The Georgia Council for Economic Education (GCEE) recognized fourth and fifth grade students from Black's Mill Elementary for their successful ventures in the Stock Market Game at a recent awards luncheon.

Yes, fourth and fifth graders, in the stock market.

The Stock Market Game is a 10-week online trading simulation game that was created by the GCEE.

"Every team member learns from the experience," said Black's Mill teacher Donny Jordan. "They learn life lessons that hopefully will benefit them in their future. We have fun lessons, practice a lot of math and work on cooperative management skills within our portfolios."

Student teams are given a hypothetical $100,000 portfolio and are then instructed to use math, language arts, computer skills as well as information gleaned through reading business news and research of publicly traded investments. They make assessments as to what will do well in the economy. Students are then able to buy, sell, sell short, etc. throughout the 10-week period.

The team with the best portfolio is deemed the statewide winner with one runner up.

Each year there are two "games" held in the spring and fall.

Black's Mill students finished the fall game with a $151,815 portfolio, enough to earn honors for the top spot.

On May 3, Jordan and his students from Black's Mill were recognized for their first place finish this past fall during a banquet held at the Georgia Railroad Freight Depot in downtown Atlanta. Another Black's Mill team of Jordan's came away with a third place finish on the elementary level for the spring.

"Our results have been wonderful over the years which got us an invite to the banquet. A personal goal of mine was to get one of the large trophies, which we were able to do this year. Our next goal is to be the No. 1 elementary school in the fall and spring or be the No. 1 team in the state," Jordan said.

Team members received certificates, t-shirts and tote bags.

The Stock Market Game takes place across the state at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

The Black's Mill fall team was first in the state for all elementary schools and sixth out 2,916 schools at all grade levels.

Jordan has been leading the teams for five years and students meet after school to work on the portfolio. Any student in fourth or fifth grade is given the opportunity to sign up for the team.

Members of the first place fall team were: Emma Kate Caudell, Ely Hutching, Zachary Bouchez, William Izarra and Ashlynn Mullis.

The third place spring team consisted of Sarah Jordan, Brian Jordan, Camden Gentry, Shannon Money and Maris Burke.

Members of Jordan's other stock market team were Canaan Doane, Christian Doane, Adrian Garcia-Herrera and Joel Garcia Herrera.