The auction is an important component of the classroom economy. It lets the students reward themselves for working diligently to earn money. From a learning perspective, it links directly to the concept of supply and demand, and students quickly discover how impulse buying can shrink a bank account. In addition, children look forward to the auction because it is fun.

We recommend conducting auctions because they can be done quickly yet are extremely effective in teaching financial responsibility. However, you may prefer to use a school store as an alternative. You can open the store daily or weekly, allowing students to purchase as many items as they can afford.

Throughout the year, gather items and rewards for students to bid for at auctions.

First Auction Day

Make sure each student will have an auction paddle or another way to bid. If you wish, you can use our Auction Paddle template to create your own paddles or to have the students make their own.

Prepare to show the Auction video to the class.

Every Auction Day

• Make sure you have an Auction Record form.
• Gather the items for sale and set a starting bid level for each one based on its appeal. A starting level around $50 should work for many items.
• Display the items the morning of the auction so students can get a preview of the goods.
• Identify the Auctioneer (either yourself or a volunteer student), who will announce the items and their starting bids. Also select an Assistant Auctioneer, who will document each sale; if you wish, this could be one of the Clerks. Review the auction procedures with the Auctioneer and Assistant.

Introducing the Auction

Have the students watch the Auction video.

Explain that they can only spend the amount of money they have in their bank accounts, and that they're not required to purchase anything. This is a good time to reinforce the importance of saving, and to remind the students that they have the ability to buy the deed to their desks and thus escape rent payments forever.

It's also important to emphasize that an auction bid is a binding contract, and there's no going back on it, even if they later wish that they hadn't spent the money.

If necessary, explain the auction procedures before beginning the auction.

After an auction, some students will feel overwhelmed because they got caught up in the action and spent most or all of their money. This can be a tremendous learning opportunity.

You could use some of the following questions to guide a discussion:

• What made you keep bidding even when the price was getting so high?
• How do you feel now about the item you bought? Was it worth it?
• What concerns do you have about the amount of money you spent?
• How will you go about rebuilding your savings?
• Will you be able to make rent the next time it is due?
• Will you change the way you bid at the next auction?