Core Skills Analysis
Mathematics
- Josie added the costs of flyers, social‑media ads, and banner printing to create a total advertising budget.
- She multiplied the hourly riding fee by the projected number of lessons to estimate total revenue.
- Josie applied percentages to design a 10% early‑bird discount and calculated the new price per lesson.
- She built a simple spreadsheet, reading and interpreting rows and columns to track profit versus expense.
Language Arts
- Josie wrote a persuasive description of the horse, using vivid adjectives and strong verbs to capture interest.
- She organized her copy with a clear introduction, benefits list, and call‑to‑action, practicing logical flow.
- Josie edited her draft for concision and correct grammar, reinforcing spelling, punctuation, and sentence variety.
- She incorporated a short testimonial and formatted it as a quotation, learning proper attribution.
Social Studies/Economics
- Josie identified a target audience (local families and riding clubs) and explained why they would value the horse’s traits.
- She examined supply‑and‑demand by researching how many riding lessons are available in her community.
- Josie discussed ethical marketing, considering the horse’s well‑being and truthful representation.
- She explored branding basics, choosing a name and logo that reflect the horse’s personality and local culture.
Visual Arts/Design
- Josie selected a color scheme (earth tones with a bold accent) that conveys trust and excitement.
- She laid out a poster using balance and contrast, placing the horse’s photo at eye level and the price box in the lower right.
- Josie edited a photo of the horse with basic digital tools, learning cropping, brightness adjustment, and adding a caption.
- She used simple typography rules, choosing a readable sans‑serif font for body text and a decorative font for the headline.
Tips
Tips: Have Josie expand her project by conducting a mini‑survey of neighbors to refine her target audience, then use the data to create a bar graph of interest levels. Next, let her set up a mock sales pitch role‑play where she practices answering questions about the horse’s training and care. Finally, schedule a field trip to a local stable or a virtual interview with a professional trainer to deepen her understanding of the equine industry and ethical considerations.
Book Recommendations
- Kidpreneurs: Young Entrepreneurs Who Change the World by Adam Toren and Matthew Toren: A fun guide that teaches middle‑schoolers how to turn ideas like a horse‑marketing plan into real‑world ventures.
- The Everything Kids' Money Book by Brette Sember: Covers budgeting, profit, pricing, and basic economics in kid‑friendly language—perfect for Josie's marketing calculations.
- The Horse in the World: A Journey Through History by David R. L. Rouse: Explores the cultural and economic impact of horses, giving Josie context for why marketing a horse can be meaningful.
Learning Standards
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.RP.A.3 – Use ratio reasoning to set price per lesson relative to costs.
- CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.NS.B.4 – Apply percentages to calculate discounts and profit percentages.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.1 – Write arguments to persuade an audience about the horse’s benefits.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.4 – Produce clear and coherent writing with appropriate organization and style.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.7.7 – Integrate information from multiple sources (testimonials, market research) to support a claim.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.7.8 – Evaluate the argument and specific claims in marketing materials.
Try This Next
- Worksheet: Create a budget table where Josie lists each marketing expense, calculates totals, and determines profit margin.
- Design task: Using a free graphic‑design app, have Josie produce a flyer that applies color theory and typography principles.