MathSocial Studies6-8
Summer Business Brainstorming for Middle Schoolers
By Tami G.
This worksheet-style activity walks 7th graders through the basics of entrepreneurship, asking them to compare three summer business ideas by startup costs, required skills, and demand. It builds financial reasoning and decision-making, and it works as a short planning exercise in a financial planning class before students draft a one-page business plan.
Customize for your classroom
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use this as the first step in a financial planning unit, introducing the terms entrepreneur, demand, and startup costs before students complete the comparison table in roughly 20 to 25 minutes.
- Discussion question: Which of your three ideas has the lowest startup cost, and does it also have strong summer demand? Why might a cheaper idea still be a weaker choice?
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Provide a short list of example businesses (pet sitting, lawn care, tutoring, handmade crafts) with sample cost estimates so students can model the table before filling in their own ideas.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to estimate a break-even point for their top idea, such as how many jobs or sales cover the startup costs, and to note one risk that could affect demand.
- Estimated time: about 25 minutes for the brainstorming worksheet, plus a separate class period for drafting the one-page business plan.
MathSocial Studies6-8
Summer Business Brainstorming for Middle Schoolers
By Tami G.
This worksheet-style activity walks 7th graders through the basics of entrepreneurship, asking them to compare three summer business ideas by startup costs, required skills, and demand. It builds financial reasoning and decision-making, and it works as a short planning exercise in a financial planning class before students draft a one-page business plan.
Customize for your classroom
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use this as the first step in a financial planning unit, introducing the terms entrepreneur, demand, and startup costs before students complete the comparison table in roughly 20 to 25 minutes.
- Discussion question: Which of your three ideas has the lowest startup cost, and does it also have strong summer demand? Why might a cheaper idea still be a weaker choice?
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Provide a short list of example businesses (pet sitting, lawn care, tutoring, handmade crafts) with sample cost estimates so students can model the table before filling in their own ideas.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to estimate a break-even point for their top idea, such as how many jobs or sales cover the startup costs, and to note one risk that could affect demand.
- Estimated time: about 25 minutes for the brainstorming worksheet, plus a separate class period for drafting the one-page business plan.