13 Activities

VentureLab

VentureLab is a nonprofit organization that is helping create the next generation of diverse innovators and changemakers through entrepreneurial learning.

Venture Lab's learning resources prepare educators, youth leaders, and family members to cultivate creativity and develop an entrepreneurial mindset with youth. Designed for youth of all ages, their resources require no previous experience; just bring a spirit of imagination, innovation, and vision! Explore their activities as standalone lessons or follow their suggested scaffolded collections.

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Activities

Creativity & Play: This is Not...

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Arts in Action

Creativity & Play: This is Not...

Grades 1 - 2

15 Minutes

Let your imagination run wild as you transform everyday objects into something different! In this playful warmup activity, students take turns generating ideas about what everyday objects could become. The object can turn into something as wild as students like - they should have fun with it!

This activity is designed to set the right tone for the rest of your lessons by not limiting our ideas to what seems sensible or possible, and to show that play is a fun way to encourage creative thinking and problem solving.

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Product Analysis & Snapshot of Famous Entrepreneur, Indra Nooyi

Future Ready: Learning and Earning, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Product Analysis & Snapshot of Famous Entrepreneur, Indra Nooyi

Grades 1 - 2

25 Minutes

How are everyday products designed to solve problems and appeal to customers? In this activity, students will survey people about products they buy at the grocery store and think entreprenurially about packaging, logos, and other aspects of product design. Students will also learn about a real, famous entrepreneur, Indra Nooyi, helping make the connection that real-life entrepreneurs have ideas and take steps to carry out those ideas, being thoughtful about every aspect of the product they create.

This activity was designed as Part 4 of 5 in a series created by VentureLab. Check out the "Intro to Entrepreneurship" lesson to see more.

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Draw Three

Future Ready: Learning and Earning, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Draw Three

Grades 1 - 2

25 Minutes

Students become entrepreneurs as they draw three objects from a hat and transform them into a new product.

This activity was designed as Part 5 of 5 in a series created by VentureLab. Check out the "Intro to Entrepreneurship" lesson to see more.

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Play Stations

Arts in Action, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Play Stations

Grades 6 - 12

45 Minutes

Give students the opportunity to freely play and reconnect with their own innate creativity.

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Entrepreneurs, Help Heather!

Future Ready: Learning and Earning, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Entrepreneurs, Help Heather!

Grades 1 - 2

30 Minutes

This activity allows students to work in teams to solve a problem with new ideas, the first step to really experiencing what it's like to be an entrepreneur. While building teamwork skills, students will have the opportunity to solve Heather's problem of not being able to see the board very well. By helping a character students can relate to, they will be able to see that entrepreneurs help people with innovative designs and ideas.

This activity was designed as Part 3 of 5 in a series created by VentureLab. Check out the "Intro to Entrepreneurship" lesson to see more.

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Design Challenge: Paper Tower Marshmallow Challenge

Arts in Action, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Design Challenge: Paper Tower Marshmallow Challenge

Grades 3 - 5

35 Minutes

Students work in teams to complete a challenge to build the tallest free-standing structure out of paper that can support a marshmallow. Along the way, teams will be asked to reflect on what they've been doing and how they're feeling as they experience what it means to have an entrepreneurial mindset. It will also help students start building some key entrepreneurial skills including creativity, teamwork, and prototyping.

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Creative Play Design Challenges

Arts in Action, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Creative Play Design Challenges

Grades 1 - 2

45 Minutes

Students work at four different stations to meet design challenges. These quick, fun challenges will get students thinking while also giving them the opportunity to play around with ideas and materials.

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Idea Journals and the Entrepreneur Song

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Idea Journals and the Entrepreneur Song

Grades 1 - 2

15 Minutes

Deepen students' understanding of themselves as entrepreneurs by creating Idea Journals, where they can freely express themselves and jot down thoughts, questions, and drawings as they collect ideas for changing the world. After exploring their Idea Journals, students will listen to and practice singing the Entrepreneur song, which reviews and emphasizes key points about the entrepreneurial mindset.

