U.S. Grant eighth graders spent today hard at work (see photos and video) in one of Bass Library's high-tech, convenient, and generally cool (air-conditioned!) computer labs. Their mission: Complete a "financial plan" for their business plan final projects. An additional "research duel" challenge included identifying the IRS tax designation for a non-profit corporation (that's right - 501(c)3 - for any of you armchair entrepreneurs out there...).
Their work today was for my course on "Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Sustainability." This class examines a number of crucial questions related to contemporary business: What does it take to build a successful business? Why do some businesses succeed and others fail? What kind of skills do we need to be responsible to both our finances and our world?
During the first unit of the course, students gained exposure to the fundamentals of business and entrepreneurship. Then, students grappled with some of the sustainability and ethical issues associated with business. Eighth graders are currently in the midst of the final segment of the course: Creating a viable, compelling, and ethical business plan. Next Tuesday, August 4th, the students will complete their projects by pitching their business plans to a panel of adult entrepreneurs.
I like telling my students that their work in my class takes them through material that many adults walking around in suits and ties don't have a good grasp of: What goes into an income statement? What is the difference between operating costs and costs of goods sold? What the heck do terms like "hedonic treadmill" and "planned obsolescence" mean? Well...Go ask a U.S. Grant eighth grader!
Be in touch,
Eli Bildner
Teacher, Eighth Grade
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