Starting Business Journey

I have a new year 9 business class to teach ,and how to start, these are some of the things they usually do and not to overload them Have to line them up in front of the class and invite them inside when they are lined up and quiet. Warm welcome, why did they choose business, design poster for business studies with roots, choose 5 from like 10 things I would put on the board or discuss in class by asking business terms in class. What are the things we would cover in this subject. I want to give them some activity so they get to know each other better and i get to know them too, also would start off with something like money towards the end but would love them to do a poster in class and include things like what their plan is in next 5-10 years

Overview

A 60-minute introductory session designed for Year 9 students in New Zealand, focusing on welcoming students, introducing fundamental business concepts, fostering classroom community, and starting to explore personal financial planning through a creative poster activity. The lesson aligns with relevant sections of the New Zealand Curriculum, especially from the Technology and Mathematics learning areas in relation to business studies and financial literacy.

Curriculum Links

Learning Areas

Technology / Business Studies (under Technology learning area for Year 9)
- Understanding business language and concepts
- Exploring why individuals and businesses operate
- Developing planning and design skills
Mathematics and Statistics (Financial Mathematics strand)
- Recognising and using money, making simple financial plans
- Calculating costs, change, and budgeting basics

Key Competencies

Relating to others: interact and negotiate, support others' ideas
Participating and contributing: contribute to group activities, develop classroom norms
Thinking: planning and evaluating ideas, understanding financial concepts

Achievement Objectives (Year 9 Level)

Understanding basic business terms and concepts
Exploring the purposes of business and personal financial planning
Using design skills to communicate ideas visually and creatively

Lesson Objectives

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

Explain why they have chosen to study business and share personal learning goals.
Identify and discuss five key business terms or concepts relevant to the course.
Collaboratively design a “Business Studies” poster representing the foundational ideas (‘roots’) of the subject.
Create a personal poster reflecting their business aspirations and plan for the next 5-10 years.
Develop initial classroom routines and community rapport.

Success Criteria

Students line up quietly and respectfully before entering the classroom.
Students confidently share their reasons for studying business.
Students actively participate in selecting and discussing key business terms.
Completed group poster highlighting business ‘roots’.
Individual posters showing clear, thoughtful goals including financial aspirations.
Demonstrated respectful interaction and emerging classroom community.

Resources

Whiteboard and markers
Pre-prepared list of business terms (10 terms) written clearly on the board
Large paper sheets and coloured markers for group poster activity
Individual A4 paper and coloured pencils/markers for personal poster
Name tags for students
Timer or clock to manage time

Lesson Structure (60 minutes)

1. Classroom Entry & Warm Welcome (5 minutes)

Activity: Line students up outside quietly, teacher invites them in one by one when ready.
Teacher script: Friendly greeting, welcomes students to business studies, briefly introduce yourself, explaining why you are excited to teach business.
Purpose: Establish calm, organised start and set positive tone.

2. Student Introduction & Sharing Why Business? (10 minutes)

Activity: Ask each student to share briefly (1–2 sentences) why they chose business studies.
Teacher notes: Encourage respectful listening, support shy students by paired sharing if necessary.
Differentiation: Allow some students the choice to write down their reason before sharing.

3. Brainstorm Business Terms (10 minutes)

Activity: Present about 10 business-related terms on the board (e.g., profit, entrepreneur, budget, market, customer, investment, innovation, supply, demand, savings).
Student Task: Each student votes on their 5 favourite/most important terms.
Group Discussion: Discuss what these terms mean and why they matter in business.
Differentiation: Use visual aids or icons next to each term for students needing support with vocabulary.

4. Group Poster: Business Studies ‘Roots’ (15 minutes)

Activity: In small groups (4–5 students), create a poster illustrating the 5 chosen terms as the ‘roots’ of business studies.
Instructions: Encourage drawings, keywords, and group discussions about how each term is connected to business success.
Teacher role: Circulate and facilitate questions, support group dynamics.
Learning link: Encourages teamwork and synthesis of abstract terms visually.

5. Individual Poster: Personal Business & Financial Goals (15 minutes)

Activity: Each student creates a poster on A4 reflecting:
- What they want to achieve with business studies
- Their plan or hopes for the next 5-10 years (e.g., career, financial goals)
- Include something about money or financial planning (e.g., saving, business ideas, investment)
Differentiation: Provide sentence starters or templates if helpful (e.g., “In 5 years I want to...”, “The money I want to save is for...”)
Purpose: Personalise learning, integrate financial literacy from the start.

6. Wrap-up & Reflection (5 minutes)

Activity: Invite students to share one thing they learned or are excited about.
Teacher notes: Praise efforts, remind about classroom behaviour expectations, next steps.
Set homework or extension: Think about one business idea or question to bring next class.

Differentiation Strategies

Learner Need	Strategy
EAL (English Language Learners)	Visual support with icons, paired discussions, sentence starters
Diverse interests	Choice of terms in poster activity, personal goal setting
Shy or reluctant speakers	Share with partner first, writing options
Additional learning needs	Small group support, simplified vocabulary cards
Advanced learners	Encourage deeper research or more creative poster elements

Assessment for Learning

Observation of student participation in discussions and activities.
Review of group and individual posters for understanding of basic business concepts and personal financial planning.
Informal questioning during the lesson to check comprehension.

Teacher Reflection Notes

Observe how students manage lining up and entering quietly. Adjust procedures if necessary.
Note student engagement with business terms and willingness to share.
Monitor group dynamics during poster activities to ensure inclusivity.
Note ideas students have for their personal goals to inform future planning and support.

This detailed lesson plan combines classroom management, personal connection, introduction to business terms, and early financial literacy in a structured yet engaging way tailored for Year 9 students under the New Zealand Curriculum guidelines. It balances foundational knowledge with creative expression and relationship-building, serving as an excellent launch into business studies.

If you want me to construct future lesson plans or assessment ideas for this course, just ask!

Teaching Instructions