This activity was designed as Part 2 of 5 in a series created by VentureLab. Check out the "Intro to Entrepreneurship" lesson to see more.

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Planet Mooz Diner

Leadership and Teamwork, Arts in Action

Planet Mooz Diner

Grades 1 - 2

1 Hour

Students create a name and menu for a diner on a strange, newly discovered planet called Mooz. Watch out, though! Moozians eat very different things than we do on planet Earth, so students will need to use their creativity to put together a stellar menu. After creating the menu, students will create play food and try each other's "food" out as customers at their diners. This engaging activity allows students to explore their creativity in a meaningful way, as they get a chance to create new menu items, invent a diner name, and showcase their work to their peers while role-playing.

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Entrepreneur Song

Leadership and Teamwork, Future Ready: Learning and Earning

Entrepreneur Song

Grades 3 - 5

15 Minutes

Students listen to a song that is all about the entrepreneurial mindset and the process entrepreneurs go through to create. After hearing the song, students get a lyric sheet and sing along with the song. This can be used in all lessons as a review for what an entrepreneur is and does.

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The Marshmallow Challenge

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Arts in Action

The Marshmallow Challenge

Grades 6 - 12

45 Minutes

Students work in teams to complete a challenge to build the tallest free-standing structure out of dry spaghetti noodles that also supports the weight of a regular-sized marshmallow. Along the way, teams will be asked to reflect on what they've been doing and how they're feeling as they experience what it means to have an entrepreneurial mindset. It will also help students start building some key entrepreneurial skills including creativity, team work, and prototyping.

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Dream Team

Leadership and Teamwork, Future Ready: Learning and Earning

Dream Team

Grades 6 - 12

45 Minutes

Students create their ultimate entrepreneurial "dream team" poster. Students first create an image of themselves as an entrepreneur (as creatively as they like), highlighting their entrepreneurial strengths, and then they will add team members to their poster (real or fictional), highlighting the mindsets and skills they will bring to the team to make up the ultimate entrepreneurial dream team - ready to take on any challenge!

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Creativity & Play: This is Not...

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Arts in Action

Creativity & Play: This is Not...

Grades 1 - 2

15 Minutes

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Product Analysis & Snapshot of Famous Entrepreneur, Indra Nooyi

Future Ready: Learning and Earning, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Product Analysis & Snapshot of Famous Entrepreneur, Indra Nooyi

Grades 1 - 2

25 Minutes

This activity was designed as Part 4 of 5 in a series created by VentureLab. Check out the "Intro to Entrepreneurship" lesson to see more.

Discover Activity

Draw Three

Future Ready: Learning and Earning, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Draw Three

Grades 1 - 2

25 Minutes

Students become entrepreneurs as they draw three objects from a hat and transform them into a new product.

This activity was designed as Part 5 of 5 in a series created by VentureLab. Check out the "Intro to Entrepreneurship" lesson to see more.

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Play Stations

Arts in Action, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Play Stations

Grades 6 - 12

45 Minutes

Give students the opportunity to freely play and reconnect with their own innate creativity.

Discover Activity

Entrepreneurs, Help Heather!

Future Ready: Learning and Earning, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Entrepreneurs, Help Heather!

Grades 1 - 2

30 Minutes

This activity was designed as Part 3 of 5 in a series created by VentureLab. Check out the "Intro to Entrepreneurship" lesson to see more.

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Design Challenge: Paper Tower Marshmallow Challenge

Arts in Action, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Design Challenge: Paper Tower Marshmallow Challenge

Grades 3 - 5

35 Minutes

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Creative Play Design Challenges

Arts in Action, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

Creative Play Design Challenges

Grades 1 - 2

45 Minutes

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Idea Journals and the Entrepreneur Song

Arts in Action, Stories and Perspectives

Idea Journals and the Entrepreneur Song

Grades 1 - 2

15 Minutes

This activity was designed as Part 2 of 5 in a series created by VentureLab. Check out the "Intro to Entrepreneurship" lesson to see more.

