will also be discussed. 

       For your information, some of the things that have done well at other fairs were commemorative plates, unique boxes, bookmarks, lip balm, squirrel and bird feeders, scented play dough, stained glass crosses, closet sachets, tie dyed shirts and bandannas, bath salts or bombs, decorative bricks, hair ties, snowman making kits, jewelry, embroidered pillow cases, coasters, blankets, and greeting cards.

       The week of March 2nd  – The students will continue to search for their ideas.  They will have to have their business fair idea sheet, with three ideas approved by parents, turned in by Friday, March 6th.

       The week of March 9th  –  The students will have their submitted idea sheets reviewed by the chairmen of the board (teachers), and a final idea will be approved for “market”. Students will begin to work on their supply list. They will be making approximately 10 (or more depending on the item) of their product. Product supply lists will be due Friday, March 13th.

       The week of March 16th  –  There will be a trip to Wal-mart to do some shopping! The trip will be Tuesday, March 17th (12pm-2:30pm). Volunteers will be needed to drive and to help students shop for their supplies. Sign up for Volunteer Drivers will be sent separately. Students will take their purchased supplies home and can begin to make business fair products at home. 

       The week of March 23rd  –  Students will come up with a business name and create business cards. Continue to make products at home.

       The week of March 30th  –  Students will learn about applying for a loan.  The discussion will be on not only the paperwork, but the proper way to dress and to speak when applying for a loan.  The students will have to fill out loan papers, and know how much they are going to sell their item for in order to make a profit.

       The week of April 6th – The students will be applying for their business loan from Mrs. Walsh. It is important that they dress professionally. Students can bring a change of shoes for recess if necessary. Mrs. Babcock’s class will apply on Thursday, April 9th starting at 1:30pm. Mrs. Vukovich’s class will apply Friday, April 10th starting at 2:00pm. 

        The week of April 13th  –  A sample of the product will be due so that the final selling price can be determined.  Pictures of the items will be taken for advertisements. Students will create advertisements posters and post them around the school.

       The week of April 20th –  Students will create business signs Thursday, April 23rd with parents.  Parents are invited for daily Mass at 8:00am. Parents are encouraged to stay after Mass to help their child with their Business Fair signs. The poster board used for the Business Fair sign will need to be purchased by the parents or family members. Students will also finalize plans and finish up all odds and ends.

       Monday, April 27th  –  Bring all products, table decorations, name tags, business cards, and the business signs to school. Some of this will already be at school.

       Tuesday, April 28th  – BUSINESS FAIR!  Set up will be during the day.  Businesses will be open from 2:30pm – 4:00pm. 

       Thank you in advance for your help with this project.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us either at school or by e-mail!

Maria Vukovich - Maria.Vukovich@k12.sd.us 

Jenny Babcock - Jenny.Babcock@k12.sd.us

Becky Walsh - Becky.Walsh@k12.sd.us