Sippican School's sixth grade halls became a bustling Afghan marketplace where students bargained and bartered for goods on Friday afternoon.

On tables and blankets, students sold wares with some connection to Afghanistan, the setting of “The Breadwinner” by Deborah Ellis and required reading for sixth grade English.

While students read the novel, they were introduced to Parvana, a young girl living in poverty under the Taliban. In the book, she is forced to dress as a boy in order to participate in the market, earning food for her family.

Sixth grade teacher Cathy Sinnott said this was the third year the market has been held, and it’s a highlight for students.

“The marketplace in Kabul is the book’s main setting and this recreates the experience for them,” Sinnott said.

Students had to decide what to sell based on research of Afghanistan. Each student was given five tokens to use as money for the market.

Ariana Miranda, Hailey Cohen and Mary Townsend settled on beads, hamsas and white fudge with an Afghan twist.

The hamsa is an amulet designed to ward off bad luck and is popular throughout the Middle East.

The students designed and colored the Hamsas, which depict an eye inside an open right hand.

As for the fudge recipe, the girls added rose water and the spice cardamom, staples of Afghan cuisine.

Shane Radke had a variety of items for sale, including bracelets, plates and cinnamon buns.

“In my research I found a lot of bread was sold, it was very popular,” he said.

At the market, Shane’s cinnamon buns did indeed sell fast.

Across from Shane, Riley Arruda and Nellie Zygiel had Thanksgiving decorations, yarn dolls and more on sale. Dolls and decorations are commonplace items at markets, Riley said.

Riley took one of the book’s vocabulary words to heart, bargaining with customers on buy one, get one deals for some items.

Not everyone sold goods or food. Brendan Burke told fortunes. For one token, Burke asked a series of questions before revealing the customers future. For one person that was, “You will eat pizza.”

Also in attendance were Superintendent Doug White and Assistant Superintendent Elise Frangos, who played the part of nomads for the market.

Frangos said students told her they were intrigued by the book and were eager to read its sequels.

“Anytime we can encourage children to learn more about different cultures we’ve done our job,” Frangos said. “These simulations really help to bring history to life for students.”