‘Fun in the Fort’ map provides economics lesson

In just a few short weeks, a group of enterprising individuals in Fort Smith conducted a poll of elementary students in Fort Smith, created a map production company with several departments, produced a map of popular city locations among the students polled, and generated more than $2,400 in revenue.

What’s more, they used part of their income from the venture to attend a minor league baseball game in Springdale and support tornado relief efforts.

Also, they produced enough maps for use in visitor and relocation packets sent out by the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Not bad for a group of first-graders.

Working under the tutelage of Sheila Humphrey, 75 first grade students and their teachers at Woods Elementary in Fort Smith worked this spring to produce a map of the top 13 Fort Smith hot spots — hot spots according to 80% of first graders in the city.

It should come as no surprise that Chuck E. Cheese was the top vote getter. Creekmore Park, its train and other city and county parks were a broad second favorite, with the Monkey House, Pizza Warehouse and Central Mall rounding out the top five.

The city of Fort Smith placed well. In addition to Creekmore Park, the students ranked the Fort Smith Riverfront Park (10th) and the Fort Smith Public Library (12th) in the 13 “Fun in the Fort” locations.

The lesson behind creation of the map was to create a real-life application for economic and entrepreneurial concepts taught to the first graders.

“The first thing they learned is just because you have checks doesn’t mean you have money,” she said.

Humphrey said the economic terms embraced were: unlimited wants, limited resources, scarcity, interdependence, division of labor, specialization, entrepreneurship, producers, consumers, resources, goods and services. The students formed a company, Patriot Partners, in which they had several divisions: writing, sales, finance and art.

“And Mrs. Humphrey is the distribution department because school is out,” Humphrey said with a laugh.

The overall idea came from the students.

“They decided that we needed a map for Fort Smith for kids,” Humphrey explained.

Surveys were sent to every first grade class in Fort Smith, and 80% were returned.

“Once we identified those (top) 13, the art teacher at Woods (Sheila Brannon) was our specialist and she worked with the art department of Patriot Partners and they drew the artwork for the places that made the map,” Humphrey said.

The sales department was tasked to sell advertising to pay for the map’s production. Those students worked with the art and writing department to help prepare the sales pitch. Also, the artwork developed by the students was offered for those who advertised on the map.

The “sales” students would then  travel with a parent or teacher to make the sales pitch. However, Humphrey had prepared a path for those making sales calls.

“What they didn’t know is that I had already laid out the ground work,” Humphrey said, adding that she didn’t want to “lay a guilt trip on someone who was staring at a big-blued-eyed 7-year-old.”

Also assisting with map production was Stacy Sangster and his students in the Northside High School EAST lab. They helped with graphic design and map site location.

“He was invaluable. He and his students came to Woods three times to work with this and the kids,” Humphrey said.

Once the map was designed and ready, Calvert-McBride helped with the printing.

Overall, the six-week project generated about $2,400 in revenue, and resulted in about $700 in net income. The income paid for tickets, travel and lunch to go see the Northwest Arkansas Naturals in Springdale, a yet-to-be-determined gift for the school and a check to the Salvation Army for tornado relief.

“And by the time we do this business, they know their (economic) vocabulary,” Humphrey said.

Whitney Yoder, vice president of programs and implementation at the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber was more than happy to begin including the packets in visitor and relocation packets. But the maps, according to Yoder, may do more than just be a fun item in a packet.

“I think this sends a signal that we get our kids involved in that (entrepreneurialism) at an early age, don’t you?” Yoder said.