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Planet Mooz Diner

Leadership and Teamwork, Arts in Action

Planet Mooz Diner

Grades 1 - 2

1 Hour

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Entrepreneur Song

Leadership and Teamwork, Future Ready: Learning and Earning

Entrepreneur Song

Grades 3 - 5

15 Minutes

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The Marshmallow Challenge

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Arts in Action

The Marshmallow Challenge

Grades 6 - 12

45 Minutes

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Dream Team

Leadership and Teamwork, Future Ready: Learning and Earning

Dream Team

Grades 6 - 12

45 Minutes

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Featured in These Collections

23 Days of Fun, Healthy and Creative Activities for December

Belonging and Community, Whole Body, Whole Self

25 Activities

23 Days of Fun, Healthy and Creative Activities for December

Grades K - 12

20 Hours 35 Minutes

With winter afoot, during a school year like no other, are you looking for fun, healthy and restorative activities you can share with children and youth?

23 Days of Fun, Healthy and Creative Activities for December offers just that.

From “Action Packed ABC” for younger children and “Dance, Dance, Dance” for middle school kids, to “Mindfulness” for teens, this weekday December calendar shares art, music, yoga, social emotional learning, and indoor and outdoor projects and games to help kids feel better.

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Grow & Go: Learn with Lt. Governor Gilchrist (Entrepreneurship)

Leadership and Teamwork, Future Ready: Learning and Earning

40 Activities

Grow & Go: Learn with Lt. Governor Gilchrist (Entrepreneurship)

Grades K - 12

29 Hours 20 Minutes

November is National Entrepreneurship Month and Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II has created an exciting collection of activities just for Mizzen!

Filled with fun, immersive, and interactive content, this playlist introduces students to entrepreneurship as a mindset.

Students in K-12 age groups will build their skillset through discovery, problem-solving, and collaboration.

Discover Collection

Creativity: Play

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Arts in Action

3 Activities

Creativity: Play

Grades 1 - 2

2 Hours

Play and being playful are considered cornerstones of creativity and idea generation. There is significant evidence that many ideas for new products and services were developed through playing around with ideas, materials, and products. Play itself gives us a fresh perspective, which is often critical in solving problems and being innovative. Play also helps us better understand the world around us because we can explore things in a fun way - we can make and build, create new worlds and personas, play new games, and break the rules, without fear of consequences. Play helps entrepreneurs innovate because it's risk-free-there's no judgment or failure when you're playing.

In Activity 1, students will be using their imaginations to transform everyday objects into something different and playing through design challenges during Activity 2. Students will rotate in teams to four different stations with a challenge to create something at each. Finally, Activity 3 will involve creative play as students create a menu and play food for an alien planet. To close out the activity and lesson, students will role play waiters/waitresses and customers at each other's diners.

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Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 1-2)

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Future Ready: Learning and Earning

5 Activities

Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 1-2)

Grades 1 - 2

2 Hours

This foundational series of activities introduces elementary students to the concept of entrepreneurship. Expanding beyond the idea that entrepreneurs are just people who set up and run a company, the team at VentureLab wants students to also develop an entrepreneurial way of thinking and acting on ideas.

Through this collection of activities, students develop an understanding of the basic entrepreneurial skills and mindset, as well as what it means and feels like to be an entrepreneur.

Activity 1 ("What is an Entrepreneur?") introduces students to what entrepreneurs are, with students creating a poster of themselves using key words centered on the entrepreneurial mindset.

Activity 2 ("Idea Journals and the Entrepreneur Song") introduces the Idea Journal, a notebook where students can record all of their great ideas in one place. Students also learn a song and the entrepreneurial mindset.

In Activity 3 ("Entrepreneurs, Help Heather!") students design a perch to help an imaginary very tiny friend who wants to be able to see around the room. This problem-solving will help students to experience what it's like to be an entrepreneur.

Activity 4 ("Product Analysis & Snapshot of Famous Entrepreneur, Indra Nooyi") is all about analyzing different products and thinking about the entrepreneur behind the product and what they thought about for it to come to life. This activity will really kick start student interest as they consider the wider world of business and entrepreneurship.

