'Nuthtown' Welcomes Visitors, Shoppers, Friends

The school buzzed with enthusiasm and joy during Wednesday’s annual “Nuthtown” event at Cedar Trails Elementary. Students holding handfuls of pretend dollar bills shopped at booths hosted by students from Kaitlin Nuth’s Learning Resource Center 2 (LRC2) class. Others hustled back out to the hallway, where they could complete a variety of “jobs” for paper tickets. Next, students could turn in tickets from jobs at the Nuthtown Bank, for more play money.

“Welcome to Nuthtown! It’s very exciting that you’re here,” Nuth said, welcoming a new group of classes just outside the borders of the “town.” She explained the event to the visiting students, who each received an initial amount of pretend dollars to spend. “Let’s go shopping!”

Above, a student and staff member visit one of the colorful storefronts in Nuthtown.


Each year in preparation for the event, students in Nuth’s class study economics, including learning about consumers and producers, community helpers and best practices for running a business. Then, they work with students in their cohort, paraprofessionals and staff to plan and create a variety of products, each made out of recycled materials. In the 10 years since the inception of Nuthtown, they have never repeated the same product. This year’s offerings ranged from blue-and-green glittery (electric) candle holders, to squishy flat soccer balls themed to acknowledge the World Cup in Seattle. There were handmade “fidget” toys, cardboard helicopters, cheerful bumblebees and sparkly popsicles.

With some help from assistive devices and paraprofessionals, Nuth’s students greet the shoppers, answer questions about prices, and exchange their products for play money.

Above, a student shows some of his purchases after visiting the Nuthtown shops.

“I got the last one!” a young shopper exclaimed loudly, holding a squishy fidget toy in the air. Classes and grade levels visit Nuthtown in several rounds so that it isn’t too crowded in the small hamlet. Between each wave of shoppers, the students and staff restock their wares.

A new group of students arrives at the town limits, and excitedly begins taking on the “jobs,” which include tasks such as sharpening pencils, folding towels, cleaning windows, testing markers to determine which ones are out of ink, and picking up a pretend “mess” of colorful foam toys. “I have $14!” one student declares, waving the bills above their head on the way from the bank back to the storefronts.

Before leaving town, all visiting students and staff are encouraged to add their names to a large butcher paper sign on the wall, a visual representation of the fact that Nuth’s students and the Cedar Trails staff members make clear: Everyone who visits becomes part of the Nuthtown community.

Above, students and staff who visited Nuthtown were invited to sign their names, adding to the sense of community.