Imagine fifth-graders as consumers rushing to the bank to deposit their paychecks, as sales clerks creating merchandise displays and as reporters interviewing local business leaders to get the most up-to-date story. Across the way the restaurant prepares for the lunch hour and the mayor meets with the workforce to get an understanding of current economic trends. This could be any city in the country, but it is an image that perfectly describes a day at JA BizTown.
At JA BizTown, students perform jobs ranging from retail sales professionals, accountants, business managers, and medical professionals to TV and newspaper reporters, and even a mayor! Fifth graders do all of these jobs and many more in a hands-on simulation that can inspire our children to see many career possibilities in their future.
JA BizTown is a mini-town with a city hall, town square and 18 public and private businesses. Before visiting JA BizTown, students complete a four to six-week in-class curriculum where they learn basic economic skills such as how to manage their personal bank accounts. The lessons lead students through business principles, career exploration, banking procedures, business decisions and economic terms. Everything students will need to become productive, functioning 
citizens is covered prior to their visit, including elections, job interviews, business plans, and loans.
JA BizTown vividly illustrates the connection of hard work and tangible success while allowing students to gain a firsthand understanding and responsibility of their roles as citizens, consumers and workers in a free-market economy.
This educational program provides students a learning-by-doing experience that shows them how math, language arts and social studies apply in real life. The JA BizTown curriculum correlates to state standards and benchmarks.
Learn more about East Tennessee’s JA BizTown:
Seeing is believing - videos (you will need Windows Media Player):
JA BizTown in East TN
Educators: Learn about the JA BizTown curriculum and how your students can participle in this exceptional program.