Food Truck Creations on Menu for Grade 5 Readers

Over the summer, fifth graders read “When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Peach Pie” by Erin Soderberg. The story follows a family that unexpectedly comes into money and opens a food truck in honor of their mother, who recently died. As they learn to bake peach pies and run a business, the family navigates their grief while working together and supporting one another.

Fifth graders explored some of those same challenges as they developed business ideas of their own. Working in small groups, students came up with concepts for food trucks and other mobile businesses. Ideas ranged from traditional food trucks serving burgers, fries and seafood to more specialized offerings, including a truck catering to feline customers. One business sells fidget toys, another allows customers to play video games on-site, and a third offers dog grooming. Each group came up with a name for its business, created a menu with prices, and designed and decorated a miniature model of its truck.

The next phase of the unit gave students an opportunity to test their knowledge at Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City, where they participated in BizTown. The program simulates a city with its own economy, bank and storefronts, all run and staffed by students. They practiced budgeting and learned about financial decisions and their potential consequences. They borrowed and spent money, advertised their businesses, patronized one another’s businesses and worked toward goals they had set for themselves.

Upon returning to school, fifth graders had a better understanding of what it took for the family in their summer reading book to start a peach pie business, as well as how individual businesses contribute to a larger economy and community. They also learned an important lesson connected to both activities: running a business takes more than making money. It requires working together, supporting each other and recognizing the role each person plays in a community.