Instructors at Prague High School and Moore Norman Technology Center returned to work to find they were selected as first and second place winners in a statewide lesson plans contest.

The Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants notified Vallery Feltman of Prague High School and Charlotte Burnham of Norman that their entries in the third annual Lessons Enhancing Accounting Development (LEAD) contest won certificates and cash awards.

Feltman, a high school business teacher and yearbook advisor, submitted “My Business” as her lesson plan. The project is designed to help students create and develop a business plan by using decision-making skills by learning about consumers, governments, and citizens, and by developing tools to implement the business plan. Students come up with businesses that they could start in their local communities. Additionally, students develop advertising materials, start-up analysis charts, price lists, invoices, business cards and mailing labels.

Feltman’s winning lesson plan has been incorporated her class for five years.

“I feel this lesson plan is beneficial to my students because it shows them how what they are learning in the classroom (Word, Excel, Publisher) can actually be used in a real-world situations,” Feltman said.“It also requires them to use critical thinking skills to analyze business needs in their community and allows them to reflect on their own skills and how those could be used to run their own business.”

As the first place winner, Feltman will receive a $500 award and Prague High School will receive a $200 award to be used in Feltman’s department.

“I am thrilled to have won this contest and would like to thank the OSCPA for taking the time to recognize teachers and what they are teachingin theirbusiness classrooms and how these lessons are preparing the studentsto beproductive in the workforce.”

Burnham, a Business Professionals of America advisor, submitted “Mastering COGS,” a lesson that teaches the concept of the cost of goods sold in a hands-on approach, and to make the learning experience memorable so students will retain the information and understand accounting terms. The students use Lucky Charms to simulate opening inventory, closing inventory, purchases and items sold.

For second place Burnham won $225 for herself and $75 to use in her department at Moore Norman Technology Center.

The contest, conducted by the Accounting Careers Committee of the OSCPA, was created to encourage educators to share best practices for teaching accounting, business, economics and personal finance lessons. This is the second year of the competition.

Accounting Careers Committee Chair, Claudette Pippin, CPA, with Family & Children’s Services in Tulsa, Okla., said both entries were innovative and interesting.

“We had really good entries and they all deserved awards,” Pippin said. “However, the committee chose Ms. Feltman’s and Ms. Burnham’s lesson plans because of their creative and unique approach to learning.

“Both plans looked like lessons the students would not only enjoy and learn from, but also clever ways for them to retain the knowledge as well.”

The lessons plans from all the entrants are available in the Educators section at http://www.oscpa.com/.

With more than 6,000 members in public practice, industry, government and education, the OSCPA is Oklahoma’s only statewide professional association of CPAs. Since 1918, the organization has continued to provide professional education, conduct quality reviews and promote and maintain high standards of integrity and competence within the accounting profession. Visit http://www.knowwhatcounts.org/ for a free CPA referral and 30-minute consultation.

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