Lower school students pitch business ideas
For 15 years, lower school fourth grade students have displayed their Microsoft Office 365 formatting expertise and entrepreneurial skills through an expo known as “Businesses of Tomorrow.”
For 10 weeks leading up to the event, students create and design their own businesses from scratch using the Office 365 suite. Students were tasked with designing a mission statement, logo, slogan, and pricing index.
Michael Mann, lower school STEM instructor, shared that the first thing he tells students when they begin the project is, “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life, so why not start a business you’re passionate about and be your own boss!”
At the showcase, fourth graders presented their business concepts on a tri-fold board in a business expo hall environment. Lower school parents and students played the part of venture capitalists looking to invest in a new and exciting business. Each parent and student were given three “E-Bucks” to use as investment money. Fourth-grade business owners worked on their interpersonal communication skills like maintaining eye contact and giving firm handshakes as they sought to engage potential investors.
“Every student will eventually have to sell an idea, product, service, or themselves in a job interview at some point in their lives,” explained Mann. “Having the skills to bring an idea to life digitally and then pitch it to someone is only going to help them succeed in any profession or STEM field they choose.”
In both their business ideas and their visual presentations, students displayed immense creativity during the expo. Johanna Dorelus ‘30 demonstrated her creativity through a business selling beautiful and delicious cupcakes!
“My favorite part of Businesses of Tomorrow has been baking the cupcakes and thinking about all the nice people who are going to come to my stand,” stated Dorelus.
Thank you, fourth grade business owners, for all your hard work. We wish you all the best on your future business endeavors!
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Michael Mann, lower school STEM instructor, shared that the first thing he tells students when they begin the project is, “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life, so why not start a business you’re passionate about and be your own boss!”
At the showcase, fourth graders presented their business concepts on a tri-fold board in a business expo hall environment. Lower school parents and students played the part of venture capitalists looking to invest in a new and exciting business. Each parent and student were given three “E-Bucks” to use as investment money. Fourth-grade business owners worked on their interpersonal communication skills like maintaining eye contact and giving firm handshakes as they sought to engage potential investors.
“Every student will eventually have to sell an idea, product, service, or themselves in a job interview at some point in their lives,” explained Mann. “Having the skills to bring an idea to life digitally and then pitch it to someone is only going to help them succeed in any profession or STEM field they choose.”
In both their business ideas and their visual presentations, students displayed immense creativity during the expo. Johanna Dorelus ‘30 demonstrated her creativity through a business selling beautiful and delicious cupcakes!
“My favorite part of Businesses of Tomorrow has been baking the cupcakes and thinking about all the nice people who are going to come to my stand,” stated Dorelus.
Thank you, fourth grade business owners, for all your hard work. We wish you all the best on your future business endeavors!
