The 2010-2011 school year, Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans hosted more than 1,800 students in JA BizTown™, a program designed to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. school year.  This exciting educational opportunity is available to a school’s 5th or 6th grade students.  JA BizTown™ gives students an opportunity to explore the world of work and entrepreneurship while enhancing their personal economic literacy.

The JA BizTown™ curriculum introduces students to personal finance and career explorations through twenty hours of classroom instruction complemented by a day-long hands-on experience where students apply learned concepts in a life-like community complete with a bank, town hall, medical clinic, television studio, post office, gift shops and more.  During this on-site experience, students assume the roles of adults while they work at a business, receive a paycheck, maintain a checking account and purchase goods and services.

Through JA BizTown™, teachers are given a new approach to teaching economics, and students are given a chance to experience education in new, exciting and imaginative ways.  Parents are given an opportunity to participate actively in their child’s learning as volunteers.  Program components include teacher training, volunteer training, classroom instruction, onsite activity led by volunteers, and follow-up classroom instruction for debriefing, evaluating, and extending the learning experience.  The entire experience offers integrated learning, requiring students to use math and language arts skills.  Students realize the relevance of learning these skills when they apply the skills and knowledge to a real-life situation.

View this video for an in-depth look at JA BizTown

For more information, please contact Julie Hanks: (504) 569-8663 or jhanks@jagno.org.