5 Ways to Host a Successful Classroom Auction

Classroom Auction Ideas

Classroom auctions are an excellent way to boost student engagement and create a sense of community in your classroom. It can be difficult to host an auction if you're not experienced, especially if you're a newbie to having a Classroom Economy. But don't worry, you can make sure your classroom auction is a huge success by planning and executing it well. 

You will learn some valuable tips and tricks from me so that you can host an effective classroom auction, impressing your colleagues, students, and parents. Set your goals and budgets, select the right items to auction, and promote your event to make your auction successful. Let's dive in and explore the world of classroom auctions, whether you're planning a small auction or a large one!

Start with Clear Rules and Expectations:

First things first, set clear rules and expectations for your classroom economy auction. Make sure your students understand the purpose of the auction, how they can earn money, what items they can bid on, and how the bidding process works. By establishing these guidelines from the get-go, you'll ensure a smooth and fair experience for everyone involved.

Planning your Classroom Auction

It is important to plan your classroom auction carefully if you hope to have a successful one. You should set clear objectives for the auction, and determine what items you want in the auction. Ask students and parents to donate items.

You can also plan to send out emails to teachers at your school for any leftover items, such as school supplies or free professional development items.  Once you have a clear idea of what you want to include, create a budget that outlines all or any of the costs associated with the auction. 

Next, decide on how you want to carry out the auction. I used a class period we call Advisory which last 30 minutes for 2 different days so it didn't affect any classroom time. You can also wait until after State Assessment Testing, which usually frees up more time in your classroom. 

Encourage Student Involvement:

To make your auction a hit, involve your students in the decision-making process. Allow them to suggest items to be auctioned off and give them the opportunity to organize and decorate the auction space.

Selecting Items for the Auction

Middle Schoolers have the nerve to be picky…

It's important to select items that are both attractive and that your students will love to bid over.. Start by brainstorming ideas with your students and colleagues. Consider items that are unique, easy to put together, or that reflect the interests and talents of your students. I used leftover snacks and stickers from my Classroom Economy Corner Store and placed them in white paper bags from Walmart. I gave the students 10 minutes during class time to decorate the bags and filled them at a later time so they couldn’t guess what was inside. 

This is what they were most excited by and surprisingly as well as school supplies. I did let them choose a few items from the 5 BELOW store and The Dollar Tree. I did not let them know what would be included in the auction. I wanted to know their interest and offer items that align with their tastes. 

Consider including popular items such as stationery, art supplies, sports equipment, or even small tech gadgets. The more desirable the items, the more excitement, and competition you'll see during the bidding process.

Setting Up the Auction

I created a Google Site so with all of the auction items posted on it. This website was only accessible only to students in my class. Students were able to view it at any time and decide what they wanted to bid on. 

On the day of the auction, ensure that everything is set up and ready to go. Begin by arranging the auction items on display tables, ensuring that they're attractively presented. Next, set up the area where students can receive their bidding paddles. Make sure that the starting bids are clearly displayed, and that the student banker is ready to count and receive money. You may want to set up a designated area for other teachers to sit and watch the auction.

Bidding Process and Payment

Before the auction begins, explain the bidding process to the students. Make sure they understand how to use their paddles to place bids and how to pay for their items once they've won them. 

Provide each student with their auction paddle. These can be simple pieces of cardstock or even DIY paddles they can personalize. It's fun for students to raise their paddles to place their bids, but make sure you explain the paddle-raising etiquette to avoid any confusion.

Silent Auction Paddles:

In addition to the live bidding, you can introduce a silent auction component to your event. Silent auctions allow students to place bids on items without the need for vocal announcements. I just had a student raise their paddles to bid and when the bidding was over because they ran out of money, they just placed their paddles down until one student was left. 

Payment Process:

Select your Student Banker or another responsible student to count money and give the auction item to the students. Students should be able to count out the amount of money they have to the student banker. The banker can complete a receipt for the money they receive from the student as well as their new auction item. 

So there you have it, my five essential tips for holding a successful classroom economy auction in a middle school setting. Remember, the key is to make it engaging, educational, and enjoyable for all. With a little planning and enthusiasm, your students are bound to have a blast while learning important life skills.

Happy auctioning!