Students
at
Marsteller
Middle
School
had
the
unique
opportunity
to
take
part
in
a
real-word
simulation
of
the
stock
market.
The
after-school
club,
organized
by
gifted
education
teacher,
Kerry
Adkins,
took
part
in
the
Stock
Market
Game,
a
comprehensive
economics
and
personal
finance
education
program
for
students
developed
and
administered
by
the
Security
Industry/Financial
Market
Association
(SIFMA)
Foundation.
To
compete
in
the
game,
teams
of
two
to
four
students
are
given
faux
portfolios
of
$100,000
to
invest
and
manage.
The
simulation
allows
the
teams
to
choose
their
investments,
manage
their
money,
and
learn
about
the
inner
workings
of
the
market
and
the
financial
system.
"The
Stock
Market
Game
is
hands-on
learning
at
its
best,
enabling
individuals
to
prepare
for
social,
economic
and
civic
opportunities,
choices,
and
decisions
they'll
be
making
in
life,"
said
Melanie
Mortimer,
president
of
the
SIFMA
Foundation.
Marsteller
Middle
students
made
up
12
of
the
37
teams
that
competed
this
fall
and
were
the
only
middle
school
teams
playing
against
teams
from
five
different
high
schools
throughout
the
region.
Even
with
the
tough
playing
field,
Marsteller's
teams
came
out
on
top,
placing
first,
second,
and
third
in
the
George
Mason
University
region
with
the
largest
amounts
in
their
portfolios
at
the
closing
bell.
"The
Stock
Market
Game
offers
young
people
a
different
way
to
learn,"
Mortimer
said.
"They're
immersed
in
the
markets
and
given
the
tools
to
research,
make
informed
decisions,
and
see
how
their
investment
choices
perform."
Adkins
thoroughly
enjoyed
this
experience
with
the
students
at
Marsteller.
"I
was
thrilled
that
41
Marsteller
students
participated
in
the
game.
It
is
an
extremely
engaging
way
to
teach
financial
literacy
and
work
on
team-building
skills.
The
greatest
feedback
I
receive
about
the
program
comes
from
students
and
parents.
They
tell
me
about
the
conversations
they
have
at
home
about
the
Stock
Market,"
expressed
Adkins.
The
winning
teams
will
be
recognized
by
the
George
Mason
University
Center
for
Economic
Education
in
May
for
placing
in
the
top
of
their
division
this
fall.
