Drury, Askinosie Chocolate teach business principles

In a venture called The Chocolate University, Drury education students are using the Springfield chocolate manufacturer’s founding principles as a guide for teaching real-world business to fourth-grade students at Boyd Elementary. The program is under way but will be rolled out completely next semester.

Drury students have developed lesson plans covering topics such as entrepreneurship, sustainable practices, fair trade, economics and global engagement. They also are matching Boyd students via e-mail with those living in Mexico, where Askinosie’s cacao beans are grown. Boyd students will use Google Earth maps to see the cacao fields.

The final Chocolate University class will be a daylong participatory experience at the School of Economics in Blue Springs, where students will learn how to develop and market products for a specific country.

The venture is being funded by Askinosie tours and donations.