The stock market is an unpredictable and very risky system in which eligible buyers buy parts of businesses around the worlds. It can take years to master the tricks of investing, otherwise known as purchasing parts of a company, and understanding how to do so. That is why, at St. Robert School, the students learn early. Eighth grade social studies teacher, Ms. Schulz has been playing the stock market game, or an online stock market, with her students for years in order to prepare them for investing in the real world.

The Wisconsin Stock Market Simulation is an online site for students all over the Wisconsin state to play. “I was taking classes about economics when they presented this program to help students become savvy finance investors,” Ms. Schulz explains how she discovered this site. After the eighth grade students were put into groups of three and have signed into their account, they are given $200,000 thousand simulated dollars to spend. Then, groups of students research real stocks and choose to buy them. All of the stocks and their return rates and prices in the game are based off of the numbers in reality. For example, one share of Hershey may sell for one hundred dollars in reality meaning that students must purchase a share at one hundred dollars. As the game continues, the groups of students can decide to trade their stocks. All of the groups are in complete control over their portfolios and when having conversed with their teammates, can do what they please. “One of the biggest challenges is working effectively in a group and making a decision as a group,” Ms. Schulz explains. Student groups across Wisconsin with the highest profit made from their stocks is crowned the victor of the simulation game.

Since the start of the game, St. Robert’s twelve teams have been doing well. According to the students, the stock market game is risky, making most students precarious. After a thorough introduction about how the stocks work, the eighth grade students sought out stocks to invest in immediately. They bought shares of companies in which they had interests in such as technology and food chain restaurants. In some students’ views, the most amusing part of the stock market game is that the students pick stocks in which they want to invest. However, investing isn’t an easy process. “My stocks have gone up and down a lot,” explains eighth grade student Jake Nation, “A strategy that I have used is that they go really high then they fall. Don’t buy it when its up, buy it when its down.” Because of this strategy, Jake’s team has ranked in the top of the division in which St. Robert is currently playing.

Why does St. Robert want their students to practice spending money on stocks? “It’s fun. It’s educational, and its a little different than regular studies,” Ms. Schulz answers. The Wisconsin Stock Market Simulation prepares students to make smart investments and use their money wisely. Although this is practiced by playing on a pretend stock market, the tactics the students take away from this experience can prepare them for any life event – smart choices, strategies and preparation. Take risks and step outside of your comfort zone, or as Jake Nation always says, “Go big or go home.”