Innovation Sparks

Context

• Subject: Economics and Business
• Year level: Year 9
• Unit: Empowering Young Entrepreneurs (Lesson 11 of 15)
• Duration: 45 minutes
• Class size: 20 students

---

WALT (We Are Learning To)

• Understand how innovation and creativity drive business success.
• Brainstorm innovative ideas to improve or create products/services within their business plans.

---

Australian Curriculum Alignment

Content Descriptions from AC v9 – Economics and Business Year 9

• AC9HE9S05: Create descriptions, explanations and arguments using economic and business knowledge, concepts and terms… oriented to a specific audience.
• AC9HE9S03: Interpret information and data, explaining economic and business trends and cause-and-effect relationships.
• AC9HE9K05: How individuals and businesses manage consumer and financial risks and rewards (includes innovation as a business strategy).

General Capabilities

• Critical and Creative Thinking: Generate innovative ideas and problem-solve.
• Literacy: Using economic/business vocabulary in discussions and writing.
• Personal and Social Capability: Collaborate effectively and respect diverse ideas.

---

Success Criteria

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Explain why innovation and creativity are vital for business success.
• Identify examples of innovative products or services and the benefits they provide.
• Generate and share creative ideas to improve their own business plans.
• Use economic and business terminology accurately when discussing innovation.

---

Resources

• Whiteboard and markers
• Sticky notes or small cards
• Business plan templates or existing student business ideas
• Innovation case study examples (simple visuals or brief stories)
• Dyslexia-friendly handouts summarising key innovation concepts (with clear fonts, bullet points, and visuals)

---

Lesson Outline

1. Introduction and Engagement (8 minutes)

• Teacher explains: Innovation means creating new or improved products, services, or ways of doing things that add value and solve problems.
• Show examples of Australian or global successful innovations (e.g. Cochlear implants, Vegemite variations, renewable energy startups).
• Discuss: Why do businesses innovate? How does creativity help them stay competitive in global and local markets?
• Link to Curriculum: This discussion helps interpret economic/business issues and trends (AC9HE9S03) and uses correct business language (AC9HE9S05).

2. Mini Brainstorm Activity: Innovate an Existing Product/Service (15 minutes)

• Students work in pairs or small groups.
• Each group chooses a common product or service (could be from their own business idea from previous lessons).
• Brainstorm at least 3 ways to innovate the product/service (e.g., improving features, making it environmentally friendly, adding digital technology).
• Record ideas on sticky notes.
• Circulate to support diverse learners by clarifying concepts and vocabulary; dyslexia-friendly handouts provide word banks.
• Encourage advanced learners to consider potential risks and rewards of their innovations (linking AC9HE9K05).

3. Group Sharing and Discussion (12 minutes)

• Groups share their innovations with the class.
• Facilitate a discussion on which ideas could be most successful and why, referencing economic/business terms such as "competitive advantage," "consumer needs," and "market trends."
• Highlight creative problem-solving and sustainability where relevant.
• Teacher models explanatory language and reasoning (supporting literacy outcomes).
• For students needing differentiation: Provide sentence starters for sharing ideas.
• Extension for advanced learners: Ask them to consider how global trends (e.g., tech advances or environmental concerns) might affect their innovations.

4. Individual Reflection and Application (7 minutes)

• Students write a brief reflection or add to their business plan one innovative change they would like to develop based on the brainstorm and discussion.
• Prompts: How does your innovation solve a problem? Who benefits? What might be a challenge?
• Use dyslexia-friendly templates with bullet points and space for sketching ideas.

5. Lesson Conclusion and Homework (3 minutes)

• Recap key points: innovation is essential for business to adapt, compete and meet customer needs.
• Homework: Research an innovative Australian business or product and prepare 3 interesting facts to share next lesson.

---

Differentiation Strategies

• Visual aids and dyslexia-friendly handouts to support reading difficulties.
• Group work to foster peer support.
• Sentence starters and word banks for students who need help articulating ideas.
• Extension tasks on risk-reward analysis for advanced learners.
• Oral sharing options in addition to writing, supporting students with writing difficulties.

---

Assessment Opportunities

• Formative assessment through observation of group discussions.
• Evaluation of ideas generated and individual written reflections to assess understanding of innovation concepts.
• Use of curriculum-aligned vocabulary will be noted.

---

This lesson plan closely follows the Australian Curriculum v9 for Year 9 Economics and Business, specifically addressing innovation as a key business concept and promoting critical thinking and communication. It is designed to engage diverse learners and encourage creativity while building key business literacy and reasoning skills within a practical entrepreneurial context.