In the Elementary Programs, from grades three through six, children learn concepts and skills at each level that build on those taught in preceding grades. Each grade-level theme is taught by a volunteer from the business community. Each program consists of four or five hands-on lessons. They are each designed to show students the relevance of education to the workplace as well as to prepare them for secondary school and lifelong learning.

Each program is delivered in four or five sessions. The average in- class time for each session is about 45 minutes. Materials are packaged in a self-contained kit that includes detailed activity plans for the volunteer and materials for 30 students.

All programs are aligned to provincial curriculum objectives including social studies, language arts, workplace skills and math.

The JA Business Basics Series

Grade 3 - Our Community: Needs, Jobs, Tools Studies the difference between needs and wants while discovering the variety of jobs in our community. Explores the money circle and the tools and technology used in certain jobs.

Grade 4 - Our Country: Technology & Innovation Explains the impact technology and Canadian inventors have on business and societies around the world. Explores industrial changes due to technology and what might be in store for the future.

Grade 5 - Our Business World Introduces the business world by focusing on the basic free enterprise concepts of operations, manufacturing, management and marketing.

Grade 6 - A Business of Our Own Building on previous lessons and concepts, the opportunity is now at hand to apply their knowledge gleaned from above programs to operate their own retail business.