Innovation & Startups

Lesson Overview

Grade Level: Year 9
Curriculum Area: Business (Entrepreneurship)
Duration: 120 minutes
Standards Alignment:

• National Business Education Association (NBEA) Standards - Entrepreneurship
  • ENT.01: Recognize and assess opportunities for new business ventures.
  • ENT.02: Develop a business concept and product/service idea.
  • ENT.03: Understand fundamental business operations, including marketing, finance, and management.

Lesson Objectives

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

1. Define entrepreneurship and explain its role in the economy.
2. Identify characteristics of successful entrepreneurs.
3. Develop a basic business idea using creative thinking strategies.
4. Pitch an elevator speech for a startup idea.

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction to Entrepreneurship (20 minutes)

Objective: Define entrepreneurship and connect it to real-world success stories.

• Engagement (5 minutes):

  • Ask students: What comes to mind when you hear the word "entrepreneur"?
  • Show pictures of well-known entrepreneurs (Elon Musk, Oprah Winfrey, Jeff Bezos, etc.).
  • Brainstorm what traits they share.

• Mini Lecture (10 minutes):

  • Explain entrepreneurship as identifying a problem and creating a business solution.
  • Discuss the impact of entrepreneurs on job creation, innovation, and society.
  • Relate concepts to businesses students frequently use (Snapchat, Nike, Tesla).

• Quick Discussion (5 minutes):

  • Have students name businesses they admire and why.
  • Highlight different types of entrepreneurship (tech startups, social enterprises, small businesses).

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2. Entrepreneurial Traits & Business Idea Generation (25 minutes)

Objective: Identify key entrepreneurial traits and generate business ideas through creativity exercises.

• Activity: "The Entrepreneur’s DNA" (10 minutes)

  • Students receive a list of 10 entrepreneurial traits (e.g., resilience, risk-taking, creativity).
  • They rank themselves on a scale of 1-5 for each.
  • Small group discussion on: Which traits do you have? How can you develop others?

• "Problem-Solution Game" (15 minutes)

  • Students brainstorm daily problems/annoyances they face (example: forgetting homework, long lunch lines).
  • In pairs, they come up with a business idea that solves one problem.
  • Share 2-3 interesting ideas with the class.

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3. Building a Startup Concept (45 minutes)

Objective: Develop a business model for a potential startup.

• Group Work - "Rapid Startup Challenge" (10 minutes)

  • Divide class into teams of 3-4.
  • Each team selects one idea from the brainstorming session.
  • Use a one-page startup plan template:
    • Business Name
    • The Problem It Solves
    • Target Customers
    • How They Make Money
    • Marketing Strategy

• Research & Development (15 minutes)

  • Each team refines their business concept. They research:
    • Potential competitors
    • How they would advertise on social media
    • What makes their offering unique

• Prepare the Pitch (10 minutes)

  • Each team develops a 30-second elevator pitch for their idea.
  • Example structure:
    • "Our business, [NAME], solves [PROBLEM] by offering [SOLUTION]. This is perfect for [TARGET CUSTOMER] because it [BENEFIT]."

• Presentation Time (10 minutes)

  • Teams practice and deliver their elevator pitches in front of the class.
  • Peer feedback: Which pitch was most convincing? Why?

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4. Reflection & Wrap-Up (30 minutes)

Objective: Reinforce learning and connect concepts to personal ambitions.

• Think-Pair-Share (10 minutes)

  • Students reflect: Would you want to start a business? Why or why not?
  • Discuss in pairs, then share 2-3 responses with the class.

• Real-World Connection: Shark Tank Clip (10 minutes)

  • Show a short Shark Tank pitch (no longer than 3-4 minutes).
  • Debrief: What made the pitch strong? Would you invest?

• Exit Ticket (10 minutes): Entrepreneur Mission Statement

  • Each student writes:
    • If I could start a business, it would be…
    • The problem I’d solve is…
    • One obstacle I’d face & how I’d overcome it…

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Assessment & Differentiation

Assessment Methods

• Formative: Class discussions, group work, brainstorming activities.
• Summative: Elevator pitch presentations & exit ticket reflections.

Differentiation Strategies

• For advanced learners: Allow them to develop a basic business budget.
• For students needing support: Provide sentence starters for their pitch & templates to guide responses.

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Materials & Resources

• Whiteboard & markers
• Printed business idea templates
• Timer for pitch practice
• Short Shark Tank video clip

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Teacher Notes

This lesson is high-energy, creative, and interactive. It emphasizes real-world examples to make the idea of entrepreneurship engaging and relevant to students’ lives. If possible, invite a local entrepreneur or ask students to research one from their city for inspiration!