5 Activities

Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship

The Network for Teaching Entreprenuership (NFTE) empowers partners and school districts to integrate entrepreneurial education across curricula and equip students with the skills, connections, credentials, and real-world experiences needed to lead change and own their futures.

Explore what it means to think and act like an entrepreneur in this engaging lesson series, where youth uncover mindset traits that drive entrepreneurial success. Through a variety of challenges, they’ll activate key elements of the entrepreneurial experience and finish by creating a personalized action plan to keep growing their entrepreneurial potential.

Activities

Picture This

Belonging and Community, Stories and Perspectives

Picture This

6 - 12

1 Hour 40 Minutes

As an engaging way to introduce students to NFTE’s entrepreneurial mindset domains, students will either complete an interactive digital module or engage in a challenge to draw and recreate objects through the cues given to them by their partner.

This lesson plan is written around the completion of a hands-on activity, but you can replace or supplement this activity with a couple of digital interactives. See the Modifications section at the end of this lesson plan for more details.

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EMI Pre-Survey Analysis

Leadership and Teamwork, Future Ready: Learning and Earning

EMI Pre-Survey Analysis

6 - 12

50 Minutes

Students take the Pre-EMI survey to get a report of the current status of their own developing entrepreneurial mindset.

Note that the survey is designed to be completed by most students in less than one instructional period. However, depending on the reading levels and abilities of your students, it may take longer for many students. Adjust the discussion time appropriately to match the amount of time your students will need to complete the survey.

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Chill or Grill

Leadership and Teamwork, Future Ready: Learning and Earning

Chill or Grill

6 - 12

1 Hour 40 Minutes

As an engaging way to introduce students to NFTE’s entrepreneurial mindset domains, students will either complete an interactive digital module or engage in an investigation to make rapid-fire decisions pertaining to a new restaurant opening.

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Startup Survival

Leadership and Teamwork, Future Ready: Learning and Earning

Startup Survival

6 - 12

1 Hour 40 Minutes

As an engaging way to introduce students to NFTE’s entrepreneurial mindset domains, students will either complete an interactive digital module or attempt to select the most important startup tools. Students finish the module by creating an EM Personal Growth Plan.

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Tower of Power

Leadership and Teamwork, Future Ready: Learning and Earning

Tower of Power

6 - 12

1 Hour 40 Minutes

As an engaging way to introduce students to NFTE’s entrepreneurial mindset domains, students will either complete an interactive digital module or engage in a team building activity that asks them to create the tallest possible tower using limited resources.

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Picture This

Belonging and Community, Stories and Perspectives

Picture This

6 - 12

1 Hour 40 Minutes

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EMI Pre-Survey Analysis

Leadership and Teamwork, Future Ready: Learning and Earning

EMI Pre-Survey Analysis

6 - 12

50 Minutes

Students take the Pre-EMI survey to get a report of the current status of their own developing entrepreneurial mindset.

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Chill or Grill

Leadership and Teamwork, Future Ready: Learning and Earning

Chill or Grill

6 - 12

1 Hour 40 Minutes

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Startup Survival

Leadership and Teamwork, Future Ready: Learning and Earning

Startup Survival

6 - 12

1 Hour 40 Minutes

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Tower of Power

Leadership and Teamwork, Future Ready: Learning and Earning

Tower of Power

6 - 12

1 Hour 40 Minutes

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Operation: Mindset

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

6 Activities

Operation: Mindset

6 - 12

8 Hours 20 Minutes

Students discover what it means to think and act like an entrepreneur in this series of fun and engaging lessons. First, students learn about the mindset traits and behaviors of successful entrepreneurs before taking a survey that reveals the characteristics of their own entrepreneurial mindset. Students then participate in a series of four challenges – each designed to activate two of the eight domains of the entrepreneurial mindset. The module wraps up with students creating an action plan to further grow their own entrepreneurial potential.

Recommended Module Sequence

NFTE recommends that Lessons 1, 2, and 6 are facilitated in the order listed below. However, Lessons 3, 4, and 5 can be facilitated in any order. Lessons 3, 4, 5, and 6 can also be done independently for teachers looking for exercises that engage students in those non-cognitive skills.

Lesson 1: Pitch Yourself

Lesson 2: EMI Pre-Survey Analysis

Lesson 3: Tower of Power

Entrepreneurial Mindset Domain Focus: Creativity & Innovation and Initiative & Self-Reliance

Lesson 4: Chill or Grill

Entrepreneurial Mindset Domain Focus: Flexibility & Adaptability and Comfort with Risk

Lesson 5: Picture This

Entrepreneurial Mindset Domain Focus: Communication & Collaboration and Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Lesson 6: Startup Survival

Entrepreneurial Mindset Domains: Opportunity Recognition & Future Orientation

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Operation: Mindset