Manchester Market Day coming up!

Ellen Bergler. Photo courtesy of Kerry Wolf.

submitted by Ellen Bergler, 5th grader, Riverside Intermediate School

Every year the Riverside 6th grade puts on a Manchester Market Day for their social studies economic unit, where they all have different booths so they can make money. It’s such a good experience for the 6th grade and for everybody who comes.

There are four categories for selling: Goods, Services, Raffles, and Carnival Games.

The students have to try to find something that 3rd–8th graders are all interested in. “I have seen a student make 25 cents and others make hundreds of dollars,” says Brett Whalen, the 6th grade social studies and language arts teacher. The most a student has ever made was about $800.

In past years there were some exciting booths, including slime, face paint, sticker tattoos, bracelets, balloon animals, and flowers for Mothers’ Day. There was even a unicorn one year! There are so many unique stands.

Current sixth graders Mallory Aben and Leigha Harvey are doing splat balls, homemade scrunchies, a soccer ball raffle, globbles, stress balls, and more fidgets. During an interview with them, they explained that the process takes a lot of time and effort. “When we knew it was coming, like 3rd grade or 4th grade, we decided we wanted to be partners.”

These two girls have been planning for about two years. By the end of 5th grade, they basically knew what they wanted to sell and who they wanted to be with. Leigha Harvey has collected all the fidgets needed and Mallory Aben is starting on the scrunchies. They are so excited to run their stand.

May 9 is the Manchester Market Day so come on down and enjoy the fun!

Mallory Aben (left) and Leigha Harvey (right). Photo courtesy of Kerry Wolf.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.