With the roll of the dice, Blackstone Motor Co.'s stock splits. The group around the table erupts with cheers as hands go toward the ceiling in celebration and a fortune is increased.

        This isn't the floor of the New York Stock Exchange or the scene at an investors meeting. It's Toni Purcell's fifth-grade classroom at Sellman Middle School in Madeira last week. Her class was learning about investing in stocks and bonds by playing a board game called “Portfolio Management.”

Toni Purcell talks to her fifth-grade students at Sellman Middle School in Madeira last week as they play a board game called “Portfolio Management.” (Sharon Crickmer photo) | ZOOM |

        The game simulates a 10-year investment period in which players have five companies — Blackstone Motor Co. is one — and four types of bonds from which to choose. Diversified portfolios are encouraged and rewarded.

        It was created by Stuart Crickmer and Gary Dangle of Omniology, a company that makes financial simulation games, to teach economic principles and how to better invest. The two hope to market a new game called “Junior Investor” to the U.S. Treasury or large banks to give to customers who might be starting out.

        Mr. Crickmer said there is a market for games such as these, because if a young investor is pulled in by the game, he or she is likely to stay with that bank as they get older.

        “Both kids and adults learn better through experience,” said Mr. Crickmer, 42, a certified public accountant and a founder of Cincinnati-based Omniology, along with Mr. Dangle, 47, who is in charge of design. Mr. Dangle used to run his own design company called Designatron.

        “It's amazing how these kids are latching on and learning these concepts. Kids tend to be more conservative than adults,” Mr. Crickmer said.

        The game gets students to use math skills while they learn about investing.

        “You use math and a little bit of logic,” Abbie Alfieri, 10, said. “You have to decide which stocks you can sell and which you can buy.”

        Most of the strategies around the room are conservative. Some students specialize in bonds, but others bet a majority of their chips on riskier stocks that can increase or drop quickly.

        Peyton Hahn, 10, and Graham Telford, 11, like the bond market because “the dividends they produce help increase profits.” However, the two-member team disagrees about which beverage company is a better investment, Coke or Pepsi. Peyton owns “a couple” of shares of Coke, while Graham likes Pepsi. The game might be the start of a career.

        “If I can't be an NBA player, I may be a broker,” Peyton said.

        The class covers how bonds increase, the students know who Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan is and why his job is important. They understand the strategy of “buying low and selling high.”

        Ms. Purcell helps the children learn terminology by using flash cards and a large writing pad that lists the few rules for the game.

        “The kids are totally engrossed,” Ms. Purcell said. “The game applies the principles.”

        Said Sellman principal Roger Slagle: “I sure wish I had this when I was a youngster. I don't see a whole lot of people getting into investing unless it's part of their job.”

        Jody Champion is the mother of a fourth-grader who has benefited from the board game. She said when it comes to teaching financial literacy, “you can't go wrong.”

        “When they get in the real world and are faced with those decisions, they're gonna have a clue,” Ms. Champion said.
       

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