Parent volunteer Danica Carden talks with Monroe School fifth-graders about the price they want to sell their South African soap for at a market the school will hold Dec. 19-20. | Curtis Lehmkuhl—Sun-Times Media

Monroe School fifth-graders Lucas Schwartz (left) and Lauren Zelisko, both from Hinsdale, cut ribbons to tie around the packages of soap their company Hope Soapz will sell at a market the students will set up at school. | Curtis Lehmkuhl—Sun-Times Media

Monroe School students, from left, Lainey Clark, Jackson Giunta and Helene Friedman learn about economics and marketing as they formed a company, Hope Soapz, with classmates to sell soap. | Curtis Lehmkuhl—Sun-Times Media

Megan Schlie, left, and Elizabeth Klink learn about economics with other Monroe School fifth-graders in Hinsdale, as they form an assembly line to package soap to sell at a school market Dec. 19. | Curtis Lehmkuhl—Sun-Times Media

Andrew Tannebaum of Hinsdale weighs a piece of soap that he and his fellow fifth-graders at Monroe School will package and sell at a market as part of their study of South African economics. | Curtis Lehmkuhl—Sun-Times Media

Fifth-graders at Monroe School in Hinsdale formed an assembly line to package soap Dec. 7 as part of their study of South Africa and economics. George Boddicker of Hinsdale puts the price tags on the bags. | Curtis Lehmkuhl~Sun-Times Media