Clark Pleasant Students Play the Game of Life

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Dr. Anndrea Hatcher shows 7th grade students at The Game of Life at Clark Pleasant Middle School.

On Tuesday, February 5th, seventh graders at Clark Pleasant Middle School learned a little about the daily grind of real life. Students were given a choice of careers based upon their grades and were assigned monthly salaries, based upon the average income for those careers in Indiana in 2012. Many students were also assigned student loans. Thirty percent of their income was immediately subtracted for taxes and health insurance. The students were instructed to imagine they were 25 years old and what they expected their lifestyle to be like. They rolled dice to determine if they were single, married or divorced and if they had children. Then they visited eight tables manned by community volunteers who helped the children pay their monthly bills and subtract them from their checking accounts. The stops were bank, groceries, car, cellphone, pets, miscellaneous, travel and entertainment and “Life Happens.” At the “Life Happens” table, students rolled dice to experience the surprises that life often offers. Sometimes there was good news like, “It’s your birthday and your grandmother sent you $50,” and sometimes there was not so good news like, “You got a DWI, pay $150.”

Dr. Anndrea Hatcher, veterinarian at Olive Branch Parke Veterinary Clinic in Greenwood, volunteered at the pet booth. She helped students prioritize their spending. “Yes, a purebred dog would be fun, but I recommend you buy groceries first.”

After the experience, students commented they learned that kids were really expensive. One seventh grader said groceries were too expensive so he was going to just eat at McDonald’s all the time instead. Which, of course, lead to another teachable moment.

The attached photo was taken by Dr. Anndrea Hatcher and shows 7th grade students at The Game of Life at Clark Pleasant Middle School.


Dr. HatcherDr. Anndrea Hatcher is a veterinarian at Olive Branch Parke Veterinary Clinic in Greenwood. She provides medical and surgical care, and boarding for dogs, cats and exotic pets. She graduated from Center Grove High School and Purdue University and her children attend Center Grove schools.

Olive Branch Veterinary

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