Presenting Business Plans

Curriculum Area and Level

New Zealand Curriculum Area: Social Sciences – Business Studies
Curriculum Level: Level 3 (aligned with Year 5 learning outcomes)

Lesson Overview

This is the final lesson in the unit Understanding Needs & Profits. Students will present their small business plans, demonstrate their understanding of needs vs wants, and explain how their businesses aim to make a profit. They will receive feedback from their peers and reflect on their learning journey.

Learning Intentions

• Students will confidently present their business plans, explaining how their business meets a need or want.
• Students will describe how they expect to generate a profit and what challenges they may face.
• Students will provide constructive feedback to their classmates.
• Students will reflect on their learning and business decision-making process.

Success Criteria

• Clearly explains the purpose of their business and whether it meets a need or want.
• Describes how their business will generate profit.
• Uses basic business vocabulary such as revenue, expenses, credit, and profit.
• Listens actively and provides constructive feedback to peers.
• Reflects on ways they could improve their business plan.

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Lesson Structure (60 minutes total)

1. Introduction: Setting the Stage (10 minutes)

Teacher’s Role:

• Greet students and recap what they have learned in the unit.
• Ask:
  • "What makes a great business plan presentation?"
  • "How does feedback help businesses improve?"
• Discuss presentation skills:
  • Speak clearly and confidently.
  • Make eye contact.
  • Use visuals effectively (if applicable).

Student’s Role:

• Participate in the discussion.
• Share what they think makes a great presentation.

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2. Student Business Plan Presentations (30 minutes)

(Around 5 minutes per group, including feedback)

Teacher’s Role:

• Invite students (individually or in pairs, depending on how the business plans were structured) to present their business plans.
• Ensure students are using key business terms.
• Manage time and encourage positive engagement.

Student’s Role (Presenters):

• Present their business's:
  • Name & Purpose
  • Target audience
  • How it meets a need or want
  • Plan for making a profit
  • Challenges they foresee

Student’s Role (Listeners):

• Listen actively and complete a "Two Stars and a Wish" feedback sheet:
  • ⭐ What was great about the plan?
  • ⭐ What else did they like?
  • 🌟 What could be improved?

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3. Business Reflection Discussion (15 minutes)

Teacher’s Role:

• Lead a reflective discussion:
  • "What was something surprising you learned today?"
  • "If you could change one thing about your business plan, what would it be?"
  • "Why is it important for businesses to understand needs and profits?"
• Introduce the concept of credit in businesses:
  • "How could a business use credit to help them grow?"
  • "What are the risks of using credit?"
• Highlight key takeaways from the unit.

Student’s Role:

• Participate in the discussion and share their reflections.
• Optional: Vote on the "Most Creative Business," "Most Profitable Idea," and "Best Presentation" (non-competitive, just for fun).

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4. Wrap-Up Activity & Celebration (5 minutes)

Teacher’s Role:

• Congratulate students on their work throughout the unit.
• Option: Hand out completion certificates or write positive business "reviews" for each group.

Student’s Role:

• Reflect on what they enjoyed most in the unit.
• Share any final thoughts.

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Assessment & Reflection

• Collect feedback sheets for formative assessment.
• Observe student engagement and understanding during discussions.
• Provide individual encouragement or next steps for interested students.

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Teacher's Final Thoughts

This final lesson encourages students to apply all the business knowledge they have gained in an interactive and engaging way. By combining individual presentations, peer feedback, and reflection, students develop both business literacy and confidence in public speaking. This approach ensures that all students feel valued for their ideas while applying real-world concepts in a fun and meaningful way.