Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Active learning works because entrepreneurship demands practice in problem-solving, pitching, and resilience. When students simulate real-world scenarios like pitching to investors or redesigning products, they build the mindset and skills needed to turn ideas into value. These hands-on experiences make abstract concepts like risk and innovation tangible.

• Year 7
• HASS
• 4 activities
• 30 min–50 min

Learning Objectives

1. Identify the core characteristics of successful entrepreneurs, such as resilience, creativity, and risk-taking.
2. Analyze how specific innovations, like the development of ride-sharing apps or renewable energy technologies, have created new industries and economic opportunities in Australia.
3. Design a basic business proposal for a product or service that addresses a clearly identified need within their local community.
4. Explain the challenges entrepreneurs face, including securing funding, managing competition, and adapting to market changes.

Project-Based Learning

⏱ 50 min·Small Groups

Shark Tank Simulation: Community Business Pitches

In small groups, students identify a local need like reducing school waste. They brainstorm an innovative solution, create a simple prototype using recyclables, and prepare a 2-minute pitch. Groups present to the class, who vote as 'investors' and provide feedback.

Prepare & details

Explain the key qualities and challenges of being an entrepreneur.

Facilitation Tip: During the Shark Tank Simulation, give students clear evaluation criteria for their pitches, such as problem identification, solution clarity, and presentation style.

Setup: Flexible workspace with access to materials and technology

Materials: Project brief with driving question, Planning template and timeline, Rubric with milestones, Presentation materials

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills
• Decision-Making

Jigsaw

⏱ 40 min·Small Groups

Jigsaw: Trait Matching

Assign each small group an Australian entrepreneur like Canva's Melanie Perkins. Students research two key traits and challenges, then share in a jigsaw where groups teach others. Compile traits on a class chart.

Prepare & details

Analyze how innovation drives economic growth and creates new industries.

Facilitation Tip: For the Entrepreneur Profile Jigsaw, assign each group a unique entrepreneur profile so all students contribute to the class discussion.

Setup: Flexible seating for regrouping

Materials: Expert group reading packets, Note-taking template, Summary graphic organizer

• Understand
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Relationship Skills
• Self-Management

Project-Based Learning

⏱ 35 min·Pairs

Innovation Hackathon: Product Redesign

Pairs select everyday items like water bottles and redesign for a community issue, such as drought. Sketch improvements, test with peers, and explain economic benefits. Share via gallery walk.

Prepare & details

Design a simple business idea that addresses a current community need.

Facilitation Tip: In the Innovation Hackathon, require teams to document each step of their redesign process to show incremental innovation.

Setup: Flexible workspace with access to materials and technology

Materials: Project brief with driving question, Planning template and timeline, Rubric with milestones, Presentation materials

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills
• Decision-Making

Project-Based Learning

⏱ 30 min·Pairs

Business Idea Speed Dating

Students rotate in pairs to pitch and refine one business idea addressing a class-voted need. After 5 rotations, they consolidate feedback into a final plan.

Prepare & details

Explain the key qualities and challenges of being an entrepreneur.

Facilitation Tip: Use Business Idea Speed Dating to limit each conversation to 2 minutes so students practice concise communication.

Setup: Flexible workspace with access to materials and technology

Materials: Project brief with driving question, Planning template and timeline, Rubric with milestones, Presentation materials

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills
• Decision-Making

Teaching This Topic

Experienced teachers approach this topic by balancing creativity with structure. Avoid letting students focus only on the excitement of ideas; instead, ground each activity in real-world constraints like budget or market needs. Research suggests that failure simulation and structured feedback loops help students internalize resilience. Use local examples, like Atlassian, to connect abstract concepts to students’ lived experiences.

What to Expect

Successful learning looks like students confidently pitching ideas, identifying entrepreneurial traits in others, and proposing innovative solutions to community needs. They should articulate how resilience, creativity, and collaboration drive business success, not just memorize definitions.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During the Shark Tank Simulation, watch for students assuming quick success means their idea is flawless.

What to Teach Instead

Redirect by requiring students to present at least one failure they addressed and what they learned from it before refining their pitch.

Common Misconception

During the Innovation Hackathon, watch for students believing innovation requires a completely new product.

What to Teach Instead

Guide them to focus on incremental changes by asking, 'How does your redesign improve what already exists? Show us the evolution of your idea.'

Common Misconception

During the Business Idea Speed Dating, watch for students assuming starting a business requires significant startup capital.

What to Teach Instead

Challenge them to brainstorm low-cost solutions during conversations, such as using free tools or community resources.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

After the Entrepreneur Profile Jigsaw, present students with three short profiles of local entrepreneurs. Ask them to identify which entrepreneur best demonstrates entrepreneurial qualities and explain their reasoning using at least two vocabulary terms like resilience or risk management.

Discussion Prompt

During the Shark Tank Simulation, facilitate a class discussion using the prompt: 'Imagine your product fails to attract investors. What are three specific actions you would take to show resilience? Discuss with your pitching team and share one idea with the class.'

Peer Assessment

After the Business Idea Speed Dating, have students work in pairs to brainstorm a business idea for a community need. Each student writes a single sentence describing their partner’s idea and one question about its feasibility. Partners exchange feedback and discuss potential solutions.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge early finishers to create a one-minute video ad for their Shark Tank product pitch, highlighting its unique value.
• Scaffolding for struggling students: Provide sentence starters for feedback, such as 'One strength is...' or 'I wonder if...'.
• Deeper exploration: Have students research a local entrepreneur and present how their business addresses a community need, linking to the Innovation Hackathon’s redesign focus.

Key Vocabulary

Entrepreneur	A person who starts and manages a business, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit. They often identify a need and create a solution.
Innovation	The introduction of new ideas, methods, or products. In business, it can mean creating something entirely new or improving an existing product or process.
Resilience	The ability to recover quickly from difficulties. For entrepreneurs, this means bouncing back from setbacks and learning from failures.
Market Need	A problem or desire that a business can solve or fulfill for a group of customers. Identifying a market need is crucial for business success.
Venture Capital	Financing that investors provide to startup companies and small businesses believed to have long-term growth potential. This is a common way for entrepreneurs to fund their ideas.