Finally, after looking at what goes into creating a product and learning about what appeals to customers, students will draw three cards from three different categories in Activity 5 ("Draw Three") and be challenged to come up with a new product idea.

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Creativity and Play (Grades 6-12)

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Arts in Action

2 Activities

Creativity and Play (Grades 6-12)

Grades 6 - 12

1 Hour 30 Minutes

This is a series on play and being playful, considered cornerstones of creativity and idea generation.

In the first activity, "Play Stations," students are provided with the opportunity to play and reconnect with their own innate creativity.

In the second activity, "Wacky Inventions," students work in groups to use existing products and objects to come up with (and then act out) the wackiest inventions they can think of.

Why is play important? There is significant evidence that many ideas for new products and services were developed through playing around with ideas, materials and products. Play itself gives us a fresh perspective which is often critical in solving problems and being innovative.

Play also helps us better understand the world around us because we can explore things in a fun way - we can make and build, create new worlds and personas, play new games and break the rules without fear of consequences. Play helps entrepreneurs innovate because it's risk-free—there's no judgment or failure when you're playing.

Using play and being playful as a tool for developing creativity can improve one's ability to generate ideas and solve problems. Often, to be able to come up with lots of ideas people need to be given permission to play around and be free from judgment!

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Strengthen Social and Emotional Learning with Johnny Crowder

Whole Body, Whole Self, Belonging and Community

12 Activities

Strengthen Social and Emotional Learning with Johnny Crowder

Grades K - 12

Like learning algebra or how to ride a bike, social and emotional learning (SEL) calls for patience, compassion, and everyday practice. That’s what brain science and experience say, and it’s at the core of this playlist. Through activities that teach mindfulness meditation, how to identify your strengths and talents, and cultivating compassion through service, you’ll find practical experiences, resources, and tips for empowering youth while helping them navigate stress and build healthy relationships.

“I often wonder how much different my life would look if I was offered support earlier. Before I was struggling, before I withdrew, before I exhibited all sorts of behavioral health issues. The power of prevention is something we can’t waste. We need to use our own hindsight into what would have helped us when we were young to set this next generation up for the success we never had.” — Johnny Crowder

Johnny Crowder is a suicide/abuse survivor, TEDx speaker, touring musician, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, and the Founder & CEO of Cope Notes, a text-based mental health platform that provides daily support to youth and adults in nearly 100 countries around the world.

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STEM Activities for K-5th Grade at Home or in Small Groups

Arts in Action, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

11 Activities

STEM Activities for K-5th Grade at Home or in Small Groups

Grades K - 5

10 Hours

This playlist is a great mix of engineering and science activities that are easy and fun for home or small groups of kids k-5.

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STEAM Activities for Middle School at Home

Arts in Action, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

10 Activities

STEAM Activities for Middle School at Home

Grades 6 - 8

8 Hours 35 Minutes

This Playlist gives middle school aged students fun engineering and design activities that can be done at home or in small groups.

Discover Collection

Design for Life for 3rd-5th Grade at Home

Digital Voices, Arts in Action

8 Activities

Design for Life for 3rd-5th Grade at Home

Grades 3 - 5

6 Hours

This Playlist allows younger students to become ad, logo, and campaign designers at home.

Discover Collection

Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 6-12)

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Future Ready: Learning and Earning

2 Activities

Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 6-12)

Grades 6 - 12

1 Hour 30 Minutes

This foundational series of activities introduces middle and high school students to the concept of entrepreneurship. Expanding beyond the idea that entrepreneurs are just people who set up and run a company, the team at VentureLab wants students to also develop an entrepreneurial way of thinking and acting on ideas.

Through this collection of activities, students develop an understanding of the basic entrepreneurial skills and mindset, as well as what it means and feels like to be an entrepreneur.

Discover Collection

Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 3-5)

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Future Ready: Learning and Earning

3 Activities

Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 3-5)

Grades 3 - 5

1 Hour 30 Minutes

This foundational series of activities introduces upper elementary students to the concept of entrepreneurship. Expanding beyond the idea that entrepreneurs are just people who set up and run a company, the team at VentureLab wants students to also develop an entrepreneurial way of thinking and acting on ideas.

