Shark Tank Intro

Year Level

Year 6 (Australian Curriculum v9)

Duration

45 minutes

Class Size

25 students

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Learning Intention

• Understand the concept of pitching a business idea.
• Recognise the relevance of the TV show Shark Tank to business and entrepreneurship.
• Develop basic skills in brainstorming and collaboratively developing a business idea.

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Australian Curriculum Alignment

Learning Area

Humanities and Social Sciences – Economics and Business (Year 6)

Content Descriptions

• Identify and describe types of business and their roles in producing goods and services (ACHHK033)
• Explore how and why businesses make decisions (ACHHK034)
• Develop skills in collaboration and communication for business contexts (General Capabilities: Personal and Social Capability, Critical and Creative Thinking)

Relevant General Capabilities

• Literacy: Listening and viewing skills during video analysis.
• Critical and Creative Thinking: Brainstorming and generating ideas.
• Personal and Social Capability: Working cooperatively in pairs.

Note: The specific codes above are from the Year 5-6 Economics and Business curriculum in ACARA aligned with v9 principles.

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Lesson Overview

Time	Activity	Description
5 min	Introduction	Activate prior knowledge about businesses and entrepreneurship. Introduce Shark Tank as a real-world example of pitching business ideas.
12 min	Watch Video Clip	View a short curated clip from Shark Tank (Clip from ClickView). Pause to clarify key concepts.
8 min	Explicit Teaching	Teacher-led explanation of pitching: what it means, key components (e.g., problem, solution, market, ask).
15 min	Paired Brainstorming Task	In pairs, students generate ideas for a simple business they could pitch. Provide structured prompts to guide ideas.
5 min	Share and Reflect	Selected pairs share their ideas briefly. Class reflects on the experience of brainstorming and pitching.

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Detailed Lesson Plan

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

• Begin with a question: "Has anyone heard of Shark Tank? What do you think the show is about?"
• Briefly discuss how entrepreneurs pitch business ideas to investors.
• Explain that today they will get to experience what it feels like to pitch a business idea.

2. Watch Video Clip (12 minutes)

• Play a carefully selected 3-5 minute clip from Shark Tank showcasing a simple pitch.
• Pause occasionally to highlight important aspects such as the entrepreneur’s problem, their solution, and the “ask” (investment or support they want).
• Check for understanding by asking simple questions, e.g., "What do you think this person wants from the sharks?"

3. Explicit Teaching (8 minutes)

• Using a whiteboard or visual display, explain the components of a business pitch:
  • What is the problem or need?
  • What is the product or service that solves this?
  • Who will buy this?
  • What do you want from an investor?
• Use examples from the video to consolidate understanding.
• Introduce key vocabulary: entrepreneur, pitch, investor, product, market, and profit.

4. Paired Brainstorming Task (15 minutes)

• Students pair up.
• Provide a guided worksheet or prompt cards, e.g.:
  • Think of a problem or something people need.
  • Think of a product or service that solves it.
  • Decide who would buy it.
  • What would you ask an investor for?
• Circulate to support pairs, encouraging creative and realistic ideas.
• Encourage them to sketch or jot down their idea briefly.

5. Share and Reflect (5 minutes)

• Invite 3-4 pairs to share their business idea with the class very briefly (1 minute each).
• Discuss:
  • What was easy or hard about coming up with an idea?
  • How might the Sharks decide if they will invest?
• Summarise key learnings.

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Resources Needed

• Projector/screen and internet or ClickView access to Shark Tank clip
• Whiteboard/markers or digital display for explanation
• Brainstorming prompt worksheet or cards
• Paper and pencils for students

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Assessment & Feedback

• Formative: Teacher observes paired brainstorming, listening for understanding of pitch components.
• Class discussion: Use questions and student responses to gauge comprehension.
• Peer feedback: Encourage positive recognition during idea sharing.

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Differentiation

• Support pairs with sentence starters or vocabulary sheets.
• Challenge advanced students to think of basic cost/pricing or marketing ideas.
• Provide visual supports for ESL learners.

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Cross-Curriculum Priorities & Capabilities

• Critical and Creative Thinking: Generating original ideas, evaluating feasibility.
• Literacy: Understanding and using domain-specific vocabulary.
• Personal and Social Capability: Collaborating effectively in pairs.

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Teacher’s Reflection Notes (Post-Lesson)

• Note how engaged students were with the real-world connection.
• Record common challenges during brainstorming for future scaffold.
• Consider follow-up lessons involving pitching presentations and feedback.

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This lesson introduces students to business concepts through an engaging, age-appropriate connection with popular media while explicitly teaching the skills involved in pitching and collaboration, fulfilling the Year 6 Economics and Business curriculum requirements in Australia.