Business Lessons
Activity: What is a co-operative?
Goal:
This is a basic introduction for students to the co-operative business model. Included is a self-guided slide deck and accompanying worksheet.
Key concepts:
Exploring the co-operative business model as a type of business ownership.​
Timing:
60 minutes
Curriculum links: (Grades 9-12)
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Accounting Essentials, Grade 11, (BAI3E) Workplace Preparation
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Entrepreneurship: The Venture, (BDI3C) Grade 11, College Preparation
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Entrepreneurship: The Enterprising Person, (BDP3O) Grade 11, Open
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Entrepreneurship: Venture Planning in an Electronic Age, (BDV4C) Grade 12, College Preparation
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Marketing: Goods,Services,Events, (BMI3C) Grade 11, College Preparation
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Marketing: Retail and Service, (BMX3E) Grade 11, Workplace Preparation
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Business Leadership: Becoming a Manager, (BOG4E) Grade 12, Workplace Preparation
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Launching and Leading a Business, Grade 10, Open (BEP2O)
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Building the Entrepreneurial Mindset, Grade 9, Open (BEM1O)
Business Lessons
Activity: Business Model Match-up
Goal:
Students will explore different types of business ownership and apply them to various scenarios.
Key concepts:
Different types of business ownership, such as sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, and cooperatives, and their appropriate applications.
Timing:
50 minutes
Curriculum links: (Grades 9-12)
-
Accounting Essentials, Grade 11, (BAI3E) Workplace Preparation
-
Entrepreneurship: The Venture, (BDI3C) Grade 11, College Preparation
-
Entrepreneurship: The Enterprising Person, (BDP3O) Grade 11, Open
-
Entrepreneurship: Venture Planning in an Electronic Age, (BDV4C) Grade 12, College Preparation
-
Marketing: Goods,Services,Events, (BMI3C) Grade 11, College Preparation
-
Marketing: Retail and Service, (BMX3E) Grade 11, Workplace Preparation
-
Business Leadership: Becoming a Manager, (BOG4E) Grade 12, Workplace Preparation
-
Launching and Leading a Business, Grade 10, Open (BEP2O)
-
Building the Entrepreneurial Mindset, Grade 9, Open (BEM1O)
Business Lessons
Activity: Co-op Consultant
Goal:
Students will explore solutions to entrepreneurial challenges encountered by a collective of small business owners.​
Key concepts:
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Understand the benefits of collaboration and cooperation in overcoming entrepreneurial challenges.
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Explore how pooling resources and efforts can help small businesses scale and succeed.
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Discuss the potential advantages of a group of sole proprietors working together to address common obstacles.
Timing:
60 minutes
Curriculum links: (Grades 9-12)
-
Accounting Essentials, Grade 11, (BAI3E) Workplace Preparation
-
Entrepreneurship: The Venture, (BDI3C) Grade 11, College Preparation
-
Entrepreneurship: The Enterprising Person, (BDP3O) Grade 11, Open
-
Entrepreneurship: Venture Planning in an Electronic Age, (BDV4C) Grade 12, College Preparation
-
Business Leadership: Becoming a Manager, (BOG4E) Grade 12, Workplace Preparation
-
Launching and Leading a Business, Grade 10, Open (BEP2O)
-
Building the Entrepreneurial Mindset, Grade 9, Open (BEM1O)
Business Lessons
Activity: Co-op Creation
Goal:
Students will brainstorm needs and wants in their community, and work collaboratively to create a co-operative business that fills a need or addresses a challenge in their school or community.​
Key concepts:
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Develop Entrepreneurial Skills: Students will develop essential entrepreneurial skills such as teamwork, leadership, communication, and problem-solving. They will work collaboratively to identify a community need, explore and evaluate stakeholder impact, determine a value proposition and utilize the business model canvas.
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Community Engagement and Impact: Students will identify a specific need or problem in their school or community that their co-operative business can address. They will analyze the social, economic, and environmental impact of their business on the community and develop strategies to maximize positive outcomes, demonstrating their ability to be socially responsible entrepreneurs.
Timing:
You should plan for 2-3 work periods for this lesson.
Curriculum links: (Grades 11-12)
-
Accounting Essentials, Grade 11, (BAI3E) Workplace Preparation
-
Entrepreneurship: The Venture, (BDI3C) Grade 11, College Preparation
-
Entrepreneurship: The Enterprising Person, (BDP3O) Grade 11, Open
-
Entrepreneurship: Venture Planning in an Electronic Age, (BDV4C) Grade 12, College Preparation
-
Business Leadership: Becoming a Manager, (BOG4E) Grade 12, Workplace Preparation
Business Lessons
Activity: Business Ownership Card Game
Goal:
Students will work collaboratively to match different business ownership scenarios with the corresponding business types during this hands-on card game.​
Key concepts:
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Understand various business models, such as sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, and cooperatives, and their characteristics.
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Demonstrate their ability to apply theoretical concepts to practical situations.
Timing:
30 minutes
Curriculum links: (Grades 9-12)
-
Accounting Essentials, Grade 11, (BAI3E) Workplace Preparation
-
Entrepreneurship: The Venture, (BDI3C) Grade 11, College Preparation
-
Entrepreneurship: The Enterprising Person, (BDP3O) Grade 11, Open
-
Entrepreneurship: Venture Planning in an Electronic Age, (BDV4C) Grade 12, College Preparation
-
Business Leadership: Becoming a Manager, (BOG4E) Grade 12, Workplace Preparation
-
Launching and Leading a Business, Grade 10, Open (BEP2O)
-
Building the Entrepreneurial Mindset, Grade 9, Open (BEM1O)
Business Lessons
Activity: Corporate or Co-operative Mindset?
Goal:
Students will explore how decisions can be influenced by different priorities, such as maximizing profits (corporate mindset) versus balancing the needs of all stakeholders (co-operative mindset). This will help students see how businesses can operate under varying ethical and operational frameworks.
Key concepts:
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Develop Critical Thinking Skills: Students will practice evaluating complex business situations and the potential impacts of different decisions. This exercise will enhance their ability to think critically about real-world business dilemmas.
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Reflect on Personal Values: After discussing various approaches, students will have the opportunity to reflect on which values resonate more with their own perspective.
Timing:
60 minutes
Curriculum links: (Grades 9-12)
-
Accounting Essentials, Grade 11, (BAI3E) Workplace Preparation
-
Entrepreneurship: The Venture, (BDI3C) Grade 11, College Preparation
-
Entrepreneurship: The Enterprising Person, (BDP3O) Grade 11, Open
-
Entrepreneurship: Venture Planning in an Electronic Age, (BDV4C) Grade 12, College Preparation
-
Business Leadership: Becoming a Manager, (BOG4E) Grade 12, Workplace Preparation
-
Launching and Leading a Business, Grade 10, Open (BEP2O)
-
Building the Entrepreneurial Mindset, Grade 9, Open (BEM1O)