Through this collection of activities, students develop an understanding of the basic entrepreneurial skills and mindset, as well as what it means and feels like to be an entrepreneur.

Discover Collection

23 Days of Fun, Healthy and Creative Activities for December

Belonging and Community, Whole Body, Whole Self

25 Activities

23 Days of Fun, Healthy and Creative Activities for December

Grades K - 12

20 Hours 35 Minutes

With winter afoot, during a school year like no other, are you looking for fun, healthy and restorative activities you can share with children and youth?

23 Days of Fun, Healthy and Creative Activities for December offers just that.

Discover Collection

Grow & Go: Learn with Lt. Governor Gilchrist (Entrepreneurship)

Leadership and Teamwork, Future Ready: Learning and Earning

40 Activities

Grow & Go: Learn with Lt. Governor Gilchrist (Entrepreneurship)

Grades K - 12

29 Hours 20 Minutes

November is National Entrepreneurship Month and Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II has created an exciting collection of activities just for Mizzen!

Filled with fun, immersive, and interactive content, this playlist introduces students to entrepreneurship as a mindset.

Students in K-12 age groups will build their skillset through discovery, problem-solving, and collaboration.

Discover Collection

Creativity: Play

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Arts in Action

3 Activities

Creativity: Play

Grades 1 - 2

2 Hours

Discover Collection

Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 1-2)

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Future Ready: Learning and Earning

5 Activities

Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 1-2)

Grades 1 - 2

2 Hours

Through this collection of activities, students develop an understanding of the basic entrepreneurial skills and mindset, as well as what it means and feels like to be an entrepreneur.

Activity 1 ("What is an Entrepreneur?") introduces students to what entrepreneurs are, with students creating a poster of themselves using key words centered on the entrepreneurial mindset.

Discover Collection

Creativity and Play (Grades 6-12)

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Arts in Action

2 Activities

Creativity and Play (Grades 6-12)

Grades 6 - 12

1 Hour 30 Minutes

This is a series on play and being playful, considered cornerstones of creativity and idea generation.

In the first activity, "Play Stations," students are provided with the opportunity to play and reconnect with their own innate creativity.

In the second activity, "Wacky Inventions," students work in groups to use existing products and objects to come up with (and then act out) the wackiest inventions they can think of.

Discover Collection

Strengthen Social and Emotional Learning with Johnny Crowder

Whole Body, Whole Self, Belonging and Community

12 Activities

Strengthen Social and Emotional Learning with Johnny Crowder

Grades K - 12

Discover Collection

STEM Activities for K-5th Grade at Home or in Small Groups

Arts in Action, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

11 Activities

STEM Activities for K-5th Grade at Home or in Small Groups

Grades K - 5

10 Hours

This playlist is a great mix of engineering and science activities that are easy and fun for home or small groups of kids k-5.

Discover Collection

STEAM Activities for Middle School at Home

Arts in Action, STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore

10 Activities

STEAM Activities for Middle School at Home

Grades 6 - 8

8 Hours 35 Minutes

This Playlist gives middle school aged students fun engineering and design activities that can be done at home or in small groups.

Discover Collection

Design for Life for 3rd-5th Grade at Home

Digital Voices, Arts in Action

8 Activities

Design for Life for 3rd-5th Grade at Home

Grades 3 - 5

6 Hours

This Playlist allows younger students to become ad, logo, and campaign designers at home.

Discover Collection

Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 6-12)

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Future Ready: Learning and Earning

2 Activities

Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 6-12)

Grades 6 - 12

1 Hour 30 Minutes

Through this collection of activities, students develop an understanding of the basic entrepreneurial skills and mindset, as well as what it means and feels like to be an entrepreneur.

Discover Collection

Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 3-5)

STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore, Future Ready: Learning and Earning

3 Activities

Intro to Entrepreneurship (Grades 3-5)

Grades 3 - 5

1 Hour 30 Minutes

Through this collection of activities, students develop an understanding of the basic entrepreneurial skills and mindset, as well as what it means and feels like to be an entrepreneur.

Discover Collection

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