Book Club Free Choice Letters

Greet your interviewer

Shake Hands

Know what is on your application

Prove that you meet the requirements   (Maybe prepare some work samples)

Leave on a positive note   (say thank you and good-buy)

Shake hands

Send a Thank you letter or e-mail

Holds and keeps a record of all the society’s money. Provides daily money allotments to the Paymasters.  Provides money as instructed by the teacher.

The treasurer should have excellent math skills, organizational skills, and be extremely honest and trustworthy. They must have a great attendance record.

 Paymasters (6 positions available)

In charge of paying and collecting money from students assigned to them based on the students’ performance of daily jobs. If students are not doing their daily jobs, the Paymaster must document this and calculate the rate of pay. The Paymaster goes to the Treasurer everyday, reports the rate of pay for each of his/her students, and delivers the pay to each student.

Paymasters must be fair, honest, and have great math and organizational skills. They should have “people skills” in order to relate with the public. They must have a great attendance record.

Money cutters (3 positions available)

Responsible for contracting with an adult to “print” or copy the society’s money. They also cut the society’s money and sort it by denomination. Money cutters should be proficient in using scissors and also be honest.

Law Enforcement (3 positions available)

In charge of writing citations and collecting fines for students in violation of any set rules.  These students must listen carefully and write citations as they hear the teacher correct students.  At an appropriate time, law enforcement will give violator the citation and collect the fine.

This person should be responsible and should also have an excellent     attendance record. Students should also be fair and unbiased. 

Temporary Help (2 positions available)

In charge of substituting for any of the positions above if the elected person is absent. Therefore, this person should have all of the skills required from those above and should have an excellent attendance record.

Passport Design (4 positions available)

In charge of creating passports for students once applications have been approved.

These students must have neat, accurate printing and the ability to draw or trace designs.

President-leads the island, approves ideas, gives advice for businesses, and sticks with the country. The president can’t have full power. The requirements to be President is you need excellent attendance, can’t have signed more than two homework or conduct cards this trimester, no strike forms, and you grades have to be at least average. The president must have an application and an interview before the job. 

Treasurer- deals with the country’s money, helps the paymaster, and must have a pledge that they won’t steal.

Representatives- represent their island and bring any ideas from their citizens to the Congress.

Article II : Judges

Judges- deal with serious cases that police can’t. They can’t choose sides and they have to be fair.

Article III: Lawmakers

This states that any citizen can send an idea for a new law, also known as a bill. The Government Officials listed above can determine whether it is affective or not. If it is vetoed, the public can still vote on the bill the next day. If 2/3 agree, it still becomes a law.

Article IV: Taxes

All citizens of United Islands are required to pay six dollars a week in taxes. This shall cover the payment of all the citizens that work for the government. The money collector shall collect all the taxes from each island and report them to the treasurer. In order to have this job one shall have to go through an application proving they are trustworthy. If one doesn’t pay their taxes, they must go to jail for two hours.

 Article V: Fines

Fines will be administered when a citizen breaks a law. For example, you will have to pay a fee if you break the classroom rules. This includes speaking out without raising your hand, leaving without pushing your chair in, not writing your name and number on papers, or if you forget or don’t do your homework. 

  Bill Of Rights

1st Amendment: Islands have the right to make their own laws. Island laws must be voted on in order for it to be put in action.

2nd Amendment: Congress can not make any laws that limit religion, speech, and assembly.

3rd Amendment: All citizens have rights to their property, businesses, houses, and  belongings. Any violation of this law will be brought to court and decided on by the judge.

4th Amendment: Citizens have other rights not listed in the Constitution.

 Ratified By:

All the Students in Mrs. Grasso’s 5th grade class!

Keep checking in to see how our society develops.

Coming soon… Our Constitution!

Dear Parents,

        The fifth grade has begun a new unit in social studies called, “Mini-Society”.  This is an economic and political theory education program developed by a U.C.L.A. professor and adapted to state standards by our team.  Students establish their own society, determine a government format, print their own money, open their own businesses, keep business records, implement regulations, and live with the consequences of their actions.  All theses create an environment that promotes experience-based learning.  The unit helps children understand economic concepts such as scarcity, opportunity cost, cost-benefit analysis, supply and demand, inflation, competition, monopoly, and the necessity of regulations and bookkeeping. 

        In addition to the economic knowledge gained through the unit, there are several additional benefits.  The children will work actively, trying to find creative solutions to problems that occur in any society.  Each student will have a voice in the decision-making process through daily debriefings (group discussion meetings).  We have found that as a result of Mini Society, the students are anxious to learn more about how our government operates both economically and legislatively.

        In the process of creating a business, your child may ask to use items from home or they may ask you for advice.  You will be a great help in this program by NOT ALLOWING your child to take anything for Mini Society from home without making some sort of payment to you.  This includes providing advice to your child (Yes, you must charge for this too).  He or she can make payment using allowance, through providing services to you, or by giving you money from our society.  The maximum investment for the first round of products or services may not exceed $10, although we are not advocating that anyone needs to spend this amount for the project.  Our intent is to foster creative ideas and entrepreneurial qualities in children.  They should be encouraged to think in terms of services they can sell or things they can make for little or no money. 

        Your active interest and involvement will enhance your child’s learning.  Thank you for your cooperation.  We are looking forward to showing off our society and invite you to participate at Open House on June 3^rd.

Sincerely,

The Fifth Grade Teaching Staff

Artifacts- Bio